A METHOD OF MAKING GLYCOL IN AN ADIABATIC REACTOR SYSTEM

摘要

A METHOD FOR MAKING GLYCOL IN AN ADIABATIC REACTOR SYSTEM INCLUDING FEEDING WATER (1) AND AN EPOXIDE (2) INTO AT LEAST ONE ADIABATIC REACTOR UNDER CONDITIONS SUCH THAT EPOXIDE (2) AND THE WATER (1) REACT TO FORM A GLYCOL PRODUCT STREAM (6). THE ADIABATIC REACTOR (5) CONTAINS A CATALYST BED WHICH UNDERGOES SWELLING DURING ITS USEFUL LIFETIME, AND THE ADIABATIC REACTOR (5) OPERATES UNDER CONDITIONS SUFFICIENT TO REDUCE THE RATE OF CATALYST SWELLING RELATIVE TO A NON-ADIABATIC REACTOR SYSTEM. OTHER ASPECTS OF THE INVENTION INCLUDE THE COMBINATION OF SPLITTING THE FEED BETWEEN MULTIPLE ADIABATIC REACTORS IN COMBINATION WITH THE CROSS EXCHANGE OF HEAT BETWEEN FEEDS (1,2) AND PRODUCTS WITH HEAT EXCHANGERS (7), SUCH THAT AN ENERGY EFFICIENT PROCESS THAT PROVIDES LONG CATALYST STABILITY AND MINIMAL CATALYST SWELLING RESULTS.