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Design and Control of Ethyl Acetate–Ethanol Separation via Pressure-Swing Distillation

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Abstract

Ethyl acetate can be obtained directly from ethanol by dehydrogenation and this is respected as a promising process. This work explores the design and control of pressure-swing distillation systems for separation of ethyl acetate/ethanol during the ethyl acetate production process. Rigorous steady-state and dynamic simulations are implemented using commercial simulators Aspen Plus and Aspen Dynamics. The dynamic simulation results reveal that the control structure CS1 are unable to maintain the bottom products at their quality specifications while control structure CS2 can only hold the quality specification of ethanol from the bottom of atmospheric column with feed flow rate disturbance. The dynamic responses of dual temperature control (CS3) work pretty well for this partially heat-integrated pressure-swing distillation, even for large feed flow rate and composition disturbances. Effectiveness of dual temperature control with QR/F ratio fixed control structure for feed flow rate disturbance is investigated and results indicated a better performance.

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This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of Ministry of Education, R&D Center for Petrochemical Technology, Tianjin University, 300072, Tianjin, PR China

    Liu Shuhan, Sun Yamei, Dong Xiuqin & Yu Yingzhe

  2. Zhejiang Institute of Tianjin University, Ningbo, 315201, Zhejiang, China

    Liu Shuhan, Sun Yamei, Dong Xiuqin & Yu Yingzhe

  3. State Key Laboratory of Engines, Tianjin University, 300072, Tianjin, China

    Liu Shuhan, Sun Yamei, Dong Xiuqin & Yu Yingzhe

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  1. Liu Shuhan
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Shuhan, L., Yamei, S., Xiuqin, D. et al. Design and Control of Ethyl Acetate–Ethanol Separation via Pressure-Swing Distillation. Theor Found Chem Eng 57, 917–932 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0040579523050469

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