A modular rectification device suitable for the alternative production of gamma-butyrolactone and delta-valerolactone

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of distillation apparatus technology, specifically to a modular distillation apparatus suitable for the alternating production of γ-butyrolactone and δ-valerolactone. It includes a distillation column with an opening on its side wall. A sealing door is detachably installed at the opening via bolts. A lifting cylinder is installed inside the distillation column. The lifting cylinder contains tray modules, and a lifting mechanism is installed inside the distillation column. A locking mechanism is installed on the inner wall of the distillation column. By using replaceable tray modules and packing modules within the same distillation column, and cooperating with the lifting mechanism, the lifting cylinder can be smoothly raised, lowered, and its position adjusted. The locking mechanism ensures the stability of the module installation. This eliminates the need to construct multiple distillation columns separately; alternating production of GBL and DVL can be achieved simply by switching different functional modules. This solves the problems of high cost and low equipment utilization caused by the "one product, one column" approach mentioned in the background art.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of fine chemical separation equipment technology, and more specifically, to a modular distillation apparatus suitable for the alternating production of γ-butyrolactone and δ-valerolactone. Background Technology

[0002] Distillation columns are core equipment in chemical production for separating and purifying materials. They are widely used in the fine chemical industry to separate high-purity target products from mixtures, such as γ-butyrolactone (GBL) and δ-valerolactone (DVL). GBL, as an important organic solvent and chemical intermediate, has characteristics such as high boiling point and strong solubility, and is widely used in industries such as battery electrolytes, pharmaceutical synthesis, and fragrance preparation. DVL, on the other hand, is a high-performance cyclic ester compound with important applications in biodegradable materials, coatings, and adhesives. Both have very strong market demand.

[0003] While some existing technologies have attempted modular distillation units, none have solved the core problems of module assembly and disassembly within the column: the lack of damping protection during module lifting and lowering makes them susceptible to damage from hard collisions with the column body; the absence of an automatic locking structure after module installation allows them to easily shift and move due to airflow disturbances during distillation, affecting mass transfer efficiency; and the lack of dedicated modules designed to suit the separation characteristics of GBL and DVL makes flexible switching between the two impossible, hindering widespread application in the industry. Based on these shortcomings of existing technologies, developing a modular distillation unit capable of alternating GBL and DVL production, smooth module assembly and disassembly, and stable installation has become a pressing technical problem in the fine chemical industry.

[0004] Currently, for multi-product, similar-type distillation production needs such as GBL and DVL, the industry generally adopts a "one product, one tower" technical solution. This involves building a separate independent distillation tower system for each product, equipped with dedicated internal separation components. Traditional segmented modular distillation towers disassemble the tower body into a few modules for on-site assembly, using conventional trays or packing. Disadvantages include: numerous sealing points between modules, leading to potential leaks and increased pressure drop affecting separation efficiency; relatively high overall tower height, requiring strict installation site conditions; complex processes and piping, making commissioning and maintenance difficult; and poor flexibility in handling capacity and material switching.

[0005] Modular supergravity distillation replaces the traditional column with a small number of rotating modules, resulting in a compact structure. Disadvantages include: rapid equipment wear due to rotating parts, high maintenance costs; high drive energy consumption, making long-term operation uneconomical; decreased stability when scaled up to industrial scale, limiting applicable throughput.

[0006] Furthermore, the plate-fin integrated distillation module uses a small number of plate-fin heat exchange modules to achieve integrated distillation and condensation. Disadvantages include: narrow flow channels, prone to clogging and difficult to clean; an integral welded structure, requiring replacement of the entire module for partial damage, resulting in high maintenance costs; and stringent requirements for material cleanliness, limiting its applicability.

