ReactiveDistillation Column for Disproportionationof Trichlorosilane to Silane: Reducing Refrigeration Load with IntermediateCondensers.

Thispaper presents a reactive distillation column for the catalyticdisproportionation of trichlorosilane to silane which includes threeconsecutive reversible reactions with a thermodynamic conversion tosilane as low as 0.2% and is of no practical significance using theconventional reactors. This reaction system is however characterizedby a large distinction in the boiling points of the components, whichmakes the reactive distillation extremely favored. Nevertheless, thenormal reactive distillation column possesses the shortage of highrefrigeration requirement as the standard boiling point of the overheadproduct silane is −112 °C. A novel reactive distillationcolumn with intercondensers placed within has been simulated usingAspen Plus package for a feasible alternative to alleviate this drawback.The calculated results show that a reduction in the refrigerationload of more than 97% can be obtained when one intermediate condenseris inserted between the rectifying and reaction zones, and that anothernormal intermediate condenser equipped within the reaction sectioncan further decrease the condensation requirement of the first intermediatecondenser by 50%. Effects of the configuration parameters and operationalconditions have also been investigated for optimal design and operationof the proposed reactor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]