Dynamic Modelling of An Industrial Ethylene Oxide Reactor

Avi. A. Cornelio*

Process Control Laboratory, Department of Biochemical and Chemical Engineering,
Universität Dortmund, D-44221 Dortmund, Germany

Paper received : 18.4.06 Revised paper accepted : 31.8.06

A dynamic model of an industrial packed bed multi tubular reactor used to manufacture ethylene oxide (EO) is developed in this work. EO is manufactured by catalytic oxidation of ethylene with oxygen over a silver-based catalyst. A side reaction of ethylene with oxygen gives carbon dioxide and water as by-products. These gas phase reactions are highly exothermic. This model can be described by a system of non-linear partial differential equations. gPROMS® is used to integrate by common numerical techniques. This model is benchmarked against an industrial EO reactor. The model predicted data reasonably fits the plant data. The heterogeneous two phase model developed initially is reduced to a single phase homogeneous model. A comparison of the two models is done and the accuracy is tested against plant data. The simulation of the models can well predict the reactor behaviour. The packed bed multitubular reactor is modelled to gain an insight into the production process. A pseudohomogeneous analysis is considered sufficient for accurate data prediction of the reactor. The simulation will allow operators to gain deeper process understanding and to analyse optimal reactor operating conditions.

 

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