[0007] While the above solution can meet the separation requirements of different products, the construction of two independent sets of equipment requires a large amount of upfront investment and occupies a large amount of factory space. At the same time, the daily maintenance and energy consumption of the equipment increase exponentially, resulting in a significant increase in the manufacturer's production costs. In addition, when the market demand for a certain product fluctuates, the corresponding distillation column may be idle, resulting in low equipment utilization and waste of resources. Summary of the Invention

[0008] This invention provides a modular distillation apparatus suitable for the alternating production of γ-butyrolactone and δ-valerolactone. It uses replaceable tray modules and packing modules in the same distillation column, and a lifting mechanism to achieve smooth lifting and position adjustment of the lifting cylinder. A locking mechanism ensures the stability of the module installation. It eliminates the need to build multiple distillation columns. Alternating production of GBL and DVL can be achieved simply by switching different functional modules, thereby solving the problems of high cost and low equipment utilization caused by the "one product, one column" approach mentioned in the background art.

[0009] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of existing technologies and provide a modular distillation apparatus suitable for the alternating production of γ-butyrolactone and δ-valerolactone, specifically achieving the following technical objectives: 1. Through detachable tray modules and packing modules, alternating distillation production of GBL and DVL can be achieved in the same distillation column, eliminating the "one product, one column" model; 2. A damped lifting mechanism is designed to achieve smooth lifting of the cylinder rack, avoiding collision damage between the module and the column body; 3. An automatic locking mechanism is designed to achieve non-operational fixing of the cylinder rack, ensuring the stability of the module during distillation; 4. Through modular design, equipment investment, plant occupancy, and daily maintenance costs are reduced, improving equipment utilization.

[0010] To achieve the above objectives, a modular distillation apparatus suitable for the alternating production of γ-butyrolactone and δ-valerolactone includes a distillation column. The side wall of the distillation column has a rectangular opening, the size of which is adapted to the lifting drum frame to facilitate the hoisting and entry / exit of the lifting drum frame and internal modules. The edge of the opening is detachably fitted with a sealing door by bolts. The lifting drum frame is installed inside the distillation column, and a tray module or packing module is detachably installed inside the lifting drum frame by bolts. By switching different modules, alternating production of GBL and DVL can be achieved.

[0011] The tray module adopts a sieve plate structure, which is integrated with multiple layers of equally spaced sieve plates, downcomers, and a supporting frame. The sieve plates have uniformly distributed fine sieve holes. During distillation, gas bubbles and rises through the sieve holes, while liquid flows down the downcomers in a staggered manner. Gas and liquid fully contact and transfer mass on the sieve plate surface, achieving efficient separation of γ-butyrolactone (GBL) feedstock. This is suitable for the distillation production of GBL products of conventional purity. The sieve hole diameter is 1-3 mm, the sieve hole spacing is 5-8 mm, and the number of sieve plate layers is 10-20. The packing module adopts a corrugated structure, which is integrated with metal corrugated structured packing, a liquid distributor, a liquid collector, and a cage frame. The metal corrugated structured packing is arranged in multiple stacked layers (15-25 stacked layers, specific surface area 250-500 m² / m³), featuring a large specific surface area and high mass transfer efficiency.

[0012] The distillation column is equipped with a lifting mechanism inside. To ensure the stability and reliability of the lifting cylinder after installation and to prevent shaking during the distillation process, a locking mechanism is installed on the inner wall of the distillation column.

[0013] In the above technical solution, an installation cylinder is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the distillation column near the opening by welding. The installation cylinder is a cylindrical hollow structure that communicates with the interior of the distillation column. A drive shaft is rotatably installed inside the installation cylinder. One end of the drive shaft passes through the interior of the distillation column and is fixedly connected to a gear. The outer wall of the lifting cylinder frame is provided with a long strip-shaped toothed groove along the height direction. The gear and the toothed groove mesh with each other. The other end of the drive shaft extends to the outside of the installation cylinder and is fixedly installed with a handle by bolts, which is convenient for the operator to hold and rotate.

