ETHYLENE OXIDE
HYDROCARBON
PROCESSING
PRODUCTION
• Intrinsically safe
(i.s.) certified process
measurement, custom
designed for use with
flammable and enriched
O2 samples
A versatile chemical building block,
ethylene oxide (C2H4O) and its
derivatives are used in a wide range
of commercial products. The pure
product is used in the sterilization of
medical supplies and devices, but it is
mostly used as an intermediate in the
production of other chemicals including
ethylene glycol (used in the manufacture
of polyester fibers, fiberglass and the
blending of anti freezing agents) and
polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin,
used in packaging film and bottles.
Formed through the reaction of oxygen
(O2) and ethylene (C2H4), the exothermic
nature of the process means safety is of
CUSTOMER PROCESS BROCHURE
• SIL 2 certification
ensures exceptional
reliability for maximum
uptime and minimum
maintenance
paramount concern, in particular around
the process reactors where hazardous
flammable samples containing ethylene
(C2H4), oxygen (O2), ethylene oxide
(C2H4O) and methane (CH4) transit the
process. Consequently O2 analysis for
the reactor inlet and outlet is safety
critical and part of an SIS (Safety
Integrated System): O2 analyzers must
be installed in triple redundancy, so two
analyzers are always in service or the
process will shut down.
As the world leader in gas analysis
systems for ethylene oxide, Servomex
has provided SIS installations to more
than forty plants worldwide. Our reliable
• Split architecture of
SERVOTOUGH OxyExact
2200 oxygen analyzer
ideal for integration
in hot side PAMC -
reducing cycle time
and preventing sample
condensation
Paramagnetic, Infrared and Tunable
Diode Laser sensing technologies
deliver accurate, reliable and safe
measurements, delivered through our
resilient SERVOTOUGH, specifically
designed for hazardous area operation.
Supported by a global network of
Service and Support, our expertise in
ethylene oxide production enables
Servomex to consult, design and build
systems that ensure ultimate process
safety and ensure productive highly
productive.
 KEY:
ETHYLENE OXIDEPROCESS
ETHYLENE OXIDE APPLICATION MAP MAP
APPLICATION APPLICATION
TYPES: PROCESS CONTROL QUALITY SAFETY EMISSIONS COMBUSTION

KEY:
APPLICATION
TYPES: PROCESS CONTROL QUALITY SAFETY EMISSIONS COMBUSTION

O2 FEED

1 OxyExact 2200
90-100% O2
O2 SpectraExact 2500
OXYGEN 5 0-100% C2H4
GAS
MIX NOZZLE
H H COMPRESSOR
3 OxyExact 2200 C=C
0-10% O2 H H
ETHYLENE
SpectraExact 2500
2
0-100% C2H4
REACTOR 1 REACTOR 2
C2H4 POTASSIUM
ETHYLENE FEED CARBONATE

CARBON
RECYCLE
DIOXIDE
LOOP
ABSORBER

POTASSIUM
BICARBONATE CEMS

OxyExact 2200 OxyExact 2200

3 0-10% O2
3 0-10% O2
LEAN WATER

4 SpectraExact 2500 SpectraExact 2500

ETHYLENE 7 0-5% C2H4
0-1000ppm CO O
OXIDE
C C
H H
ABSORBER SpectraExact 2500
H H 7
0-5% C2H4

EO
RECOVERY
PURIFICATION SCRUBBER STACK
FAT WATER

STORAGE

6 LaserExact 2950
0-200ppm C2H4
SpectraExact 2500
6 0-200ppm C2H4

The feedstock for the product is oxygen (O2) and ethylene
(C2H4), with the C2H4 feed usually containing a mixture of fresh
product and some which is recycled from the process. The O2
quality is measured using either a SERVOTOUGH Oxy 1900
or OxyExact 2200 for 90-100% O2 (1). A SERVOTOUGH
SpectraExact 2500 is used for quality and process control
measurements of 0-100% C2H4 (2).
The O2 and C2H4 are heated, mixed and reacted using a
silver oxide catalyst and inhibitors to create ethylene oxide
(C2H4O). This process is exothermic, with the temperature of
the reaction controlled by heat exchanger tubes built into
the reactor. In the heat exchanger water is heated to steam,
with the reaction temperature kept around 274°C under mild
pressure. The residence time in the reactor lasts around a
second, with a yield of around 90%.
A voting system of one out of two or two out of three another SpectraExact (5), compressed and fed back into the
SERVOTOUGH OxyExact 2200 process analyzers measuring process.
0-10% oxygen (3) are positioned on the inlet and each outlet
of the reactors. They are installed in dual or triple redundancy
as the analyzers are required to monitor the process The C2H4O stream is reacted in water to become a liquid
within safe limits. These safety critical measurements are a stream, recovered, purified and sent for storage, where either
fundamental element of the Safety Integrated Systems (SIS) a SpectraExact or SERVOTOUGH LaserExact provides
required for safe operation and production. a 0-200ppm control measurement for trace C2H4 (6); the
unwanted by-products pass out the top of the scrubber, where
After the reactor the process fluid is cooled in a heat again either a SpectraExact or LaserExact provide a control
exchanger. Then the C2H4O product, the unreacted C2H4 and measurement of 0-5% C2H4 (7).
other by-products are separated in a water-wash column,
where a SpectraExact (4) ensures maximum throughput
with a 0-1000ppm process control measurement for carbon
monoxide. Any unreacted C2H4 is passed into a recycle loop,
where the stream is purified and measured for quality by
 EO PRODUCTION SOLUTIONS

LaserExact 2950 OxyExact 2200

SERVOTOUGH

SERVOTOUGH
EXTRACTIVE TDL HIGH
TRACE ANALYZER SPECIFICATION
PROCESS O2
ANALYZER

SpectraExact 2500
SERVOTOUGH

CP/HP8 Rev. 1 10/18

RUGGED
PHOTOMETRIC
GAS ANALYZER
FOR DEMANDING
PROCESS
APPLICATIONS

ANALYZERS SERVICE SYSTEMS EXPERT

NORTH AMERICA ASIA PACIFIC INDIA

Americas Business Center Asia Pacific Business, Systems Engineering India Business Centre and Systems Engineering
and Service Centre and Service Centre
Tel: +1 281 295 5800
USA Toll Free 1 800 862 0200 Tel: +86 (0)21 6489 7570 Tel: +91 22 3934 2700
Email: americas_sales@servomex.com Email: asia_sales@servomex.com Email: MEI_sales@servomex.com

 EUROPE MIDDLE EAST

European Business, Systems Engineering Middle East Business Centre
and Service Centre Tel: +971 6552 8073
Tel: +44 (0) 1892 603330 Email: MEI_sales@servomex.com
Email: europe_sales@servomex.com

S E RVO M E X .CO M
Servomex
Servomex has a policy of constant product improvement and reserves the right to change specifications has a policy of constant product improvement and reserves the right to change specifications
without notice.
© Servomex Group Limited. 2014. A Spectris company. All rights reserved. without notice. © Servomex Group Limited. 2018. A Spectris company. All rights reserved.