Vacuum distillation apparatus and vacuum distillation method

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vacuum distillation apparatus that heats a substance composed of multiple components with different boiling points to extract components within a specific boiling point range based on the difference in boiling points, and to an apparatus and method having the structure and function of an apparatus for thermally decomposing the remaining components after vacuum distillation. [Solution] A reduced pressure distillation apparatus consisting of an evaporator equipped with a pressure sensor and a temperature sensor and capable of setting the pressure and temperature to any value, a condenser equipped with a pressure sensor and capable of setting the pressure to any value, a vacuum pump, a control device, and a pressure regulating valve installed between the evaporator and the condenser. By setting the pressure of the condenser to a value lower than the pressure of the evaporator, the substances vaporized in the evaporator can be effectively and efficiently flowed to the condenser and extracted by the condenser, and the remaining components after the reduced pressure distillation can be superheated to 350°C or higher in an oxygen-free environment, making it possible to give it the function of a thermal decomposition apparatus, a reduced pressure distillation apparatus and a reduced pressure distillation method capable of thermal decomposition reactions.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to a vacuum distillation and pyrolysis apparatus that can separate components contained in a substance based on differences in boiling points by vacuum distillation, and can generate new substances by heating and chemically decomposing organic matter in an oxygen-free environment. The vacuum distillation apparatus is composed of a pressure sensor, an evaporator equipped with a pressure sensor, a condenser equipped with a pressure sensor, a vacuum pump, a control device, and a pressure regulating valve installed between the evaporator and the condenser. The invention provides an apparatus that also functions as a pyrolysis apparatus by installing a device that supplies water to the evaporator that constitutes this vacuum distillation apparatus, and supplying water to the evaporator after vacuum distillation is completed, filling the inside of the evaporator with water vapor (containing no oxygen), increasing the pressure to near atmospheric pressure, making the thermal conductivity equivalent to that of air, and raising the temperature to 350°C or higher. [Background technology]

[0002] On Earth, there are many situations in which various components are mixed together in a substance. However, in the field of science and technology, there is a demand for technologies to separate unnecessary components contained in a source material to increase the purity of the source fluid, such as removing water from sludge, removing water contained in oil, or separating water and oil from a substance containing both water and oil, or to separate and effectively utilize useful components contained in the source material. In recent years, separation methods using centrifuges that utilize centrifugal force, separation methods that utilize inertial force, separation methods that utilize sedimentation, and combinations of these methods have been used, as well as methods that separate components by utilizing the difference in boiling points of the mixture contained in a liquid, such as heating the liquid to vaporize it and condense it to further increase purity.

[0003] Among these methods, as described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, for example, there are reports that mixtures can be separated and removed using only physical methods such as centrifugal force, inertial force, gravity, and pressure difference. However, in order to put into practical use a device that can effectively separate and remove mixtures contained in a source fluid, the device must have the following characteristics: a simple structure (easy to process and highly durable) and easy maintenance and servicing (nearly maintenance-free). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 09-248404 [Patent Document 2] Patent Publication No. 2017-205713

[0005] In contrast to this, as described in Patent Documents 3 and 4, for example, there is a method in which the liquid is placed in a decompressed container and heated to vaporize and condense it, thereby separating it from the mixture in the liquid.

[0006] [Patent Document 3] Patent Publication No. 2008-237943 [Patent Document 4] Patent Publication No. 2009-028726 [Patent Document 5] Patent No. 7597373 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, as shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2, generally, if a device that can separate and remove mixtures contained in a source fluid using only physical methods such as centrifugal force, inertial force, gravity, and pressure difference is given the characteristics of a simple structure and easy maintenance and servicing, the separation ability may decrease and the device may become larger. Also, as shown in Patent Documents 3 and 4, when using a method of placing a substance composed of a plurality of components in a depressurized container, heating it, and separating the target component by vaporization and condensation, if a phenomenon occurs where a part of the vaporized substance in the evaporation device condenses by being cooled on the side and upper surface of the evaporation device, a series of cycles of vaporization and condensation are completed inside the evaporation device, resulting in a phenomenon where the condensation device cannot be reached. On the other hand, as shown in Patent Document 5, when the condensation device is installed inside the evaporation device, the piping connecting the evaporation device and the condensation device and the container constituting the condensation device are no longer required, but since existing equipment cannot be used, a new design is required.

