Chapter V Process Structure and Description In the preceding chapters, the main raw materials and process are

already specified. The important criteria upon selection of the process are cost, safety and economic impact. In this section, the specific type of equipment chosen is described and the operations are explained in more detail. Also given in this section are the operating conditions and relevant concepts concerning each operation.

Criteria and Selection Vapor Phase Catalytic Oxidation of Ethylene The vapor phase catalytic oxidation of ethylene is carried out continuously in a multi-tubular catalytic reactor. In such a multi-tubular reactor, a heat medium which is used as a fluid for cooling is circulated outside a reaction tube assembly (i.e. on the side of a shell) to maintain the temperature necessary for the reaction, while heat exchange between the process gas in the reactor (process fluid) and the heat medium is simultaneously conducted as performed in heat exchangers. This process prevents the catalyst in the tube from deteriorating owing to the formation of hot spots or excessive local temperature rise in catalyst layer. Hot spots are formed in the catalyst layer when the heat of reaction is not effectively transferred to the heating medium, thus resulting to the reduction in the yield of the desired product and the deterioration of catalytic activity. In this reaction, the feed contains ethane as an impurity. Based from the product information typical specifications, ethane exists in a higher concentration as compared to methane. This is our basis of choosing ethane as a diluent in the ethylene feed. Ethylene together with Ethane at liquid phase is fed into an expander. Inside the expander, the feed is transformed from liquid phase to vapor phase by increasing its temperature and decreasing its pressure. From an initial

temperature and pressure of -20 0C and 50 bars respectively, the expander is operated to give an outlet temperature and pressure of 20 0C and 25 bars respectively.

Oxygen mixing station The ethylene vapor from the expander is transported to the oxygen mixing station and added with 99.5% pure oxygen. The mixing station avoids the flammability conditions of the reactants. This prevents the side reaction that produces Carbon dioxide and water. This station also prevents the explosion of Ethylene at high concentration of oxygen. Preheater conditions The resulting gas mixture is passed through a pre-heater before proceeding to the multi-tubular catalytic reactor for the oxidation process. Preheating decreases the thermal difference of the gas mixture with the reactor. The gas mixture is heated from 20oC to 150oC before going to the oxidation reaction. Reactors condition The oxidation reaction process of ethylene to form ethylene oxide happens in a high pressure and high temperature condition. In order to have high selectivity and conversion rates, the pressure of the reactor must not be less than 10 bars and not be greater than 30 bars. Since the pressure of ethylene from the expander is at 25 bars, the pressure of the reactor can be set to the same pressure to avoid any further unit operations. A high yield reaction can undergo with temperature range of 270oC-300oC. To save energy from further heating, the temperature of the reactor is set to be 270oC. Catalyst Properties The activation energy of the oxidation reaction of ethylene to ethylene oxide can be lowered by the use of catalysts. The addition of such compounds decreases the reaction time thus hastens the process. A commonly used catalyst for oxidation reactions is silver based catalyst. The production of ethylene oxide from ethylene uses metallic silver embedded in alumina. The alumina support enhances the activity, selectivity, and stability of the catalyst thus improves the economy of production. The silver/alumina

catalyst is deposited inside the tube of the reactor. As the gaseous mixture of oxygen and ethylene pass through the tubes, it reacts with the catalyst forming the desired product. Heat exchanger The resulting gaseous mixture from the reactor has high temperature and pressure. However, lower temperature is required for the proceeding processes. In order to comply with the conditions of the processes after the oxidation reaction, the mixture passes through a heat exchanger. At high pressure conditions, shell and tube heat exchanger is suited to use for either gas or liquid substances. this type of heat exchanger consists of a shell (a large pressure vessel) with a bundle of tubes inside it. One fluid runs through the tubes, and another fluid flows over the tubes (through the shell) to transfer heat between the two fluids. An ideal coolant has high thermal capacity, low viscosity, is low-cost, non-toxic, and chemically inert, neither causing nor promoting corrosion of the cooling system. A good coolant choice that satisfies the criteria is water as the coolant liquid. Kulang: (renz) Vapor phase catalytic oxidation ------ Oxygen mixing station purposes, preheater conditions, reactor conditions, catalyst properties, heat exchanger ang gigamit nga heating transfer fluid (shiela) Separation of Ethylene oxide ------ I describe ang scrubber and CO2 removing tower and its mechanism, operating conditions (pamela) Non-catalytic hydrolysis ------- I explain nganung non-catalytic, unsa ang reactor, operating conditions sa reactor, Separation of ethylene glycol ------------------ (pamela) I explain ang triple stage evaporator, operating conditions in every stage sa evaporator, (myr) I explain nganung vacuum distillation, operating conditions in every stage sa distillation, unsay purity sa ma produce nga product EG, and by-products DEG and TEG

For chapter II: (mary anne lihok na tawn!) unsa nga type of reactor(pfr)-multi-tubular catalytic reactor; fluidized, evaporator(3stage), distillation column (vacuum), catalyst (silver alumina),

TO RENZ AND OTHERS: Please kug sugdi nlng ni, hinay hinayi lng og fill-in ang mga areas nga feel nimu ma kaya ra nimu og research and explain (e.g. oxygen mixing station purposes, catalyst properties, scrubber and CO2 removing tower and its mechanism, why non-catalytic, unsa nga type of hydrolysis reactor, nganung vacuum distillation, and purity sa mga ma produce nga product and by-products). Ang uban nga mga data kay ako nalay fill-in kay medyo ako pamay nahibalo, like sa mga operating conditions and the likes.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH