Design of a Continuous Stirred Tank Reactor for Acetic Acid Production Using Homogeneous Catalyzed Reaction

Abstract

The carbonylation of methanol to give acetic acid is one of the most important homogeneously catalyzed industrial processes. Detailed work has been carried out by researchers on its kinetic study and attempt to increase the activity of the catalyst. In this work attention is focused on the design of a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) for the production of 210, 000 tons per year of acetic acid. At a maximum conversion of 99%, the volume of the reactor was obtained as 195.16 m3, diameter and height of reactor as 5 m and 10 m respectively, and the motor power required by the agitator as 212.99 kW. Also, for the heat exchanger required by the reactor, the overall heat transfer coefficient was obtained as 131.128 W/m2.K, actual heat transfer area as 8.23 m2 and number of coils as 6. The performance models were simulated using MATLAB 7.9 for conversion ranging from 0 to 99%. A parametric analysis was carried out to access the effect of fractional conversion on the functional parameters of the reactor.