SIMULATION OF INDUSTRIAL MTBE PRODUCTION IN REACTIVE DISTILLATION COLUMN USING ASPEN HYSYS.

Simulation of reactive distillation by using special engineering software is promising way to its design, research and optimization. In this work we considered the industrial-scale facility of Western Siberia, which includes a line of methyl tert-butyl ether production in a reactive distillation unit. Aspen HYSYS® was used as an instrument of simulation and further optimization studies. The calculation error of the model does not exceed 5%. Simulation of the feedstock composition changes showed that more preferable hydrocarbon fraction for the process is isobutene-isobutylene fraction. After the optimization study we obtained values of optimal reflux ratio for isobutene-isobutylene fraction to be 0.75 and for butylene-isobutylene fraction - 0.80; optimal methanol flowrate for isobutene-isobutylene fraction is 6.500 ton/h, for butylene-isobutylene fraction-6.000 ton/h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]