Abstract:
A PROCESS FOR RECOVERING BOTH MECHANICAL ENERGY AND THERMAL ENERGY FROM THE EXHAUST GASES OF AN ETHYLENE OXIDE SYNTHESIS REACTOR. THE EXHAUST GASES ARE PASSED IN HEAT EXCHANGE RELATIONSHIP WITH BOILER FLUE GASES WHICH ARE USED TO DRIVE A GAS TURBINE WHICH IS COUPLED TO THE DRIVE SHAFT OF AN AIR COMPRESSOR. THE EXHAUST GASES DISCHARGING FROM THE TURBINE ARE THEN BURNED IN THE STEAM BOILER. STEAM GENERATED IN THE BOILER IS USED TO DRIVE A STREAM TURBINE WHICH IS ALSO COUPLED TO THE DRIVE SHAFT OF THE AIR COMPRESSOR.
Abstract:
A process for producing ethylene oxide wherein a portion of the gases produced in the process are combusted with supplementary fuel to produce products of combustion that drive a gas turbineair compressor. The compressed air from the air compressor is returned to the ethylene oxide reactor to be used in the production of ethylene oxide.