Mixed-phase hydrocarbon conversion process employing total overhead condenser

Claim 1

An exothermic etherification process for the continuous reaction of an olefinic hydrocarbon having less than six carbon atoms per molecule with an alcohol which comprises the steps of: (a) passing said olefinic hydrocarbon and said alcohol into a reaction zone maintained at reaction-promoting conditions and containing a solid etherification catalyst which promotes said exothermic etherification between said olefinic hydrocarbon and said alcohol to form a corresponding ether compound which is less volatile than said alcohol and said olefinic hydrocarbon, and with a vapor phase being forward within the reaction zone at least in part by the vaporization of said alcohol, olefinic hydrocarbon or both, said alcohol and olefinic hydrocarbon vaporized as a result of heat released in said exothermic reaction; (b) condensing substantially all of the condensible vapor in said vapor phase in an upper portion of said reaction zone by indirect heat exchange with a fluid of lower temperature than said vapor phase to form a condensate liquid phase containing substantially all of said condensibles present in the vapor phase including both reactants comprising said olefinic hydrocarbon and said alcohol in liquid phase; (c) passing downwardly through the reaction zone from a point elevated with respect to the etherification catalyst all of said condensate liquid phase including both said reactant within said reaction zone; (d) removing said formed ether compounds as a liquid phase effluent stream from a bottom portion of said reaction zone in accompaniment with substantially all of said alcohol and olefinic hydrocarbon added to said reaction zone in step (a) and not consumed in said etherification reaction zone; and (e) recovering said ether compound from said liquid phase effluent stream.