[0014] When the lifting drum needs to be hoisted into the distillation column, first open the sealed door, and use the hoisting equipment to hoist the assembled module of the lifting drum into the distillation column from the opening. Make sure the gears and tooth grooves are accurately engaged. After releasing the hoisting equipment, the lifting drum moves downward by its own weight, driving the gears and drive shaft to rotate synchronously, achieving a slow descent. When it is necessary to control the lifting drum to rise, the operator holds the handle and rotates it clockwise. The handle drives the drive shaft and gear to rotate. The gears drive the lifting drum to move vertically upward through the meshing transmission with the tooth grooves until it reaches the target position. The entire lifting process is smooth and controllable, and no large hoisting equipment is required for continuous operation.

[0015] To avoid excessively rapid descent of the lifting drum, which could cause a hard collision with the bottom of the distillation column and damage to the module or column body, please refer to... Figure 6-7As shown, an installation box is fixedly installed on the outer wall of the installation cylinder by bolts. A movable plate is slidably installed inside the installation box in the horizontal direction. Multiple springs are fixedly installed on the side of the movable plate near the drive shaft. The springs are evenly distributed along the length of the movable plate. A friction block is fixedly installed at the end of the spring. The friction block is made of rubber material with a high coefficient of friction and has fine anti-slip texture on its surface. The friction block is in close contact with the outer wall of the drive shaft to generate continuous friction.

[0016] When the lifting drum descends under its own weight, the drive shaft rotates accordingly. The friction between the friction block and the drive shaft creates resistance to the rotation of the drive shaft, thereby slowing down the descent speed of the lifting drum and allowing it to land smoothly at the bottom of the distillation column. This effectively protects the module and column structure. At the same time, this damping effect also prevents the lifting drum from suddenly rising or falling when the operator rotates the handle, improving operational safety.

[0017] In the above technical solution, the locking mechanism includes multiple mounting slots formed on the inner wall of the distillation column. A connecting rod is slidably installed in the horizontal direction inside the mounting slot. A wedge block is fixedly connected to the front end of the connecting rod, and a locking block is fixedly connected to the rear end of the connecting rod. The locking block is a rectangular block structure. A second spring is installed between the rear end of the locking block and the inner wall of the mounting slot. The second spring is always in a stretched state. Multiple locking grooves that match the locking blocks are formed on the outer wall of the lifting cylinder frame. The locking grooves are evenly distributed along the height direction of the lifting cylinder frame to accommodate different installation heights. 3-4 guide bars are evenly distributed along the circumference of the lifting cylinder frame. A locking groove is formed every 20-30cm along the height direction of the lifting cylinder frame. The locking block is 10-15cm long and 5-8cm wide. The length of the locking groove is 2-3cm longer than the locking block.

[0018] For details, please refer to the following: Figure 10 As shown, when the lifting cylinder has not descended to the position of the inclined block, the second spring is in a stretched state, pulling the locking block to move backward. The inclined block is located below the lifting cylinder. When the lifting cylinder contacts the inclined surface of the inclined block during its descent, the weight of the lifting cylinder will exert downward pressure on the inclined surface. This pressure is decomposed into a horizontal thrust, pushing the inclined block to move into the mounting groove. The inclined block drives the connecting rod and the locking block to move synchronously. The second spring is further stretched. When the lifting cylinder descends to the point where the locking block is aligned with a certain locking groove, it pulls the locking block forward and locks into the inside of the locking groove, realizing the automatic locking of the lifting cylinder.

[0019] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: 1. This equipment adopts an overall modular design, which makes daily maintenance more convenient. Only damaged modules need to be replaced individually, reducing equipment maintenance costs. Furthermore, it can quickly switch product production according to market demand, significantly improving equipment utilization.

[0020] 2. The sealing door of this application adopts a high-temperature resistant sealing gasket and the cylinder frame is equipped with guide strips, which further improves the sealing performance and lifting stability of the device, and is suitable for the high temperature and high pressure process requirements of fine chemical distillation.

