Kolja Neumann

An Integrated Design Method for Rotating Packed Beds for Distillation

Abstract In this work a design method is presented that is capable of calculating design and operating parameters of a rotating packed bed (RPB) for distillation for a given separation task. As part of this design method an approach to model the mass transfer inside RPBs is presented. Therefore, a new, equiareal discretization is introduced and the mass transfer is modeled using a flexible, but simple correlation based on the newly introduced integrated centrifugal acceleration, which is capable of describing the additionally applied energy to each discrete element. The design procedure is addressed and successfully applied to a floating methanol process. The results prove the applicability of the design method to industrial separation tasks for distillation and the feasibility of the implementation of RPBs to the floating methanol process.

Computer-aided process analysis of an integrated biodiesel process incorporating reactive distillation and organic solvent nanofiltration

Abstract To enable the use of alternative cheap feedstock in the production of biodiesel, such as waste cooking oils, the contained free fatty acids have to be separated from the triglycerides. For that purpose an integrated process incorporating reactive distillation and organic solvent nanofiltration is proposed. To determine the potential of the integrated process a detailed model was developed for computer-aided process analysis. Necessary parameters such as permeabilities and kinetics were estimated based on experimental investigations. Process analysis revealed that reactive distillation is a suitable process for the pre-treatment of waste cooking oil and that the application of organic solvent nanofiltration could enhance profitability of the process.