Adjustable Dividing Wall Distillation Column for Acrylic Acid
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Solution Overview
Problem
The dividing wall distillation column is inflexible in adapting to variations in operating conditions due to its structural characteristics, making it difficult to control the flow rate of internally circulating materials and requiring precise simulation and structural determination during design, which limits its application in the distillation industry.
Innovation Solution
A dividing wall distillation column design that includes a condenser, reboiler, and a main column divided into specific zones with adjustable plate numbers and operating conditions, allowing for flexible operation by optimizing the position of the dividing wall, feed plates, and temperature settings to efficiently separate crude acrylic acid into high-purity acrylic acid, low, and high boiling point components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a dividing wall distillation column is used to integrate preliminary separator and main separator, then equipment costs and energy consumption are reduced, but the structure becomes inflexible and difficult to operate under varying conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the dividing wall position adjustable rather than fixed. The dividing wall can be repositioned along the column to adapt to different operating conditions, feed compositions, and product specifications. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the single-column system to maintain optimal separation efficiency while accommodating varying operational requirements, thus resolving the contradiction between energy efficiency and operational flexibility.
2Productivity
If a dividing wall is installed to separate components, then separation efficiency is improved, but the design and operation become complex requiring precise simulation and structural determination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the distillation column into distinct functional zones: a preliminary separation section above the dividing wall and a main separation section below it. Each zone can be independently designed and optimized for specific separation tasks. The dividing wall itself is segmented into multiple sections with different heights and positions, allowing each segment to handle specific component separations. This modular segmentation reduces overall design complexity while maintaining high separation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by optimizing different sections of the dividing wall and column for specific local functions. The dividing wall has varying heights at different positions along the column, with taller sections for components requiring greater separation and shorter sections for those requiring less. Feed plates and trays are strategically positioned at specific locations within each zone to optimize mass and heat transfer. This localized optimization achieves high separation efficiency without requiring complex overall system design.
3Ease of operation
If two conventional distillation columns are used to separate three-component mixture, then composition control is easy, but middle boiling point component is remixed degrading thermodynamic efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by combining two separate distillation columns into a single integrated column with a dividing wall. The preliminary separator and main separator that would traditionally be separate units are merged into one continuous structure. This eliminates the remixing problem that occurs when products from one column become feed to another column, as the single-column design maintains distinct separation zones throughout. The merging achieves both easy composition control and high thermodynamic efficiency by preventing unnecessary mixing while maintaining product purity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design reduces energy consumption and equipment costs by allowing a single distillation column to achieve the separation efficiency of two conventional columns, improving thermodynamic efficiency and reducing remixing effects, thereby enhancing the production of high-purity acrylic acid.
Implementation Method 1
a fractional distillation method using the same
Data Source
AI summary
There are provided a dividing wall distillation column for producing high-purity acrylic acid, and a fractional distillation method using the same. The dividing wall distillation column includes a condenser, a reboiler and a main column having a dividing wall. Here, the main column is divided into a column-top zone, an upper feed zone, an upper outflow zone, a lower feed zone, a lower outflow zone and a column-bottom zone. Also, a crude acrylic acid raw material (F) flows in a middle inflow plate NR1 in which the upper feed zone and the lower teed zone come in contact with each other, a low boiling point component (D) flows out from the column-top zone, a high boiling point component (B) flows out from the column-bottom zone, and a middle boiling point component (S) flows out through a middle outflow plate NR2 in which the upper outflow zone and the lower outflow zone come in contact with each other. In this case, the middle boiling point component is acrylic acid. Accordingly, since one distillation column can be used to realize the same effect as that obtained from the use of two distillation columns, the dividing wall distillation column can have an effect of reducing the costs of equipment to produce high-purity acrylic acid, as well as an energy-reducing effect, compared to a conventional process system.