[0021] 3. The present invention features an automatic locking mechanism, which shortens the time for fixing the device and controls the amount of shaking during operation, ensuring distillation efficiency. The sealing door is equipped with a high-temperature resistant sealing gasket, and the cylinder frame is equipped with guide strips, which improves the sealing performance and lifting stability of the device, making it suitable for the requirements of fine chemical distillation processes. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention; Figure 2 This is an enlarged structural schematic diagram of the distillation column in this invention; Figure 3 This is an enlarged structural schematic diagram of the lifting cylinder in this invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the distillation column in this invention; Figure 5 for Figure 4 Enlarged structural diagram at point A in the middle; Figure 6 This is an enlarged structural schematic diagram of the lifting mechanism in this invention; Figure 7 for Figure 6 Enlarged structural diagram at point B; Figure 8 This is an enlarged structural schematic diagram of the locking mechanism in this invention; Figure 9 for Figure 8 Enlarged structural diagram at point C; Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram showing the different states of the locking mechanism in this invention.

[0023] The meanings of the labels in the diagram are as follows: 1. Distillation column; 11. Sealing door; 12. Mounting cylinder; 13. Mounting slot; 2. Lifting cylinder frame; 21. Tray module; 22. Packing module; 23. Locking slot; 3. Lifting mechanism; 31. Drive shaft; 32. Gear; 33. Gear groove; 34. Throttle; 35. Moving plate; 36. Spring one; 37. Friction block; 38. Screw; 4. Locking mechanism; 41. Connecting rod; 42. Inclined block; 43. Locking block; 44. Spring two. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The technical solutions of this invention will now be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this invention, and not all of them. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this invention without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this invention.

[0025] Because the existing GBL and DVL production adopts the "one product, one tower" scheme, multiple independent distillation towers need to be built, resulting in high investment costs, low equipment utilization, and high maintenance costs for manufacturers, which cannot meet the needs of flexible production and cost control.

[0026] Therefore, in view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a modular distillation apparatus suitable for the alternating production of γ-butyrolactone and δ-valerolactone, with reference to... Figure 1-3 As shown, the distillation column 1 has a rectangular opening on its side wall. The size of the opening is adapted to the lifting cylinder 2, which facilitates the hoisting and entry / exit of the lifting cylinder 2 and internal modules. A sealing door 11 is detachably installed on the edge of the opening by bolts. A high-temperature resistant sealing gasket is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the sealing door 11. The high-temperature resistant sealing gasket fits tightly with the edge of the opening, which can ensure the sealing of the distillation column 1 and prevent material vapor leakage during the distillation process, which would affect the separation effect and production safety.

[0027] The interior of the distillation column 1 is equipped with a lifting cylinder 2, which is a cylindrical frame structure with sufficient structural strength to support the weight of the tray module 21 or the packing module 22. The tray module 21 or the packing module 22 is detachably installed inside the lifting cylinder 2 by bolts, and the alternating production of GBL and DVL can be achieved by switching different modules.

[0028] Among them, the tray module 21 adopts a sieve plate structure, which is composed of multiple layers of equally spaced sieve plates, downcomers and supporting frames. The sieve plates are provided with uniformly distributed fine sieve holes. During distillation, the gas bubbles and rises through the sieve holes, and the liquid flows down in stages along the downcomers. The gas and liquid fully contact and transfer mass on the surface of the sieve plate, realizing the efficient separation of γ-butyrolactone (GBL) feedstock. It is suitable for the distillation production of GBL products with conventional purity.

[0029] The packing module 22 adopts a corrugated structure, which is formed by integrating a metal corrugated structured packing, a liquid distributor, a liquid collector and a cage frame. The metal corrugated structured packing is arranged in multiple layers, which has the characteristics of large specific surface area and high mass transfer efficiency. During distillation, the liquid is evenly sprayed onto the surface of the packing through the distributor to form a liquid film. The gas flows countercurrently through the liquid film, and the mass transfer is enhanced through membrane contact to meet the high purity separation requirements of δ-valerolactone (DVL).

