Lee, H.-Y.H.-Y.LeeJan, C.-H.C.-H.JanChien, I.-L.I.-L.ChienHuang, H.-P.H.-P.HuangI-LUNG CHIEN2018-09-102018-09-102010http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-77954658270&partnerID=MN8TOARShttp://scholars.lib.ntu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/356536In the study of designing a reactive distillation process for producing heavy esters, it is found that splitting one of the rate-determining feed to the different location of a reactive distillation column can lead to a significant saving in the total annual cost and a reduction of the operating cost. Using esterification reaction to produce butyl propionate as an illustration, the saving of total annual cost can be up to 10.4% and the reduction of operating cost can be up to 11.9% in comparison with the design without feed-splitting. For the feasibility of the feed split, overall control strategy of this design alternation has also been studied. It is found that both design and control are feasible in the case of this feed-splitting operating strategy. This result is useful in prior to undertake optimal design of process and control using the mathematical programming approaches. © 2010 Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers.Butyl propionate; Design and control; Feed-splitting; Reactive distillation[SDGs]SDG7Butyl propionates; Control strategies; Design and control; Energy saving; Esterification reactions; Heavy esters; Operating strategy; Optimal design; Reactive distillation columns; Reactive distillation process; Reactive distillations; Total annual costs; Chemical contamination; Design; Distillation; Energy conservation; Esterification; Esters; Mathematical programming; Operating costs; Phase equilibria; Process control; Distillation columnsjournal article10.1016/j.jtice.2010.03.003