Figure 6.6.2-2 is a schematic diagram of a continuous PET/TPA process, and the numbers and letters<br>following refer to this figure. Raw materials are brought on site and stored (1). Terephthalic acid, in powder<br>form, may be stored in silos. The ethylene glycol is stored in tanks. The terephthalic acid and ethylene<br>glycol, containing catalysts, are mixed in a tank (2) to form a paste. In the mix tank, ethylene glycol flows<br>into a manifold that sprays the glycol through many small slots around the periphery of the vent line. The<br>terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol are mixed by kneading elements working in opposite directions.<br>Combining these materials into a paste is a simple means of introducing them to the process, allowing more<br>accurate control of the feed rates to the esterification vessels. A portion of the paste is recycled to the mix<br>tank. This paste recycle and feed rates of TPA and ethylene glycol are used to maintain an optimum paste<br>density or weight percent of terephthalic acid.<br>The paste from the mix tanks is fed, using gear pumps to meter the flow, to a series of esterification<br>vessels (referred to as esterifiers, or ester exchange reactors). Two or more esterifiers may be used.<br>Residence time is controlled by valves in the transfer lines between each vessel. These esterifiers are closed,<br>pressurized reactors. Pressure and temperature operating conditions in the primary esterifier (3) are between<br>30 and 50 pounds per square inch gauge (psig) and 230 to 260EC (446 to 500EF), respectively. Vapors,<br>primarily water (steam) and glycol, are vented to a reflux column or distillation column. A heat exchanger<br>cools the vapors. Recovered glycol is returned to the primary esterifier. The water vapor is condensed using<br>29EC (85EF) cooling water in a shell-and-tube condenser and then is discharged to the waste water treatment<br>system. The monomer formed in the primary esterifier and the remaining reactants are pumped to the<br>secondary esterifier.
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