[0030] It should be noted that the liquid-gas two-phase inlet and outlet pipes, heating devices, condensing devices and other auxiliary structures of distillation column 1 are all existing technologies. Their connection methods and media flow directions can be flexibly configured according to production needs. The bottom of the distillation column 1 is provided with an inlet and an interface for the heating device, the top is provided with an outlet and an interface for the condensing device, and the side is provided with a reflux port. The interface positions and heights are adapted to the installation height of the tray / packing module. The inlet and outlet pipes and interfaces are connected by flanges to ensure sealing performance.

[0031] To enable the replacement of different lifting cylinders 2, a lifting mechanism 3 is installed inside the distillation column 1. To ensure that the lifting cylinders 2 are stable and reliable after installation and to prevent shaking during the distillation process, a locking mechanism 4 is installed on the inner wall of the distillation column 1.

[0032] Next, the specific structure and working principle of the lifting mechanism 3 will be disclosed, for reference. Figure 4-5 As shown, an installation cylinder 12 is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the distillation column 1 near the opening by welding. The installation cylinder 12 is a cylindrical hollow structure that communicates with the interior of the distillation column 1. A drive shaft 31 is rotatably installed inside the installation cylinder 12. One end of the drive shaft 31 passes through the interior of the distillation column 1 and is fixedly connected to a gear 32. The outer wall of the lifting cylinder frame 2 is provided with a long strip-shaped toothed groove 33 along the height direction. The gear 32 meshes with the toothed groove 33. The other end of the drive shaft 31 extends to the outside of the installation cylinder 12 and is fixedly installed with a handle 34 by bolts, which is convenient for the operator to hold and rotate.

[0033] When the lifting cylinder 2 needs to be hoisted into the distillation column 1, first open the sealing door 11, and use the hoisting equipment to hoist the assembled module lifting cylinder 2 into the distillation column 1 from the opening, so that the gear 32 and the tooth groove 33 are accurately engaged. After releasing the hoisting equipment, the lifting cylinder 2 moves downward by its own weight, driving the gear 32 and the drive shaft 31 to rotate synchronously, achieving a slow descent. When it is necessary to control the lifting cylinder 2 to rise, the operator holds the handle 34 and rotates it clockwise. The handle 34 drives the drive shaft 31 and the gear 32 to rotate. The gear 32 drives the lifting cylinder 2 to move upward in the vertical direction through the meshing transmission with the tooth groove 33 until it reaches the target position. The entire lifting process is stable and controllable, and no large hoisting equipment is required for continuous operation.

[0034] To prevent the lifting cylinder 2 from descending too quickly and colliding hard with the bottom of the distillation column 1, which could damage the module or column body, please refer to... Figure 6-7As shown, an installation box is fixedly installed on the outer wall of the installation cylinder 12 by bolts. A movable plate 35 is slidably installed in the horizontal direction inside the installation box. Multiple springs 36 are fixedly installed on the side of the movable plate 35 near the drive shaft 31. The springs 36 are evenly distributed along the length of the movable plate 35. Friction blocks 37 are fixedly installed at the ends of the springs 36. The friction blocks 37 are made of rubber material with a high coefficient of friction and have fine anti-slip textures on their surface. The friction blocks 37 are tightly fitted with the outer wall of the drive shaft 31 to generate continuous friction.

[0035] When the lifting drum 2 descends under its own weight, the drive shaft 31 rotates accordingly. The friction between the friction block 37 and the drive shaft 31 will generate resistance to the rotation of the drive shaft 31, thereby slowing down the descent speed of the lifting drum 2 and allowing the lifting drum 2 to land smoothly at the bottom of the distillation column 1, effectively protecting the module and column structure. At the same time, this damping effect can also prevent the lifting drum 2 from suddenly rising or falling when the operator rotates the handle 34, improving operational safety.

