Glass overheads are typically built (in our standard chemReactor and production plant setups) for multipurpose and semi–batch operation mode under full vacuum. They mostly consist of feeder vessel, a distillation column, condenser and secondary condenser, phase separator, receiver, including valves and pressure equalization piping and a rupture disc as safety device.
For rectification, packed distillation glass columns up to DN600 are used with reflux condenser, a reflux splitter with a reflux controller to set the reflux ratio. In Buchi chemReactors, both systems can be combined.
DSEC's commitment on the construction of Biodiesel plants is based on a very specialized technical knowledge of the Biofuels production processes; in this article you will find a more detailed understanding about the process of Methanol Rectification and Glycerin Purification.
Methanol Rectification
The methanol coming from the upstream process units is fed to the rectification column.
The methanol is recycled to reactor loop circuits.