Equilibrium Theory and Nonlinear Waves for Reaction Separation Processes

Equilibrium Theory and Nonlinear Waves for Reaction Separation Processes 

In this chapter, unifying concepts for analyzing and understanding the dynamics of integrated reaction separation processes with rapid chemical reactions are introduced. The text is based on some recent studies [11-13], and extends the concepts introduced earlier for reactive distillation processes [23] to other integrated reaction separation processes. The class of processes to be considered is rather broad. It includes reaction processes where simultaneous separation is used to enhance a reaction, for example, by shifting inherent equilibrium limitations. Various process examples of this kind are provided in this book. The chapter also includes separation processes with potentially reactive mixtures. In this case, a chemical reaction can be either an unwanted side effect or it can be used directly to achieve a certain separation, which is not possible under nonreactive conditions (see e.g. Ref. [10]). The latter represents a reaction-enhanced separation. 

The outline of this chapter is as follows First, some basic wave phenomena for separation, as well as integrated reaction separation processes, are illustrated. Afterwards, a simple mathematical model is introduced, which applies to a large class of separation as well as integrated reaction separation processes. In the limit of reaction equilibrium the model represents a system of quasilinear first-order partial differential equations. For the prediction of wave solutions of such systems an almost complete theory exists [33, 34, 38], which is summarized in a second step. Subsequently, application of this theory to different integrated reaction separation processes is illustrated. The emphasis is placed on reactive distillation and reactive chromatography, but applications to other reaction separation processes are also 

Integrated Chemical Processes. Edited by K. Sundmacher, A. Kienle and A. Seidel-Morgenstern Copyright 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH Co. KGaA, Weinheim ISBN 3-527-30831-8 

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