[0036] To adjust the damping force according to actual needs, a screw 38 is installed internally in the mounting box. The axis of the screw 38 is aligned with the sliding direction of the moving plate 35. The other end of the screw 38 is rotatably mounted on the rear end of the moving plate 35 via a bearing. The bearing prevents the moving plate 35 from rotating synchronously when the screw 38 rotates. When the damping force needs to be increased, the screw 38 is rotated clockwise, pushing the moving plate 35 towards the drive shaft 31. The spring 36 is further compressed, increasing the pressure between the friction block 37 and the drive shaft 31, and thus increasing the friction. When the damping force needs to be decreased, the screw 38 is rotated counterclockwise, causing the moving plate 35 to move away from the drive shaft 31 under the elastic force of the spring 36. This reduces the pressure between the friction block 37 and the drive shaft 31, and thus reduces the friction. The adjustment is flexible and convenient.

[0037] After the lifting cylinder 2 is lowered to the appropriate installation position in the distillation column 1, in order to further increase its stability and prevent the lifting cylinder 2 from shaking or shifting due to airflow disturbance during the distillation process, refer to... Figure 8-9 As shown, the locking mechanism 4 includes multiple mounting slots 13 formed on the inner wall of the distillation column 1. A connecting rod 41 is slidably mounted in the horizontal direction inside the mounting slot 13. An inclined block 42 is fixedly connected to the front end of the connecting rod 41, and a locking block 43 is fixedly connected to the rear end of the connecting rod 41. The locking block 43 is a rectangular block structure. A spring 44 is installed between the rear end of the locking block 43 and the inner wall of the mounting slot 13. The spring 44 is always in a stretched state. Multiple locking grooves 23 that are adapted to the locking block 43 are formed on the outer wall of the lifting cylinder 2. The locking grooves 23 are evenly distributed along the height direction of the lifting cylinder 2 and can be adapted to different installation heights.

[0038] For details, please refer to the following: Figure 10As shown, when the lifting cylinder 2 has not descended to the position of the inclined block 42, the second spring 44 is in a stretched state, pulling the locking block 43 to move backward. The inclined block 42 is located below the lifting cylinder 2. When the lifting cylinder 2 contacts the inclined surface of the inclined block 42 during its descent, the gravity of the lifting cylinder 2 will exert downward pressure on the inclined surface. This pressure is decomposed into a horizontal thrust, pushing the inclined block 42 to move into the mounting groove 13. The inclined block 42 drives the connecting rod 41 to move synchronously with the locking block 43. The second spring 44 is further stretched. When the lifting cylinder 2 descends to the point where the locking block 43 is aligned with a certain locking groove 23, the locking block 43 is pulled forward and locked into the interior of the locking groove 23, realizing the automatic locking of the lifting cylinder 2.

[0039] Since the length of the locking groove 23 is greater than the length of the locking block 43, and the width is the same as that of the locking block 43, there will be no jamming when the locking block 43 is engaged, thus ensuring the stability of the distillation process.

[0040] When it is necessary to raise or lower the lifting cylinder 2 again, simply drive the lifting cylinder 2 to rise by turning the handle 34. The inner wall of the lifting cylinder 2 will press the front end of the locking block 43, push the locking block 43 out of the locking groove 23 and compress the spring 44, thus unlocking the cylinder. The operation is convenient and no additional unlocking steps are required.

[0041] Working principle: The core working principle of this invention is to achieve alternating distillation production of GBL and DVL through modular switching and lifting locking. The specific operation steps are divided into two steps, with a clear process and convenient operation: Step 1: Production of γ-butyrolactone (GBL) by distillation 1.1 Module Assembly: Secure the tray module 21 to the inside of the lifting cylinder 2 with bolts, ensuring the module is firmly installed without loosening. 1.2 Lifting Cylinder Installation: Open the sealing door 11 and use the lifting equipment to lift the assembled lifting cylinder 2 from the opening of the distillation column 1, ensuring precise meshing between the gear 32 of the lifting mechanism and the tooth groove 33 of the lifting cylinder 2. 1.3 Smooth Lifting and Automatic Locking: Release the lifting equipment; the lifting cylinder 2 descends under its own weight. The friction between the friction block 37 and the drive shaft 31 creates damping, ensuring a smooth and collision-free descent. During descent, the lifting cylinder 2 presses against the inclined block 42. When the locking block 43 aligns with the locking groove 23, the elastic force of the spring 44 pulls the locking block 43 into the locking groove 23, completing the automatic locking of the lifting cylinder 2. 1.4 Production Start-up: Close the sealing door 11 and start the distillation system. After heating and condensation, the material undergoes efficient GBL separation through the gas-liquid mass transfer of the tray module 21, yielding a conventional purity GBL product.

