[2026 Distillation Technology] Adjustment of Distillation Column Process Parameters and Influencing Factors (6)
Thread Content
『6』In distillation operations, what are the reasons why the temperature of the reactor tank sometimes fails to rise? In the heating-up process during startup and during normal operation, distillation columns may encounter the problem of the reactor temperature failing to rise. During the heating process while the machine is in operation, the reason why the temperature of the reactor does not rise may be: ① The drain trap (or air release valve) in the heating system is malfunctioning ； ②The return valve of the pumping station is not open ； ③The steam condensate in the reboiler has not been drained, so steam cannot be introduced ； ④There is a large amount of water present in the material at the bottom of the tower (water is immiscible with the material) ； ⑤The unreasonable design of the equipment hinders the circulation of the liquid in the tank ； ⑥Due to improper operation (too late heating of the reboiler or excessive and sudden feed rate), an excessive amount of light components are returned to the bottom of the tower, making it difficult to raise the temperature in the tank to normal levels. This phenomenon occurs particularly easily in towers fed with liquid at low temperatures. At this point, the feed rate, feed composition, or the amount of product taken from the top of the tower should be changed in order to adjust the operation.
Under normal operation, the reasons why the temperature of the reactor cannot be increased may include: ① Blockage in the liquid-phase circulation pipe of the reboiler at the bottom of the tower, which prevents the reactor fluid from circulating； ②Coking of the material inside the reboiler tubes or blockage of the tubes ； ③The drain air-lock valve is malfunctioning ； ④The composition of the bottom liquid in the tower is too heavy; the existing heating agent is not sufficient to heat the liquid to its bubble point, resulting in poor circulation of the liquid in the tower ； ⑤The heat medium pressure in the heating tank has dropped ； ⑥The level of the liquid in the kettle is too low or too high.