[0008] Therefore, the present invention provides a vacuum distillation apparatus comprising an evaporation device capable of setting the pressure and temperature, where a pressure sensor and a temperature sensor are installed, to arbitrary values, a condensation device capable of setting the pressure, where a pressure sensor is installed, to an arbitrary value, a vacuum pump, a control device, and a pressure regulating valve installed between the evaporation device and the condensation device. By setting the pressure of the condensation device to a value lower than the pressure of the evaporation device, the substance vaporized in the evaporation device is effectively and efficiently made to flow to the condensation device and extracted by the condensation device, and the residual component after vacuum distillation is superheated to 350°C or higher in an oxygen-free state, thereby enabling it to function as a thermal decomposition device. An object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum distillation apparatus and a vacuum distillation method capable of a thermal decomposition reaction.

[0009] A distillation apparatus having a function of extracting a component within a specific boiling point range by heating a substance composed of a plurality of components having different boiling points, based on the difference in boiling points, uses the principle of heating the extraction target component contained in the substance near its boiling point in the evaporation device to vaporize it, and cooling the vaporized component to below its boiling point in the condensation device to condense it.

[0010] Generally, an evaporation device and a condensation device are manufactured as independent devices and are structured to be connected by pipes. When using a distillation device composed of an evaporation device and a condensation device with such a structure to, for example, remove moisture in sludge or remove moisture contained in oil, it is necessary to heat the liquid containing the mixture to 100°C, which is the boiling point of water under normal pressure. Also, when extracting oil from a mixture (a sludge-like substance containing oil) generated during the refining process of vegetable oil (edible oil), it is necessary to heat the mixture to around 400°C, which is the boiling point of vegetable oil under normal pressure. The evaporation device usually fills the mixture up to a set liquid level position in the evaporation container and, when heating and vaporizing this, provides a space at the upper part of the container so that the mixture near the liquid surface does not reach and mix into the vaporized components in the pipe (connection pipe) connecting the evaporation device and the condensation device (the priming phenomenon in a boiler). If this space is not properly insulated, the components vaporized at the liquid surface may be cooled and condensed on the wall surface of the container forming the space, so there is a possibility that they will not reach the pipe (connection pipe) connecting the evaporation device and the condensation device. Also, it is necessary to guide the fluid at 100°C or higher vaporized in the evaporation device to the condensation device through the pipe (connection pipe) connecting the evaporation device and the condensation device. However, since the vaporized components (fluid) will condense when their temperature drops below the boiling point, especially in the case of high-temperature fluids, it is necessary to insulate the connection pipe and have a structure to prevent condensation inside the pipe.

[0011] Since it is difficult to confirm this phenomenon from the outside, when the insulation of the container wall surface at the upper part of the evaporation device is insufficient, the fluid that has absorbed the heat of vaporization and become a gas by the mixture heated in the evaporation device is cooled on the container wall surface at the upper part of the evaporation device, releasing the heat of condensation and liquefying. By repeating this phenomenon, the vaporized fluid will not reach the pipe (connection pipe) connecting the evaporation device and the condensation device. In the present invention, the following measures are taken to prevent this. (1) A pressure sensor is installed in the evaporation device and the condensation device, and a pressure regulating valve is installed in the middle of the pipe connecting the evaporation device and the condensation device. By using a vacuum pump and a control device to set the pressure inside the condensation device lower than the pressure inside the evaporation device, the structure and function are such that the components vaporized in the evaporation device can flow to the condensation device effectively and efficiently. (2) By installing the condensation device inside the evaporation device, it becomes unnecessary to use the pipe connecting the condensation device and the evaporation device and the container constituting the upper device.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0012] The invention according to claim 1 is a vacuum distillation apparatus comprising an evaporation device having a heating device provided with a pressure sensor and a temperature sensor, a condensation device provided with a pressure sensor, a vacuum pump, a control device, and a pressure regulating valve installed between the evaporation device and the condensation device. In a state where the temperature inside the evaporation device is made constant by the heating device, the temperature sensor, and the control device installed in the evaporation device, the pressure inside the evaporation device is reduced to the boiling point of the component to be subjected to vacuum distillation by the pressure sensor, the vacuum pump, and the control device installed in the evaporation device, and it is characterized by having such a function.

