Multicomponent dividing wall columns

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9504934-B2
Application number	US-201414525205-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 27, 2014
Priority date	Oct 27, 2013
Publication date	Nov 29, 2016
Grant date	Nov 29, 2016

Abstract

For an n-component mixture (n≧3), an array of new distillation columns is disclosed with vertical partitions that allow independent control of the vapor flowrates in each partitioned zone, while operating the columns to produce constituent product streams. Specifically, all such more operable columns with vertical partitions for ternary and quaternary feed mixtures are illustrated. For a ternary feed, through extensive computation, the minimum heat duty for each of the new columns is same as for the FTC configuration. The new columns with vertical partitions become even more attractive when the vapor split between column sections must be controlled within a narrow range. Finally, it is disclosed how a new column with vertical partition(s) drawn for an n-component mixture can be adapted to distil feed mixtures that contain more than n-components.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
feeding a feed stream comprising a more volatile component, at least one intermediate volatile component, and a less volatile component to a feed location on a distillation column, the distillation column having a top end, a bottom end, and at least one partition within the distillation column, and the feed location having a first intermediate location along the length of the distillation column;
feeding the feed stream to a first zone, the first zone is vertically between the top end and bottom end of a first partition, and horizontally between the boundary of the distillation column and the first partition, the first partition having a top end that extends from the top of the distillation column and a bottom end that extends to a location above the bottom of the distillation column;
withdrawing at least one liquid stream depleted in the less volatile component from a second intermediate location which is located at an intermediate location of the first zone, and the second intermediate location is configured to be above the feed location, to form a first intermediate stream;
feeding the first intermediate stream to a second zone in the distillation column, the second zone having a location along a second partition in the distillation column;
withdrawing at least one stream enriched in the more volatile component from a first withdrawing location in the first zone, the first withdrawing location is above the second intermediate location;
withdrawing at least one stream enriched in the more volatile component from a second withdrawing location in the second zone, the second withdrawing location is above the location where the first intermediate stream is fed;
withdrawing at least one stream enriched in the intermediate volatile component from the second zone, at a location below where the first intermediate stream is fed and above the bottom of the second partition; and
withdrawing at least one stream enriched in the less volatile component from a location in the distillation column that is below the bottom of the first partition.

2. The method of claim 1 , the distillation column is configured to be operated such that relative vapor flow rates and relative liquid flow rates in a plurality of zones are controlled at least one of the top end or the bottom end of the distillation column.

3. The method of claim 2 , the second zone is located on a side opposing the first zone along the first partition, the first partition is same as the second partition.

4. The method of claim 2 , the relative vapor flow rates and relative liquid flow rates are controlled by usage of pumps and/or control valves in vapor and liquid lines.

5. The method of claim 2 , achieved by condensing the vapor streams from the top of the first zone and the second zone at differing temperatures.

6. A method, comprising:
feeding a feed stream comprising a more volatile component, at least one intermediate volatile component, and a less volatile component to a feed location on a distillation column, the distillation column having a top end, a bottom end, and at least one partition within the distillation column, and the feed location having a first intermediate location along the length of the distillation column;
feeding the feed stream to a first zone, the first zone is vertically between the top end and bottom end of a first partition, and horizontally between the boundary of the distillation column and the first partition, the first partition having a top end that extends from a location that is below the top of the distillation column and a bottom end that extends to the bottom of the distillation column;
withdrawing at least one liquid stream depleted in the more volatile component from a second intermediate location which is located at an intermediate location of the first zone, and the second intermediate location is configured to be below the feed location, to form a first intermediate stream;
feeding the first intermediate stream to a second zone in the distillation column, the second zone having a location along a second partition in the distillation column;
withdrawing at least one stream enriched in the less volatile component from a first withdrawing location in the first zone, the first withdrawing location is below the second intermediate location;
withdrawing at least one stream enriched in the less volatile component from a second withdrawing location in the second zone, the second withdrawing location is below the location where the first intermediate stream is fed;
withdrawing at least one stream enriched in the intermediate volatile component from the second zone, at a location above where the first intermediate stream is fed and below the top of the second partition; and
withdrawing at least one stream enriched in the more volatile component from a location in the distillation column that is above the top of the first partition.

7. The method of claim 6 , the at least one partition is a vertical partition.

8. The method of claim 6 , the distillation column is configured to be operated such that relative vapor flow rates and relative liquid flow rates in a plurality of zones are controlled from at least one of the top end or the bottom end of the distillation column.

9. The method of claim 6 , the second zone is located on a side opposing the first zone along the first partition, the first partition is same as the second partition.

10. The method of claim 8 , the relative vapor flow rates and relative liquid flow rates are controlled by usage of pumps and/or control valves in vapor and liquid lines.

11. The method of claim 8 , achieved by boiling the liquid streams from the bottom of the first zone and the second zone at differing temperatures.

12. A method, comprising:
feeding a feed stream comprising a more volatile component, at least one intermediate volatile component, and a less volatile component to a feed location on a distillation column, the distillation column having a top end, a bottom end, and at least one partition within the distillation column, and the feed location having a first intermediate location along the length of the distillation column;
feeding the feed stream to a first zone, the first zone is vertically between the top end and bottom end of a first partition, and horizontally between the boundary of the distillation column and the first partition, the first partition having a top end that extends from the top of the distillation column and a bottom end that extends to the bottom of the distillation column;
withdrawing at least one liquid stream depleted in the less volatile component from a second intermediate location which is located at an intermediate location of the first zone, and the second intermediate location is configured to be above the feed location, to form a first intermediate stream;
feeding the first intermediate stream to a second zone in the distillation column, the second zone having a location along a second partition in the distillation column;
withdrawing at least one stream enriched in the more volatile component from a first withdrawing location in the first zone, the first withdrawing location is above the second intermediate location;
withdrawing at least one stream enriched in the more volatile component from a second withdrawing location in the second zone, the second withdrawing location is above the location where the first intermediate stream is fed;
withdrawing at least one stream enriched in the intermediate volatile component from the second zone, at a third withdrawing location below where the first intermediate stream is fed and above the bottom of the second partition; and

Assignees

• Purdue Research Foundation

Inventors

• Agrawal Rakesh
• Ramapriya Gautham Madenoor

Classifications

• B01D3/141 Primary

  where at least one distillation column contains at least one dividing wall · CPC title