PROCESS AND INSTALLATION FOR THE PRODUCTION OF DIALKYL ETHER

摘要

The present invention pertains to a process for the production of dialkyl ether wherein a C1-C3 alcohol is fed into a distillation column (2) comprising a reboiler (5) at its bottom, a condenser (4) at its top, a feed inlet (11) at a level between the reboiler and the condenser, and a stack of stages (6) in the column's interior, including stages (8) carrying a bed of catalytic material, the stages comprising sluices (19) which are simultaneously moved between a vapour flow position, allowing vapour to flow upwards through the catalytic beds during a vapour flow period, and a liquid flow position, allowing fluid to flow from an upper stage to a lower stage during a liquid flow period.