[0013] The invention according to claim 2 is a vacuum distillation apparatus comprising an evaporation device having a heating device provided with a pressure sensor and a temperature sensor, a condensation device provided with a pressure sensor, a vacuum pump, a control device, and a pressure regulating valve installed between the evaporation device and the condensation device. By using the method of reducing the pressure inside the evaporation device to the boiling point of the component to be subjected to vacuum distillation by the heating device, the temperature sensor, and the control device installed in the evaporation device in a state where the temperature inside the evaporation device is made constant by the pressure sensor, the vacuum pump, and the control device installed in the evaporation device, it is characterized by being able to effectively and efficiently extract the component to be subjected to vacuum distillation.

[0014] The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that, in the vacuum distillation apparatus according to claim 1, while the pressure inside the evaporation device is kept constant by a pressure sensor, a vacuum pump, and a control device installed in the evaporation device, the temperature inside the evaporation device is raised to the boiling point of the component to be subjected to vacuum distillation by a heating device, a temperature sensor, and a control device installed in the evaporation device.

[0015] The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that, in the vacuum distillation method according to claim 2, by using a method in which the pressure inside the evaporation device is kept constant by a pressure sensor, a vacuum pump, and a control device installed in the evaporation device, and the temperature inside the evaporation device is raised to the boiling point of the component to be subjected to vacuum distillation by a heating device, a temperature sensor, and a control device installed in the evaporation device, the component to be subjected to vacuum distillation can be effectively and efficiently extracted.

[0016] The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that, in the vacuum distillation apparatus according to claim 1, it has a function for setting the pressure of the condensation device to a value lower than the pressure of the evaporation device so that the components vaporized in the evaporation device can flow effectively and efficiently to the condensation device.

[0017] The invention according to claim 6 is a vacuum distillation method characterized in that, in the vacuum distillation apparatus according to claim 2, by using a method of setting the pressure of the condensation device to a value lower than the pressure of the evaporation device, the components vaporized in the evaporation device can flow effectively and efficiently to the condensation device.

[0018] The invention according to claim 7 is characterized in that, in the vacuum distillation apparatus according to claim 1, a vacuum tank is installed between the condensation device and the vacuum pump, and a pressure regulating valve is installed between the condensation device and the vacuum tank in order to keep the pressure of the condensation device at a constant value by setting the pressure of the vacuum tank to a value lower than the pressure of the condensation device.

[0019] The invention described in claim 8 is characterized in that, in the reduced pressure distillation method described in claim 2, a vacuum tank is installed between the condenser and the vacuum pump, and a pressure regulating valve is installed between the condenser and the vacuum tank, and the pressure of the vacuum tank is set to a value lower than the pressure of the condenser, thereby maintaining the pressure of the condenser at a constant value.

[0020] The invention described in claim 9 is characterized in that, in the vacuum distillation apparatus described in claim 1, the condenser is configured to be installed inside the container that constitutes the evaporator, thereby eliminating the need for piping connecting the evaporator and the condenser and the container that constitutes the condenser, and also eliminating the need to install a pressure regulating valve between the evaporator and the condenser.

[0021] The invention described in claim 10 is characterized in that, in the reduced pressure distillation method described in claim 2, a method is used in which a condenser is installed inside an evaporator, thereby eliminating the need for piping connecting the evaporator and the condenser and a container that constitutes the condenser, and also eliminating the need to install a pressure regulating valve between the evaporator and the condenser.

[0022] The invention described in claim 11 is characterized in that, in the vacuum distillation apparatus described in claim 1, a device for supplying water to the evaporator is installed, and by supplying water to the evaporator after the vacuum distillation is completed, the inside of the evaporator is filled with water vapor (does not contain oxygen), and the pressure is increased to near atmospheric pressure and the temperature is increased to 350°C or higher, thereby making it possible to give the apparatus the function of a thermal decomposition apparatus.

