Patent ID: 7126029

Claim:
An improved method for accumulating a working volume of concentrated cumene hydroperoxide in a continuous process for the production of phenol and acetone from the decomposition of cumene hydroperoxide, wherein concentrated cumene hydroperoxide is continuously fed from a distillation unit to an accumulation vessel, and from said accumulation vessel to a decomposer unit, the improvement comprising: providing an accumulation vessel between said distillation unit and said decomposer unit, said accumulation vessel being a tube and shell heat exchanger; feeding concentrated cumene hydroperoxide from said distillation unit to said accumulation vessel such that a working volume of concentrated cumene hydroperoxide is accumulated in said accumulation vessel; keeping said working volume of concentrated cumene hydroperoxide in a constant state of mixed flow; applying direct cooling to said working volume of concentrated cumene hydroperoxide; and feeding concentrated cumene hydroperoxide to said decomposer unit from said working volume of concentrated cumene hydroperoxide.