Optimization of a batch reactive distillation column with process constraints for saving of energy consumption

Abstract

The hybrid process integreating chemical reaction with the distillation column has been increasingly received much interest in many industries because it has many advantages. The optimization tehnique is applied with a batch reactive distillation for increased efficency of the production system such as increased products, decreased raw material, reduced waste and reduced energy consumption. In many past year, the energy consumption is not be considered in the optimization process with a batch reactive distillation column leading to increased cost operation and the distillated product with only 80% maximum by mole of the ethyl acetate. Thus, this work presents the optimization of a bath reactive distillation column by operating constant heat duty for 16 hr. The aims of optimization are to compute the optimal reflux ratio and the heat duty in order to obtain the maximization amount of ethyl acetate by saving heat energy consumption subject to 90% of product purty and fixed bath time. The number of time interval, the objective function and the number of decision variable are the factors affecting the amout of desired product and the energy comsumption. The amount of the desired product increases and the profit increases whereas the energy consumption decreases when anumber or intervals increase. In addition, the maximum product and minimum heat duty problem by manipulating reflux ratio and heat duty for 8 intervals uses the minimum of energy consumption per amount of desired product whereas the maximum product by manipulating heat duty for 16 intervas acheives the maximum amount of desired product.