[0023] The invention described in claim 12 is characterized in that, in the vacuum distillation method described in claim 2, a device for supplying water to the evaporator is installed, and by supplying water to the evaporator after the vacuum distillation is completed, the inside of the evaporator is filled with water vapor (does not contain oxygen), and the pressure is increased to near atmospheric pressure and the temperature is increased to 350°C or higher, thereby making it possible to give the evaporator the function of a thermal decomposition device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0024] By using the present invention, it is possible to provide an apparatus having a structure and function that allows a substance vaporized in an evaporator to flow effectively and efficiently into a condenser. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0025]

Figure 1

Figure 2

[0026] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of an apparatus for separating and removing a mixture contained in a fluid according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] The boiling point (saturation temperature, saturation pressure) of a substance changes depending on the temperature and pressure When the saturation temperature is used as a reference, the saturation temperature decreases as the pressure decreases, and increases as the pressure increases. When the saturation pressure is used as a reference, the saturation pressure decreases as the temperature decreases, and increases as the temperature increases. When this law of physics is applied to a vacuum distillation apparatus, there are two methods: one is to use a vacuum pump and a control device to set the pressure corresponding to the boiling point of the component to be distilled under reduced pressure while keeping the temperature of the evaporator constant using a heating device and a control device, and the other is to use a vacuum pump and a control device to set the temperature corresponding to the boiling point of the component to be distilled under reduced pressure while keeping the pressure of the evaporator constant using a vacuum pump and a control device.

[0028] First, a case where vacuum distillation is carried out while the temperature of the evaporator is kept constant by a heating device and a control device will be described. In Figure 1, the substance containing the object of vacuum distillation introduced into the evaporation device is heated in the evaporation device to the temperature set by the control device (5). The temperature inside the evaporation device detected by the temperature sensor (7) is signaled and sent to the control device (5), and the temperature inside the evaporation device is controlled to maintain the temperature set in the control device. On the other hand, by sucking the air in the condensation device (1) with the vacuum pump (4), the pressure in the condensation device (1) decreases, and when it drops to the saturation pressure corresponding to the temperature of the target component set in the control device, vaporization begins. Although the temperature inside the evaporation device decreases due to the heat of vaporization accompanying vaporization, the temperature inside the evaporator is maintained by supplying the amount of heat corresponding to the heat of vaporization with the heating device.

[0029] When the pressure in the evaporation device and the pressure in the condensation device are the same, the substance vaporized in the evaporation device needs to be transferred from the evaporation device to the condensation device using some method. However, by setting the pressure in the condensation device lower than the pressure in the evaporation device using the vacuum pump (4), the control device (5), and the pressure control valve (PCV) shown in Figure 1, the components vaporized in the evaporation device (1) continuously move to the condensation device (2) and condense.

[0030] Next, a method of performing vacuum distillation while maintaining the pressure in the condensation device constant using the vacuum pump (4), the control device (5), and the pressure control valve (PCV) will be described. In Figure 1, the substance containing the object of vacuum distillation introduced into the evaporation device is heated in the evaporation device to the saturation temperature corresponding to the pressure set by the control device (5). The temperature inside the evaporation device detected by the temperature sensor (7) is signaled and sent to the control device (5), and the temperature inside the evaporation device is controlled to maintain the saturation temperature set in the control device. In this state, when the temperature of the evaporation device rises to the saturation temperature corresponding to the pressure of the target component set in the control device, vaporization begins. Although the temperature inside the evaporation device decreases due to the heat of vaporization accompanying vaporization, the temperature inside the evaporator is maintained by supplying the amount of heat corresponding to the heat of vaporization with the heating device.

[0031] The components vaporized in the evaporator are continuously transferred to the condenser (2) and condensed by setting the pressure in the condenser lower than the pressure in the evaporator using the vacuum pump (4), the control device (5), and the pressure control valve (PCV) shown in FIG.

[0032] FIG. 2 shows an example of the configuration of a vacuum distillation and thermal decomposition apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In vacuum distillation, the components vaporized in the evaporator (1) flow and liquefy in the condenser (2), remaining as a liquid within the vessel. The condenser (2) is equipped with a heat exchanger for liquefying the components vaporized in the evaporator (1). However, when the liquid level of the vaporized components reaches the heat exchanger, the heat transfer area of the heat exchanger decreases, degrading its performance as a heat exchanger. To prevent this, the present invention installs a level sensor (9) within the condenser (2) and a transfer pump (10) for sucking the liquefied components from the bottom of the condenser (2) and transferring them to a tank (11). The level sensor signal is transmitted to a control device, which activates the transfer pump (10) before the liquid level of the condensed components reaches the heat exchanger, thereby lowering the liquid level to near the bottom of the condenser (2). By providing this structure and function, the interior of the condenser (2) is primarily comprised of a heat exchanger, thereby reducing the volume of the condenser (2).

