Reaction control method and control apparatus

Abstract

While supplying methanol and carbon monoxide via feed lines 17 and 19 , respectively, to a liquid phase reaction system 3 including a carbonylation catalytic system, and maintaining a substantially constant liquid level of the reaction system, part of the reaction mixture containing the produced acetic acid is drawn out from the reaction system and supplied to a flash distillation column 4 , and the high boiling point component, which contains the carbonylation catalytic system that has been separated by ths flash distillation, is circulated to the reaction system 3 by means of a circulation line 21 . At circulation line 21 , the flow rate is detected by a flow rate sensor F 3 and the temperature is detected by a temperature sensor T 2 , and based on the detection data, a control unit 8 is used to control the temperature of the circulated high boiling point component by means of a temperature regulating unit 6 and thereby to suppress temperature and pressure fluctuations of the above-mentioned reaction system. According to the present invention, restraint and stabilization of temperature and pressure fluctuations in a liquid phase reaction system (such as a carbonylation reaction system, etc.) can be realized.

1 . A control apparatus comprising: 
 a liquid phase reaction system, into which reaction components are supplied continuously at a predetermined rate;    a separation unit, into which part of the reaction product from the reaction system is supplied continuously,    a temperature control unit for controlling the temperature of the separated component that has been separated by the separation unit; and    a circulation line for circulating the separated component that has been adjusted in temperature by the temperature control unit to the reaction system,    wherein said control apparatus comprises:    a flow rate sensor for detecting the circulation rate of the separated component in said circulation line;    a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the separated component in said circulation line; and    a control unit, by means of said temperature control unit, for controlling the heat quantity of the circulated separated component based on the detection data from said flow rate sensor and temperature sensor.    
   
   
       2 . A control apparatus according to  claim 1 , which further comprises: 
 a refining unit for separating the low boiling point component that has been separated by the separation unit into a second low boiling point component, a component containing a carboxylic acid, and a second high boiling point component; and    a second circulation line for circulating the second low boiling point component that has been separated by the refining unit to the reaction system,    wherein the liquid phase reaction system is a reaction system without a cooling unit and is an exothermic reaction, and the control unit is a unit for controlling the heat quantity of the separated component that is lower in temperature than the reaction system by means of the temperature control unit to control or regulate the reaction temperature by the circulation rate of the circulated separated component.