[0042] Step 2: Switching production of δ-valerolactone (DVL) 2.1 Unlocking and Lifting: Open the sealing door 11, hold the handle 34 and rotate it clockwise to drive the lifting cylinder 2 to rise. The inner wall of the lifting cylinder 2 presses against the locking block 43, causing it to disengage from the locking groove 23 and unlocking it. Continue rotating the handle 34 to lift the lifting cylinder 2 to the opening of the distillation column 1. 2.2 Module Replacement: Use hoisting equipment to lift the lifting cylinder 2 out of the distillation column 1, disassemble the tower plate module 21, and fix the packing module 22 inside the lifting cylinder 2 with bolts. 2.3 Reinstallation: Repeat steps 1.2-1.3 to re-lift the lifting cylinder 2 with the packing module 22 into the distillation column 1, completing a smooth descent and automatic locking. 2.4 Production Startup: Start the distillation system. The material achieves high-purity separation of DVL through membrane mass transfer of the packing module 22, obtaining a high-purity DVL product.

[0043] Step 3: Alternate Production By repeating steps 1-2, alternating distillation production of GBL and DVL can be quickly achieved according to market demand without replacing the main body of the distillation column. The entire operation is convenient and the switching efficiency is high.

[0044] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features, and advantages of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely preferred examples and are not intended to limit the invention. Various changes and modifications can be made to the invention without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the present invention as claimed. The scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A modular rectification apparatus suitable for the alternative production of gamma-butyrolactone and delta-valerolactone, comprising a rectification column (1), characterized in that: The side wall of the rectifying tower (1) is provided with an opening, and a sealing door (11) is detachably installed at the opening through bolts. The inside of the lifting cylinder frame (2) is detachably installed with a tray module or a packing module (21) through bolts, and different products are alternately rectified by switching the tray module or the packing module (21). The inside of the lifting cylinder frame (2) is detachably installed with a tray module or a packing module (21) through bolts, and different products are alternately rectified by switching the tray module or the packing module (21).

2. The modular rectification apparatus suitable for the alternative production of γ-butyrolactone and δ-valerolactone according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inside of the lifting cylinder frame (2) is detachably installed with a tray module or a packing module (21) through bolts, and different products are alternately rectified by switching the tray module or the packing module (21).

3. The modular rectification apparatus suitable for the alternative production of γ-butyrolactone and δ-valerolactone according to claim 2, characterized in that: The inside of the lifting cylinder frame (2) is detachably installed with a tray module or a packing module (21) through bolts, and different products are alternately rectified by switching the tray module or the packing module (21).

4. The modular rectification apparatus suitable for the alternative production of γ-butyrolactone and δ-valerolactone according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outside wall of the mounting cylinder (12) is fixedly installed with a mounting box, the inside of the mounting box is slidably installed with a moving plate (35), the moving plate (35) moves along the horizontal direction, a plurality of springs (36) are fixedly installed on the side of the moving plate (35) close to the driving shaft (31), the ends of the springs (36) are fixedly installed with friction blocks (37), the friction blocks (37) are tightly attached to the outer wall of the driving shaft (31), and the springs (36) are compression springs.

5. The modular rectification apparatus suitable for the alternative production of γ-butyrolactone and δ-valerolactone according to claim 4, characterized in that: The inside of the mounting box is threadedly installed with a screw rod (38), the end of the screw rod (38) is rotatably installed at the rear end of the moving plate (35) through a bearing, the axis of the screw rod (38) is consistent with the sliding direction of the moving plate (35), and the friction blocks (37) are made of high-friction coefficient rubber material and are provided with fine anti-skid lines on the surfaces.

