Abstract:

By calculating the material balance and heat balance in EO catalytic hydration process, a simple mathematical model was established for reactor calculation, the effect of two heat removal methods using water and circulating material as cold media respectively in controlling the maximum temperature of reactor was analyzed, and the variations of temperature and reactant conversion with tube length during the reaction were calculated. The analysis on maximum temperature of reactor shows that in EO catalytic hydration process, the raw materials can be quickly converted with a conversion rate of 90% in the presence of catalyst, and a large amount of reaction heat can be released. At this time, the maximum temperature of heat removal by water is close to that of heat removal by circulating material. Taking energy utilization and the design, manufacture and operation of reactor into consideration, the heat removal by circulating material is recommended.

Key words: EO catalytic hydration, heat removal by water, heat removal by circulating material, maximum temperature