Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and processes are provided for a condenser including flowing a vapor stream including formaldehyde into a tube bundle in a vertical upflow reflux condenser, where a tube in the tube bundle has a length to outside diameter ratio of greater than about 170:1, flowing a cooling fluid on a shell-side of the vertical upflow reflux condenser to condense at least a portion of the vapor stream, where the condensed portion of the vapor stream forms a wetted tube internal surface area on each tube in the generally upright tube bundle; and maintaining the vapor stream velocity at a rate that provides a liquid residence time where formaldehyde condensed on the wetted internal surface area of each tube can react with water to form methylene glycol, removing at least sixty percent (60%) of formaldehyde from the vapor stream fed to the condenser.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and processes are provided for a condenser including flowing a vapor stream including formaldehyde into a tube bundle in a vertical upflow reflux condenser, where a tube in the tube bundle has a length to outside diameter ratio of greater than about 170:1, flowing a cooling fluid on a shell-side of the vertical upflow reflux condenser to condense at least a portion of the vapor stream, where the condensed portion of the vapor stream forms a wetted tube internal surface area on each tube in the generally upright tube bundle; and maintaining the vapor stream velocity at a rate that provides a liquid residence time where formaldehyde condensed on the wetted internal surface area of each tube can react with water to form methylene glycol, removing at least sixty percent (60%) of formaldehyde from the vapor stream fed to the condenser.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and processes are provided for a tube reactor including multiple, substantially parallel reaction tubes arranged within a tube reactor shell, the reaction tubes spaced apart such that a thermal fluid can flow between the tubes and transfer heat between the tubes and the thermal fluid during operation; an inlet head defining an inlet head space, where the inlet head space is in fluid communication with an inlet end of the reaction tubes, and an outlet head including an outlet head shell and at least one insert positioned within an outlet head space defined by the outlet head, where the insert defines a reduced volume outlet head space relative to that defined by the outlet head, and where the reduced volume outlet head space is in fluid communication with an outlet end of the reaction tubes and in fluid communication with a reactor outlet.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and processes are provided for a condenser including flowing a vapor stream including formaldehyde into a tube bundle in a vertical upflow reflux condenser, where a tube in the tube bundle has a length to outside diameter ratio of greater than about 170:1, flowing a cooling fluid on a shell-side of the vertical upflow reflux condenser to condense at least a portion of the vapor stream, where the condensed portion of the vapor stream forms a wetted tube internal surface area on each tube in the generally upright tube bundle; and maintaining the vapor stream velocity at a rate that provides a liquid residence time where formaldehyde condensed on the wetted internal surface area of each tube can react with water to form methylene glycol, removing at least sixty percent (60%) of formaldehyde from the vapor stream fed to the condenser.

Abstract: Systems and processes for recovering alkylene oxide, including an alkylene oxide recovery column including a stripping section located in the column to convert a portion of a feed stream to a gas phase including alkylene oxide; a reabsorption section in the column above the stripping section including a water stream to reabsorb the alkylene oxide in the gas phase portion and to produce an aqueous solution, a first stripping gas to strip carbon dioxide and oxygen from the aqueous solution by converting a portion of the aqueous solution to a gaseous portion, producing an alkylene oxide stream, and a side take-off located at a bottom portion of the reabsorption section for removal of the alkylene oxide stream; a condenser to partially condense the gas phase portion; and a top take-off for removal of a light impurity fraction.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and processes are provided for a tube reactor including multiple, substantially parallel reaction tubes arranged within a tube reactor shell, the reaction tubes spaced apart such that a thermal fluid can flow between the tubes and transfer heat between the tubes and the thermal fluid during operation; an inlet head defining an inlet head space, where the inlet head space is in fluid communication with an inlet end of the reaction tubes, and an outlet head including an outlet head shell and at least one insert positioned within an outlet head space defined by the outlet head, where the insert defines a reduced volume outlet head space relative to that defined by the outlet head, and where the reduced volume outlet head space is in fluid communication with an outlet end of the reaction tubes and in fluid communication with a reactor outlet.

Abstract: Systems and processes for recovering alkylene oxide, including an alkylene oxide recovery column including a stripping section located in the column to convert a portion of a feed stream to a gas phase including alkylene oxide; a reabsorption section in the column above the stripping section including a water stream to reabsorb the alkylene oxide in the gas phase portion and to produce an aqueous solution, a first stripping gas to strip carbon dioxide and oxygen from the aqueous solution by converting a portion of the aqueous solution to a gaseous portion, producing an alkylene oxide stream, and a side take-off located at a bottom portion of the reabsorption section for removal of the alkylene oxide stream; a condenser to partially condense the gas phase portion; and a top take-off for removal of a light impurity fraction.