Patent ID: 8695367

Claim:
A heat integration system for removing heat of reaction from an EC- 1 Reactor in which ethylene carbonate (EC) is produced from ethylene oxide (EO) for conversion into monoethylene glycol (MEG) and generating Chilled liquid for use by one or more Consumer Units, wherein the system comprises an EC- 1 Reactor Cooler suitable for removing heat from an EC- 1 Reactor, wherein the EC- 1 Reactor Cooler is located in an EC- 1 Reactor Liquid Recycle which comprises a side draw and liquid recycle, said liquid recycle comprised of reaction liquid, from the EC- 1 Reactor, an Intermediate Loop which is in communication with the Reactor Cooler and with an absorption Refrigeration Unit, and which is suitable for conducting Intermediate liquid therebetween to transfer said heat from the EC- 1 Reactor to the absorption Refrigeration Unit to drive the absorption Refrigeration Unit, the absorption Refrigeration Unit being suitable for generating Chilled liquid, and a Chilled liquid loop suitable for conducting Chilled liquid generated in the absorption Refrigeration Unit for use by one or more Consumer Units, the system being such that the absorption Refrigeration Unit uses heat generated in the EC- 1 Reactor to generate Chilled liquid for the Chilled liquid loop and Consumer Unit(s), wherein the system additionally comprises a Shutdown Cooler having an independent cooling source which is suitable, alternatively or in addition to the absorption Refrigeration Unit, for removing heat from the EC- 1 Reactor, and wherein the system additionally comprises an independent stand-by source of Chilled liquid which is suitable, alternatively or in addition to the absorption Refrigeration Unit, for generating chilled liquid, to serve the one or more Consumer Units.