The side reactor concept (SRC), comprising a non-reactive column coupled with side reactors, is proposed for the synthesis of ethylene glycol (EG) by ethylene oxide (EO) hydration. Parallel isothermal continuous stirred tank reactors are employed and the combinations of the reactors and the column are cautiously examined. A preliminary analysis of the operating conditions for the reaction and separation and the detailed SRC configurations (such as the side stream rate, side stream location) are performed to generate the suggested values or ranges for their further optimization. The decisive variables are subsequently optimized by a sequential design procedure. The significant effects of the key decision variables on the trade-off between the reaction cost and the separation cost are well investigated. The reactor–separation unit, configured with a total liquid withdrawn and recycled back to the column stage below, demonstrates better system performance. Furthermore, the reaction at elevated temperature (150 °C) conductive for reaction and the separation occurring at the distillation temperature range of 106∼204 °C (124 kPa) gives out improved economic performance. Flexibility in the operating conditions in SRC makes it a competitive alternative to the RD process for EG production.

提出了包括与侧反应器偶联的非反应塔的侧反应器概念（SRC），用于通过环氧乙烷（EO）水合合成乙二醇（EG）。使用平行等温连续搅拌釜反应器，并仔细检查反应器和塔的组合。对反应和分离的操作条件以及详细的SRC配置（例如侧流速率，侧流位置）进行初步分析，以生成建议值或范围，以对其进行进一步优化。决定性的变量随后通过顺序设计程序进行优化。很好地研究了关键决策变量对反应成本和分离成本之间权衡的重大影响。反应器-分离单元，配置后，总液体被抽出并循环回下面的塔级，展示了更好的系统性能。此外，在升高的温度（150°C）下进行反应的反应以及在106-204°C（124 kPa）的蒸馏温度范围内发生的分离可提高经济性能。SRC中操作条件的灵活性使其成为RD生产EG生产的有竞争力的替代方法。