CPC C07C 41/09 (2013.01) [B01D 3/009 (2013.01); B01D 3/346 (2013.01); C07C 41/42 (2013.01)] | 12 Claims |
3. A reactor system for preparation of dialkyl ether, the reactor system comprising:
a step conical fixed bed reactor divided into an upper section and a lower section by a perforated screen, wherein the perforated screen is configured for supporting a catalyst and wherein the upper section and the lower section have varying steps diameter adapted to provide a surface area for contact of the catalyst with a fresh incoming feed;
a phase separator connected to the step conical fixed bed reactor through a heat exchanger, wherein the phase separator is configured to remove an output stream of an unreacted reactant and a by-product by keeping a temperature of 120° C. at a bottom of the phase separator using the heat exchanger, wherein the unreacted reactant comprises an alcohol and the by-product comprises water;
a reactive distillation column adapted to distill the unreacted reactant and the by-product to separate the unreacted reactant as a vapour;
a reflux inlet adapted to further purify the unreacted reactant by refluxing a fresh alcohol; and
a polishing catalyst zone adapted to react with a vapour phase of the alcohol from the reactive distillation column to form dialkyle ether and water.
|