Eo Gas Treatment Process By Bocon Eo Scrubber
Publish Time:2023-10-16
3. Treatment Process
3.1 Brief introduction to process
The process principle is that EO and water can react under the catalytic action of acid to generate ethylene glycol (EG), diethylene glycol (DEG), triethylene glycol (TEG), little polyethylene glycol and trace polyester polyol, and at the same time EO and water can be mutually dissolved in any proportion. This is why EO waste gas can be treated through a reaction and absorption column.
How to increase the reaction rate and quickly reduce the concentration of EO in aqueous solution, is the key in the whole reaction. In this technical proposal, the following measures are taken to improve the reaction rate of EO and ensure the absorption efficiency: (1) Homogeneous catalyst is used to improve the reaction rate; (2) The reaction and absorption column is divided into five independent units to realize gradient reaction and absorption.
During this process, the mixture of alcohols containing 30-40% EG is generated, which can be sold as products; at the same time, no secondary pollutant is generated or discharged in the waste gas treatment process, so the treatment system is safe and stable, and is suitable for waste gas treatment at the working conditions of the sterilizer.
3.2 Process Flow
Schematic Diagram of Process Flow
3.2.1 Gas-water separation
The gas-water separator is placed near the vacuum pump of the sterilizer. The gas-water mixture discharged by the vacuum pump is separated by the separator, after which the liquid phase is cooled by the cooling-water unit, and the cooled liquid phase is returned to the vacuum pump for recycling; the gas phase enters the upper space of the steam-water separator for buffering and defogging for further treatment.
3.2.2 Reaction - absorption coupling
The separated gas enters the reaction & absorption column under the action of an induced draft fan. The circulating pump of the absorption column circulates the liquid from the bottom to the top of the absorption column, after which the spray pump works, making the gas and the absorption liquid have full reverse contact under the action of filler in the column. After that, EO is dissolved in water to the maximum extent under the action of similar phase dissolution with the absorption liquid, and the solution with absorbed EO falls back to the bottom of the reaction column, and has rapid reaction under the effect of catalyst to generate mixture alcohols mainly containing EG. The reaction & absorption system, the air inlet and air supplement system and the fan exhaust system are started at the same time.
Solid catalyst, which is our patented technology, can be added to the reactor kettle to accelerate the reaction rate of EO with water and the selectivity to EG. In this way, the EO content in the absorption liquid can be as low as possible and the absorption efficiency can be ensured. Multilayer baffle plates are adopted in the flow of liquid phase to accelerate mass transfer and reaction rate.
3.3 Process Characteristics
3.3.1 Multi-stage countercurrent absorption with large air volume
The gas discharged by the vacuum pump is diluted by supplementary air, which can reduce the instability of the exhaust of the vacuum pump to the greatest extent and ensure the continuity of the waste gas treatment system. The multi-stage countercurrent absorption system verified by simulated calculation can ensure the maximum treatment effect and the minimum operation cost.
3.3.2 Acid catalyzed reaction coupling
Patented technology can be added to the bottom of the absorption column to ensure high selectivity and high conversion rate of water and EO. In this way, the reaction rate can be improved, the concentration of rich liquid can be ensured, and the absorption efficiency can be maximized.
3.4 Process Description
(1) Water volume and flow rate: the flow rate of the spay pump and the air volume of the centrifugal fan can be determined according to the exhaust volume of the vacuum pump;
(2) Acid medium for absorption reaction: 0.5-1.5% sulfuric acid solution (solid acid catalyst can be added);
(3) Temperature and pressure: Although the reaction is exothermic, the increase in temperature and pressure is limited. The reaction temperature is between normal temperature and 50°C, and the pressure is between slight negative pressure and normal pressure;
(4) waste liquid production: ethylene oxide reacts with water in the reactor tower to form a hybrid alcohol solution mainly composed of ethylene glycol. After the reaction, the concentration of ethylene glycol in the reactor will rise. After the density of ethylene glycol in the tower reaches the specified value, the waste liquid will be transferred to the rich liquid tank through the rich liquid pump, and then the new liquid will be added.
(5) Supplement of fresh liquid: after the transfer, fresh reaction liquid should be added to the tower kettle;
(6) Neutralization of discharged solution: The discharged solution should be treated and recycled by a qualified hazardous chemicals & waste liquid treatment plant, and the hazardous waste transfer manifest (five-sheet) should be handled.
(7) Equipment parameters: Maximum operating power: 22kw;
4. System Safety Design
a) Explosion-proof design
According to the national standard GB50058-1992 Code for Design of Electrical Installations in Explosive Atmospheres, the explosion-proof grade of this project is designed as DIIBT4, and the protection rating is IP55.
b) Electrical safety design
On-site electrical devices such as motors, temperature sensors, and pressure transmitters are of flame-proof type, and the explosion-proof grade is DIIBT4.
The isolation-type safety barrier, which is an intrinsically safe explosion-proof structure with the highest explosion-proof grade, is used for switch signal devices such as limit switches and liquid level switches.
A non-explosion-proof cabinet body will be adopted if installed in the area with no explosion hazard and an explosion-proof control cabinet will be adopted if installed on site.
c) Automatic control
Siemens PLC control system is adopted to ensure the safe and reliable operation of the equipment. The touch screen online monitoring system is adopted to realize good human-machine interface so that operators can timely know the running status of the equipment in the daily production process. In case of equipment failure, the operators can analyze and judge the cause of the failure in time and eliminate the failure with the help of the monitoring system.
An RS485 communication interface is reserved in the control system for the connection with the user's DCS system. This interface supports the Modbus protocol.