Reactive dividing wall distillation columns: Simulation and implementation in a pilot plant

We performed steady state and dynamic simulations of a reactive Petlyuk column through an equivalent reactive dividing wall column (RDWDC). In the case of the reaction between ethanol and acetic acid catalyzed by sulfuric acid to produce ethyl acetate and water, we have found that the reactive Petlyuk column can achieve set point changes in two control loops of temperature. Also, for load rejection, the control loops can eliminate the effect of the disturbances in the feed composition. These results and previous knowledge reported about thermally coupled distillation columns and reactive distillation were considered to design and implement a RDWDC.