7 replies to this topic

[process-man]

Dear all
I intend to put a condenser at the top of my emulsion reactor (to produce styrene butadiene rubber latex) by which the unreacted monomers (mainly 1,3 Butadiene) can be condensed and returned back to the reaction media.
Now I was wondering if someone inform me the best position of condenser and piping , I mean entirely vertical or inclined as exhibited in attached file.

Attached Files

•  condenser arrangements.xlsx   83.96KB   440 downloads

[breizh]

Process man

Do you mean that the condenser is in service during the polymerisation step ? Normally in this process the reaction is taking place under pressure and the end of the process the remaining monomers are stripped off under vacuum .

Probably you will get insight from Latexman .
Breizh

[process-man]

Breizh
Yes, I intend to keep the condenser in service (fully in normal operation of 10 hours). Do you have any comments? instead of stripping the unreacted monomers at the end of reaction , I believe that we might be able to increase the conversion by this method as I have seen this in several plants ( PVAC , Acrylic resins , etc).

[breizh]

I don't see the purpose of the condenser as you will feed your reactor with Butadiene .
On safety point of view pay attention that you are working under pressure , meaning risk for leak at the flanges ,manhole,.....

Breizh

[process-man]

Breizh
As you know , the vapor press of 1,3 Bu at 10 barg is about 78 Deg C , whereas the XSBR reactor press&temp initially are 10 barg, and 80-85 degC. So a part of Bu will evaporate from liquid emulsion media and go to the gas space , thus reducing the conversion. By adding an inclined condenser , we can increase the conversion.

[Santoshp9]

Dear Process Man when I was working in latex plant At Apcotex Industries taloja,Our condensers were in vertical position.The polymerisation reaction is exothermic so we put chilled water flow to reactor and also in condenser.The most of the reaction took place at a temp about 85-90°C at pressure about 9-10bar. dUE TO HIGH PRESSURE IN REACTOR almost monomers get convered to ppolymer.

[CelsoM]

Dear Process-Man,

I think the arrangement No. 1 is better and more efficient. With the vertical condenser, if cooling is not enough for complete condensation before vapor gets to the top the condenser and reactor will accumulate pressure. Arrangement 1 allows the vapor to stand on the tubes and flow as condensate downright.

Celsom

[process-man]

CelsoM
Thank you for your comment, but I myself believe that in case of vertical condenser , the heat transfer coefficient is somehow 10 times more than that of horizontal or partly inclined condensers, due to dropwise condensation vs. film condensation.
What do others think about this thread?