Abstract: Processes and systems for purifying ethylene oxide, including introducing a feed stream including ethylene oxide to a heat exchanger to heat the feed stream, feeding the heated feed stream to a distillation apparatus base below a first stage, removing from the distillation apparatus an impurity fraction as a top exit stream from the distillation apparatus located at a top take-off on the distillation apparatus, removing from the distillation apparatus an ethylene oxide stream of 99.7 weight percent purity, based on the total weight of the ethylene oxide stream, from the distillation apparatus, and removing from the distillation apparatus an aldehyde enriched fraction as a bottom stream from the distillation apparatus, where the aldehyde enriched fraction is fed directly to a glycol reactor.

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.

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.

Abstract: Processes and systems for purifying ethylene oxide, including introducing a feed stream including ethylene oxide to a heat exchanger to heat the feed stream, feeding the heated feed stream to a distillation apparatus base below a first stage, removing from the distillation apparatus an impurity fraction as a top exit stream from the distillation apparatus located at a top take-off on the distillation apparatus, removing from the distillation apparatus an ethylene oxide stream of 99.7 weight percent purity, based on the total weight of the ethylene oxide stream, from the distillation apparatus, and removing from the distillation apparatus an aldehyde enriched fraction as a bottom stream from the distillation apparatus, where the aldehyde enriched fraction is fed directly to a glycol reactor.