Energy Saving Steps

Rectification is an energy intensive thermal separation process. The main task, therefore, in consideration of increasing energy costs and a decreasing supply of conventional energy sources, is to keep the energy consumption of processes as low as possible. This is achieved with respect to produc- 

In general the demands of valid energy saving measures [2.24] are that  

A small stage-specific pressure drop is required, particularly with vacuum distillation. Column internals with low pressure drops allow energy savings as well as heat transfer at a lower temperature level. 

Selection of the optimum cost separation sequence with direct energy link (see also Table 2-11). 

Column operation with reduced pressure, use of low-pressure drop column internals Application of heat transformation 

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A CD process for the production of DAA from acetone was developed previously in our laboratory and the kinetics of the aldol condensation of acetone were characterized (13,14). CD is a green reactor technology that provides enhanced yield and selectivity in addition to significant energy savings (15). The one-step synthesis of MIBK by CD appears to be a simple extension of this process. However, the introduction of hydrogen to this system opens... 

Two cryogenic cooling steps and three low-temperature processing steps have been eliminated, with consequent energy savings. 

Step 3 isolation purification In this step, again there are major energy savings with the energy use being reduced from 27.7 to 7.2 MJ/kg. The reasons are that in the classical process there now needs to be a classical resolution and saltbreaking operation, whereas in the enzymatic process the substrate is already chirally pure, and the process is just a simple purification operation. 

One can see that the elimination of the drying operation represents a large potential energy saving. As a first step, one can use a hopper dryer so that pellets that are at the elevated drying temperature are fed to the machine. This eliminates the heat loss to the surroundings which occurs in tray dryers. Drying may be eliminated entirely in certain instances as described in two recent developments. HPM (11) has developed a vented injec-... 

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