Esterification plant shutdown

A small batch plant producing ethyl acetate may need to be shut down for an emergency,<br>The plant consists of a single reactor with an internal heating coil and a reflux column. a liquid/liquid extraction column and a distillation column.<br>What would be the best way to shut dwon in the case of an emergency (in general terms)?<br>(General order of shutdown)

 

[whylie]

Dear John..

It is a general case in any emergency to :

1.Cut the heating to stop the reaction and distillation.

2.Keep the cold reflux pump and the cooling water in the overhead condenser.

3.As the plant unit cools down,check your temperature and pressure .

4.You can stop everything and purge with nitrogen.

Do your repair ,and start again..making sure you do not have explosive ethanol/air mixture.

Regards Whylie