Method for operating a catalytic distillation process

Claim 1

A method for operating a catalytic distillation process, comprising the steps of: (a) introducing reactants into a feed zone of a distillation reaction column having an upper zone containing a catalytic distillation structure which defines a reaction distillation zone and a lower zone containing conventional inert distillation structure which defines a distillation zone; (b) simultaneously in said reaction distillation zone (1) reacting at least a portion of the reactants to form reaction products, and (2) separating the reaction products and/or reactants by fractional distillation; (c) restricting the downward flow of internal reflux between said reaction distillation zone and said distillation zone to maintain a liquid level above the restriction for additional contact and reaction of the liquid and distillation vapors, said liquid level being a froth characterized as having an increased density of the material in the reaction distillation zone compared to a distillation carried out in the absence of said froth.

Claim 2

A method for operating a catalytic distillation process, comprising the steps of: (a) introducing reactants into a feed zone of a distillation reaction column having an upper zone containing a catalytic distillation structure which defines a reaction distillation zone and a lower zone containing conventional inert distillation structure which defines a distillation zone; (b) simultaneously in said reaction distillation zone (1) reacting at least a portion of the reactants to form reaction products, and (2) separating the reaction products and/or reactants by fractional distillation; (c) restricting the downward flow of internal reflux between said reaction distillation zone and said distillation zone to maintain a liquid level above the restriction for additional contact and reaction of the liquid and distillation vapors, said liquid level being a froth characterized as having an increased density of the material in the reaction distillation zone compared to a distillation carried out in the absence of said froth.

Claim 7

A method for operating a catalytic distillation process, comprising the steps of: (a) introducing reactants into a feed zone of a distillation reaction column having an upper reaction distillation zone containing a catalytic distillation structure and a lower distillation zone containing conventional inert distillation structure; (b) simultaneously in said upper reaction distillation zone (1) reacting at least a portion of the reactants to form reaction products, and (2) separating the reaction products and/or reactants by fractional distillation; (c) restricting the downward flow of internal reflux between said upper and lower zones to maintain a froth level in said upper zone having an increased density of the material in the reaction distillation zone compared to a distillation carried out in the absence of said froth; and (d) fractionating by fractional distillation reactants and/or reaction products in said lower distillation zone.

Claim 8

A method for operating a catalytic distillation process, comprising the steps of: (a) introducing reactants into a feed zone of a distillation reaction column having an upper reaction distillation zone containing a catalytic distillation structure and a lower distillation zone containing conventional inert distillation structure; (b) simultaneously in said upper reaction distillation zone (1) reacting at least a portion of the reactants to form reaction products, and (2) separating the reaction products and/or reactants by fractional distillation; (c) restricting the downward flow of internal reflux between said upper and lower zones to maintain a froth level in said upper zone having an increased density of the material in the reaction distillation zone compared to a distillation carried out in the absence of said froth; and (d) fractionating by fractional distillation reactants and/or reaction products in said lower distillation zone.

Claim 10

A method for operating a catalytic distillation process, comprising the steps of: (a) introducing reactants into a feed zone of a distillation reaction column having an upper reaction distillation zone containing a catalytic distillation structure and a lower distillation zone containing conventional inert distillation structure; (b) simultaneously in said upper reaction distillation zone (1) reacting at least a portion of the reactants to form reaction products, and (2) separating the reaction products and/or reactants by fractional distillation; (c) measuring the differential pressure across said upper reaction distillation zone; (d) controlling the downward flow of internal reflux between said upper and lower zones in response to said differential pressure measurement to maintain a froth level in said upper zone having an increased density of the material in the reaction distillation zone compared to a distillation carried out in the absence of said froth; and (e) fractionating by fractional distillation reactants and/or reaction products in said lower distillation zone.

Claim 11

A method for operating a catalytic distillation process, comprising the steps of: (a) introducing reactants into a feed zone of a distillation reaction column having an upper reaction distillation zone containing a catalytic distillation structure and a lower distillation zone containing conventional inert distillation structure; (b) simultaneously in said upper reaction distillation zone (1) reacting at least a portion of the reactants to form reaction products, and (2) separating the reaction products and/or reactants by fractional distillation; (c) measuring the differential pressure across said upper reaction distillation zone; (d) controlling the downward flow of internal reflux between said upper and lower zones in response to said differential pressure measurement to maintain a froth level in said upper zone having an increased density of the material in the reaction distillation zone compared to a distillation carried out in the absence of said froth; and (e) fractionating by fractional distillation reactants and/or reaction products in said lower distillation zone.

Claim 12

A method for operating a catalytic distillation process, comprising the steps of: (a) introducing reactants into a feed zone of a distillation reaction column having an upper zone containing a catalytic distillation structure which defines a reaction distillation zone and a lower zone containing conventional inert distillation structure which defines a distillation zone; (b) simultaneously in said reaction distillation zone (1) reacting at least a portion of the reactants to form reaction products, and (2) separating the reaction products and/or reactants by fractional distillation; and (c) restricting the downward flow of internal reflux between said reaction distillation zone and said distillation zone to maintain a liquid level above the restriction for additional contact and reaction of the liquid and distillation vapors, said liquid level being a froth characterized as having an increased density of the material in the reaction distillation zone compared to a distillation carried out in the absence of said froth; and (d) detecting and controlling said liquid level by the differential pressure across said reaction distillation zone compared to the differential pressure across said reaction distillation zone absent said froth.

Claim 13

A method for operating a catalytic distillation process, comprising the steps of: (a) introducing reactants into a feed zone of a distillation reaction column having an upper zone containing a catalytic distillation structure which defines a reaction distillation zone and a lower zone containing conventional inert distillation structure which defines a distillation zone; (b) simultaneously in said reaction distillation zone (1) reacting at least a portion of the reactants to form reaction products, and (2) separating the reaction products and/or reactants by fractional distillation; and (c) restricting the downward flow of internal reflux between said reaction distillation zone and said distillation zone to maintain a liquid level above the restriction for additional contact and reaction of the liquid and distillation vapors, said liquid level being a froth characterized as having an increased density of the material in the reaction distillation zone compared to a distillation carried out in the absence of said froth; and (d) detecting and controlling said liquid level by the differential pressure across said reaction distillation zone compared to the differential pressure across said reaction distillation zone absent said froth.