• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.12 no.12
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• pp.1197-1201
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• 2006

In order to improve the operability in a fully thermally coupled distillation column the main column is separated into an upper and a lower column, and its design method is explained. With a distillation experiment using a two-inch column the operability of the proposed column is examined. Readily available methanol, ethanol and propanol are used as the feed, and the experimental result is compared with that of the HYSYS simulation. It is found from the experiment that the recovery ranges between 58.8% and 68% and the distillation efficiency is lower than that of the simulation. consumes less energy than an original column, it is not widely implemented in practice due to its operational difficulty. However, it is proved that the proposed distillation column can be operated without compressors and it can be practically utilized.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.12 no.9
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• pp.945-953
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• 2006

Though a fully thermally coupled distillation column consumes less energy than an original column, it is not widely implemented in practice due to its operational difficulty. A new fully thermally coupled distillation column is proposed for the operability improvement, and its performance is investigated. The main improvement is the separation of a main column to give an upper and lower columns and the installation of an intermediate heat exchanger between them to regulate the fluctuation of product compositions. A proper manipulation of column pressure in the separated main columns made easy vapor flow without a compressor. The operability improvement is examined in a hexane process from the dynamic simulation using a commercial design software HYSYS. The simulation results indicate that the coupling among inputs and outputs is loosened to make easy manipulation of product compositions in the proposed distillation system.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.327-331
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• 2009

A thermally coupled distillation system is constructed using two columns used in a conventional two column system, and its operability is examined by investigating the dynamic behavior. For the control of three product specifications, the step response test is performed and a $3{\times}3$ control structure using flow rates of overhead and side products and vapor boilup is suggested. The performance of the proposed control system indicates that the specification control of bottom product is the most difficult but the operation of the proposed system is available.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.815-824
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• 2012

Extractive distillation system can be used when the components to be separated have close boiling points or form azeotropes. Extractive distillation is one of the most important and widely used separation methods in chemical process industry. The main disadvantage of the distillation is its high-energy requirements. Thermally coupled distillation system (TCDS) can provide significant savings in energy consumption and capital cost over the operation of sequences based on conventional distillation column. Despite such advantages of the thermally coupled distillation system, the process is not widely used in industry because control and operation of the column are difficult. In this study, we propose several control schemes for thermally coupled distillation system to overcome the difficulties and make the column stable when the process is confronted with feed disturbances. Profile position control scheme shows best control performance among the proposed control schemes.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.341-352
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• 2017

Butyl acetate is produced from acetic acid and butanol via an esterification reaction in a reactive distillation column. Entrainer can be used for efficient removal of produced water from the reaction region, leading to significant improvement of the column performance. Batch reactive distillation has clear advantages over continuous one in terms of flexibility and adaptability in a small plant. We studied batch and semi-batch reactive distillation processes through process simulation and pilot-scale experiments. We investigated process configuration and type of entrainer for improvement of the column performance and suggested a novel cyclic operation strategy using the semi-batch reactive distillation column. The cyclic strategy was shown to give relatively high production rate and stable operation.

• 한국가스학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.10a
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• pp.141-145
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• 2005

DME (Di-Methyl Ether) is a new clean fuel and an environmental-friendly energy resource, also is recently increasing with an alternative interest because of the industrial use. DME has been shown to have excellent properties as a diesel fuel giving emission level better than ULEV standard. So it has been attracting considerable as an alternative diesel fuel. In this study, we carried out simulation of separation and purification process of demo plant for 101on per day DME production, which cause the effect that is important in productivity, from operation results of pilot plant for 50kg per day DME production. The liquefied stream, which was separated by gas-liquid separator after DME reactor, includes $CO_2$, DME, Methanol and $H_2O$. We established three distillation columns for separation and purification of the stream. $CO_2$ was extracted from the stream by first distillation column, DME was extracted by second column and Methanol was extracted by third column. We investigated and analyzed the effect which the actual operation variables cause in efficiency of process and optimized process, finally we got the DME of purity $100\%$.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.739-746
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• 2008

The aim of this study is finding the optimal design parameters and the optimal operation variables of a reactive distillation column. Different from steady state optimization, dynamic optimization makes it possible considering operation ability as well as design problems at process design step. For performing dynamic optimization, dynamic simulation should be done first. If dynamic simulation is already finished, dynamic optimization can be performed with less effort than that of dynamic simulation.Reactive distillation systems involving reaction and separation in a single unit have the potential to reduce capital and operating costs, particularly when reaction have conversion constraint or when azeotropes exist making conventional separation difficult and expensive. This study here present work on the continuous distillation process, the homogeneous catalyzed esterification of methanol and acetic acid, the synthesis of methyl acetate. Based on an equilibrium stage model of a reactive distillation column a dynamic optimization problem was formulated and solved. And the results were verified by performing dynamic simulation and showing the variation of conversion and purity as the variation of the operation variables. As the results of dynamic optimization, this study found optimal feed ratio, reflux ratio and reboiler duty of this system. And as this study applied it to dynamic simulations the dynamic characteristics of a reactive distillation column are showed under optimal operating condition.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.3774-3778
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• 2012

A dynamic simulation of a fully thermally coupled distillation is conducted for the design of a possible operation scheme, and its performance is examined with an example process of reformate fractionation process. The outcome of the dynamic simulation indicates that the column can be operated by using a $3{\times}3$ control structure. The structure consists of three controlled variables of the compositions of overhead, side products and bottom and three manipulated variables of the flow rate of reflux, liquid split ratio between a main column and a prefractionator and steam.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.220-224
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• 1999

Lactic acid was reacted with alcohol into lactate ester, and lactate ester produced in esterification reaction was distilled simultaneously with hydrolysis reaction into lactic acid. When the yields of lactic acid recovered by batch reactive distillations with various alcohols were compared, the yield of lactic acid was increased as the volatility of lactate ester was increased. In this batch reactive distillation, because the mixtures condensed in partial condensor were flown to reboiler through distillation column, the recovery yield of lactic acid was affected by operation temperature of partial condensor. Hydrolysis reaction into lactic acid in distillation column rarelyoccurred because of short retention time of lactate ester and water. Lactate ester was reacted into lactic acid in reboiler.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.9-13
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• 1994

Baikhaju, the traditional Korean rice wine was brewed and distilled at various conditions-at different pressure (760, 460, 260 mmHg), different reflux ratio (3.1 : 1, 1 : 1) and different column conditions (packed and unpacked), and distillation operation was investigated. The sample wine, Baikhaju showed alcohol content of 14.2%, acidity 8.3 (g/100 ml), ethyl acetate 49 ppm, fusel oil 657 ppm. As the distillation was proceeded, alcohol concentration of distillate was decreased and that was higher in atmospheric pressure rather than reduced pressure. When the pressure was increased, the slope showed the relation of alcohol concentration between still liquid and vapour was increased, and also as the reflux ratio was increased, alcohol concentration of distillate was increased, and that was 0.56 mole at the reflux ratio 3.1 : 1 at atmospheric pressure, where 0.54 mole at 1 : 1 reflux ratio. As the distillation was proceeded, the rate of distillation was decreased, and that was higher values in the reduced pressure than atmospheric pressure. The maximum value (0.14 ml/s) of rate of distillation was observed in the packed column at 260 mmHg. As the reflux ratio was increased, the rate of distillation was decreased, and that was 0.05 ml/sec at reflux ratio 3.1 : 1 at atmospheric pressure, where 0.06 ml/sec at 1 : 1 reflux ratio.