[0033] At the end of the vacuum distillation, the residue from the vacuum distillation remains in the evaporator (1), and the condenser (2) is empty because the components extracted in the vacuum distillation have been sucked in by the transfer pump (10). The pressure inside the evaporator (1) and the condenser (2) is in a vacuum state (a state in which oxygen is not present), and the temperature of the entire evaporator is higher than room temperature. When the distillation apparatus (1) is depressurized and the residue is taken out by releasing the pressure to the atmosphere (supplying oxygen) in such a state, combustion or explosion may occur if the temperature inside the evaporation apparatus (1) is high. Therefore, it is necessary to lower the temperature inside the evaporation apparatus (1). Further, when the residue of the vacuum distillation in the distillation apparatus (1) is taken out after the state where there is no possibility of combustion or explosion, it is necessary to appropriately process the residue.

[0034] In the present invention, in order to effectively utilize the residue of the vacuum distillation remaining in the evaporation apparatus (1) when the vacuum distillation is completed, a water supply device (8) is installed in the evaporation apparatus of the vacuum distillation apparatus, enabling the vacuum distillation apparatus to have the function of a thermal decomposition apparatus. In FIG. 2, when the vacuum distillation is completed, the inside of the evaporation apparatus (1) is in a high-temperature and vacuum state (a state without oxygen). This state meets the conditions of high temperature without oxygen for thermal decomposition, but a higher temperature is required to generate the thermal decomposition reaction. However, since the inside of the distillation apparatus (1) is in a vacuum state (a state where no substances exist) and the thermal conductivity is close to zero, it is necessary to supply a heat medium (a substance for conducting heat) by some method.

[0035] In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, a method of supplying water from the water supply device (8) installed in the evaporation apparatus (1) is used. The water supplied to the evaporation apparatus (1) vaporizes into water vapor when the temperature and pressure are above the boiling point of water. At this time, the volume increases by about 1500 times. As a result, the inside of the evaporation apparatus (1) is filled with water vapor having a thermal conductivity almost the same as that of air, so "effective heating in a state without oxygen" becomes possible by heating this.

[0036] A part of the residue of the vacuum distillation remaining in the evaporation apparatus (1) becomes vaporized by thermal decomposition and is liquefied in the condenser (2), and can be taken out as a new component. Since the components vaporized and liquefied by the vacuum distillation in the condenser (2) are sucked by the transfer pump (10), only the liquefied thermal decomposition products can be taken out from the condenser (2). Furthermore, by providing a transfer pump (10) and a tank (11) separate from those for vacuum distillation, a highly pure pyrolysis product can be obtained. [Industrial Applicability]

[0037] The present invention is applicable to effectively separating mixtures contained in liquids. [Explanation of symbols]

[0038] (1) Evaporation device (2) Condenser (3) Vacuum container (4) Vacuum pump (5) Control panel (6) Pressure sensor (7) Temperature sensor (8) Water supply device (10) Transfer pump (11) Tank PCV pressure regulating valve NRV check valve

Claims

1. In a vacuum distillation apparatus comprising an evaporation device, a condensation device, a vacuum pump, and a control device, a device for supplying water to the evaporation device is installed, and after the vacuum distillation is completed, water is supplied to the evaporation device to make the inside of the evaporation device in a state filled with steam (oxygen-free), and by raising the temperature to 350 °C or higher, a vacuum distillation apparatus characterized in that it can have a function as a thermal decomposition device.

2. In a vacuum distillation method using a vacuum distillation apparatus comprising an evaporation device, a condensation device, a vacuum pump, and a control device, a device for supplying water to the evaporation device is installed, and after the vacuum distillation is completed, water is supplied to the evaporation device to make the inside of the evaporation device in a state filled with steam (oxygen-free), and by using the method of raising the temperature to 350 °C or higher, a vacuum distillation method characterized in that it can have a function as a thermal decomposition device.

Images