Esterification in CSTRs in Series with Aspen HYSYS

Using Aspen HYSYS V8.0

Revised: November 26, 2012

2012 Aspen Technology, Inc. All rights reserved

Reaction Kinetics

2012 Aspen Technology, Inc. All rights reserved

Reversible Reaction Characteristics

Forward and reverse reactions happen simultaneously and continue occurring at equilibrium
Equilibrium occurs when forward and reverse reactions happen at the same rate Equilibrium constant is quotient of the forward and reverse reaction constants

Analytical solution requires solving coupled ordinary differential equations (ODEs)

2012 Aspen Technology, Inc. All rights reserved

Continuously Stirred Tank Reactor

Assumes perfect mixing in the tank

AB CA0

Effluent stream has same composition as the tank

= 0 = CA CA

Steady state so all time derivatives are zero

2012 Aspen Technology, Inc. All rights reserved

Problem Statement
There are three CSTRs with 2,600 L capacity available Feed stream of 100,000 kg/day with the following composition (in mol-%):
13% acetic acid 35% ethanol 52% water

Is it feasible to use these reactors and the feed stream to produce 9,000 kg/day of ethyl acetate?

2012 Aspen Technology, Inc. All rights reserved

Copyright
Copyright 2012 by Aspen Technology, Inc. (AspenTech). All rights reserved. This work may not be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of AspenTech. ASPENTECH MAKES NO WARRANTY OR REPRESENTATION, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO THIS WORK and assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. In no event will AspenTech be liable to you for damages, including any loss of profits, lost savings, or other incidental or consequential damages arising out of the use of the information contained in, or the digital files supplied with or for use with, this work. This work and its contents are provided for educational purposes only. AspenTech, aspenONE, and the Aspen leaf logo, are trademarks of Aspen Technology, Inc.. Brands and product names mentioned in this documentation are trademarks or service marks of their respective companies.

2012 Aspen Technology, Inc. All rights reserved