The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 11, 2014
Filed:
Nov. 19, 2009
Bernd Ahlers, Dietzenbach, DE;
Gerhard Birke, Frankfurt am Main, DE;
Harald Koempel, Neu-Isenburg, DE;
Hermann Bach, Heiligenroth, DE;
Martin Rothaemel, Frankfurt am Main, DE;
Waldemar Liebner, Oberursel, DE;
Walter Boll, Frankfurt am Main, DE;
Veronika Gronemann, Karben, DE;
Bernd Ahlers, Dietzenbach, DE;
Gerhard Birke, Frankfurt am Main, DE;
Harald Koempel, Neu-Isenburg, DE;
Hermann Bach, Heiligenroth, DE;
Martin Rothaemel, Frankfurt am Main, DE;
Waldemar Liebner, Oberursel, DE;
Walter Boll, Frankfurt am Main, DE;
Veronika Gronemann, Karben, DE;
Air Liquide Global E&C Solutions Germany GmbH, Frankfurt am Main, DE;
Abstract
A process produces dimethyl ether (DME) from methanol (MeOH). The process includes charging a feed mixture consisting of raw MeOH and a process-internally obtained return flow substantially consisting of unconverted MeOH and reaction water to an MeOH column. The feed mixture is evaporated in the MeOH column to form a first distillate substantially consisting of vaporous MeOH. The first distillate is supplied to a reactor and the MeOH is converted to DME by splitting off water in the reactor so as to form a reaction mixture. The reaction mixture is withdrawn from the reactor, charged to a mixture column and separated into a bottom product substantially consisting of water and a second distillate substantially consisting of DME and MeOH. The second distillate is separated in a DME column into a third distillate substantially consisting of DME, a bottom product consisting essentially of water-poor MeOH, and uncondensable gases discharged overhead. The bottom product is either supplied to a top of the MeOH column or mixed with another bottom product withdrawn from a forerun column.