6. The modular rectification apparatus suitable for the alternative production of γ-butyrolactone and δ-valerolactone according to claim 5, characterized in that: The locking mechanism (4) comprises a plurality of mounting grooves (13) formed in the inner wall of the rectifying tower (1), and the inside of the mounting groove (13) is slidably installed with a connecting rod (41).

7. The modular rectification apparatus suitable for the alternative production of γ-butyrolactone and δ-valerolactone according to claim 6, characterized in that: The front end of the connecting rod (41) is fixedly connected with an inclined block (42), the rear end of the connecting rod (41) is fixedly connected with a locking block (43), and the rear end of the locking block (43) and the inner wall of the mounting groove (13) are installed with a spring (44). The outer wall of the lifting cylinder frame (2) is provided with a plurality of locking grooves (23), the locking block (43) is located in the locking groove (23), and the outer wall of the lifting cylinder frame (2) is uniformly provided with a plurality of locking grooves (23) along the height direction. The front end of the inclined block (42) is an inclined surface, the inclined surface faces the descending direction of the lifting cylinder frame (2), and the inclined surface is pressed when the lifting cylinder frame (2) descends, so as to drive the locking block (43) to compress the spring (44) and be clamped into the locking groove (23), thereby realizing automatic locking of the lifting cylinder frame (2). The front end of the inclined block (42) is an inclined surface, the inclined surface faces 8. The modular rectification apparatus suitable for the alternative production of γ-butyrolactone and δ-valerolactone according to claim 6, characterized in that: The lock slots (23) are evenly distributed along the height direction of the lifting cylinder frame (2), the length of the slot body of the lock slot (23) is greater than the length of the lock block (43), and the width is matched with the lock block (43).

9. The modular rectification apparatus suitable for the alternative production of γ-butyrolactone and δ-valerolactone according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner wall of the sealing door (11) is fixedly connected with a high-temperature-resistant sealing gasket, which is tightly attached to the opening edge of the rectifying tower (1), and the outer wall of the lifting cylinder frame (2) is fixedly connected with a plurality of guide strips, which are matched with the guide grooves one by one, and the guide strips and the guide grooves are matched to realize the vertical lifting guidance of the cylinder frame (2), and the inner wall of the rectifying tower (1) is provided with guide grooves matched with the guide strips, and the guide strips are slidingly installed in the guide grooves.

10. A modular rectification process suitable for the alternative production of gamma-butyrolactone and delta-valerolactone, characterized in that, Use a modular rectification device suitable for the alternative production of gamma-butyrolactone and delta-valerolactone as claimed in any one of claims 1-9, comprising the following steps: S1, bolt the tray module (21) inside the cylinder frame (2), open the sealing door (11), use hoisting equipment to lift the assembled lifting cylinder frame (2) into the rectifying tower (1), make the gear (32) of the lifting mechanism (3) engage with the gear slot (33) of the lifting cylinder frame (2), and the lifting cylinder frame (2) is lowered smoothly by its own weight, the lock block (43) of the locking mechanism (4) is automatically locked into the lock slot (23) to complete the locking, the sealing door (11) is closed and the rectification system is started, realizing the rectification separation of GBL; S2, open the sealing door (11), rotate the knob (34) to drive the cylinder frame (2) to rise, the lock block (43) exits the lock slot (23) to release the lock, lift the lifting cylinder frame (2) out of the rectifying tower (1), disassemble the tray module (21) and bolt the packing module (22) inside the lifting cylinder frame (2); S3, lift the lifting cylinder frame (2) with the assembled packing module (22) into the rectifying tower (1) again, repeat the locking operation of step S1, start the rectification system to realize the high-purity rectification separation of DVL; S4, repeat steps S1-S3 to realize the alternative rectification production of GBL and DVL.

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