Exergy Analysis of a Reactive Distillation MTBE Unit

Abstract

In this paper application of exergy analysis to the reactive distillation system of a Methyl TerButyl Ether (MTBE) production unit of a crude oil refinery is presented. In a refinery, the MTBE is obtained from methanol, and butanes (isobutylenes) produced in the fluidized catalytic cracking (FCC) unit. The reactives (isobutylenes) after purification are introduced to the main reaction system, the products of which are sent to the reactive distillation system to complete the reaction. A top rectification section, a bottom stripping section and a medium reaction section, compose the reactive column. The results of the exergy analysis of the unit indicate that the main exergy losses (about 63%) of the MTBE plant occur in the reactive distillation system, particularly in the distillation column itself and in its associated condenser. A detailed exergy analysis of the system, is presented in this paper.

• This paper was presented at the ECOS'00 Conference in Enschede, July 5-7, 2000 

Keywords

• exergy analysis, reactive distillation, MTBE, improvement potential