Formaldehyde process: steam production
Formaldehyde process: steam production
(OP)
Hello,
In Formaldehyde plants (with metal oxide catalyst) steam is produced in a heat exchanger by condensing vapors of a thermal fluid which is circulated in the Formaldehyde reactor jacket.
Can someone clarify why the water is not circulated directly in reactor jacket?
regards,
roker
In Formaldehyde plants (with metal oxide catalyst) steam is produced in a heat exchanger by condensing vapors of a thermal fluid which is circulated in the Formaldehyde reactor jacket.
Can someone clarify why the water is not circulated directly in reactor jacket?
regards,
roker





RE: Formaldehyde process: steam production
There may also be statutory factors. Here in South Africa a boiler is legally defined as "a device generating vapours from a source other than steam". This would make the reactor a boiler, with all the rules and regulations that go with it. It is easier to satisfy the regulations (at least here in SA) in a separate vessel.
RE: Formaldehyde process: steam production
HCHO plants use shell and tube reactors with anywhere from 10,000 to 18,000 tubes. Typically these are 5.0 ft x 1.0 inch OD, 13ga and set at a pitch of about 1.25 inch. Max operating pressure using the oil is about 2.6 bar, with water you would require in excess of 85 bar!