Divided Wall Distillation Column Prevents Remixing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing distillation processes for separating mixtures with three or more components, such as 2-ethyl hexyl acrylate, often result in remixing of intermediate boiling point components, leading to increased energy consumption and inefficiencies, particularly when using multiple distillation columns.
Innovation Solution
A divided wall distillation column is employed, which integrates a pre-separator into a main separator, minimizing energy loss and reducing installation costs by preventing remixing through a divided wall structure that separates flows by boiling points and uses multiple openings to prevent channeling, allowing for efficient separation of low, intermediate, and high boiling point components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If two distillation columns are used to separate mixtures with three or more components, then separation capability is improved, but energy consumption increases due to remixing of intermediate boiling point components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate distillation columns into a single integrated divided wall distillation column. The divided wall structure creates separate flow paths for low, intermediate, and high boiling point components within one column, eliminating the remixing problem that occurs when using two separate columns. This merging approach maintains high separation capability while reducing energy consumption by preventing the intermediate component from being mixed and re-separated.
Solution Approach 2:
The internal structure of the distillation column is segmented by a divided wall into multiple sections, each handling different boiling point components. The divided wall creates distinct flow paths that segment the mixture separation process, allowing simultaneous separation of low, intermediate, and high boiling point components in different zones of the same column, thereby avoiding remixing and reducing energy consumption.
2Manufacturing precision
If two distillation columns are used for refinement, then separation efficiency is improved, but installation costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functionality of two separate distillation columns into a single divided wall distillation column. By integrating the separation of low, intermediate, and high boiling point components into one column with a divided wall structure, the installation costs are reduced while maintaining high separation efficiency. The single column design requires less space, fewer supports, and simpler external piping compared to two separate columns.
3Loss of energy
If a divided wall structure is used to separate flows, then remixing is prevented and energy loss is minimized, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The divided wall structure segments the column interior into distinct flow paths for different boiling point components. This segmentation prevents remixing of the intermediate component by maintaining separate flow channels throughout the column, thereby minimizing energy loss. The segmented design achieves energy efficiency through a relatively simple internal structure compared to using multiple external columns.
4Manufacturing precision
If multiple openings are used to prevent channeling, then separation efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple openings are strategically positioned at specific locations within the divided wall structure to prevent channeling in critical zones. Rather than uniformly distributing openings throughout the column, the design applies local quality by placing openings only where needed to maintain proper flow distribution and prevent channeling, thereby achieving high separation efficiency with minimal additional complexity.
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
The divided wall distillation column effectively separates 2-ethyl hexyl acrylate with high purity, reducing energy consumption and enhancing economic feasibility by minimizing energy loss and channeling, thereby improving separation efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a divided wall distillation column into which a raw material F1 including three components, i.e., a low boiling point component, an intermediate boiling point component, and a high boiling point component
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a divided wall distillation column and a separating method. According to the divided wall distillation column and the separating method, when a mixture having three or more components is separated, a material to be separated, for example, 2-ethyl hexyl acrylate can be separated with high purity, and energy reduction in a separation and refinement process of 2-ethyl hexyl acrylate can be promoted.