Effect of Operating Conditions on the Multiple Steady States in Reactive Distillation

Abstract

The effects of operating conditions such as reflux ratio and reboiler duty on the product composition and reaction performance were discussed based on a simulation model of reactive distillation with multiple steady states （MSS）. The region of MSS, determined by bifurcation analysis, was found to shift toward higher reboiler duty along with increase of reflux ratio. Separation and reaction performance under the MSS condition was higher than that in the absence of an MSS region.