PROCESS SIMULATION STUDY OF ETHYL ACETATE REACTIVE DISTILLATION COLUMN BY HYSYS® 3.2 SIMULATOR

Abstract

In this paper, reactive distillation column for the production of ethyl acetate from ethanol and acetic acid has been simulated by the simulator tool of HYSYS. This reactive distillation is a promising operation whereby reaction and separation take place within a single distillation column. The thermodynamic properties are calculated with the Wilson, NTRL and UNIQUAC Property Package models which are available in HYSYS simulator program. The effects of water content in feed, bottom temperature and reflux ratio on top temperature and conversion of ethanol are studied when using three thermodynamic models and three feed statuses (upper, intermediate and spilt).The results showed that the best conditions are: bottom temperature (83-86)0C, reflux ratio (2-5) without water content in feed at spilt condition using Wilson as the best model. The study gives evidence about a successful simulation with HYSYS because the results are close with the experimental data of (Calvar et al)[18