Heat Integrated Distillation Apparatus with Compressor and Tube-Bundle Heat Exchanger
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing heat integrated distillation apparatus with double-pipe structures faces limitations in achieving energy efficiency, side-cutting, feed stream optimization, multi-feed handling, maintenance accessibility, and heat transfer area design flexibility, due to fixed pipe arrangements and structured packing configurations.
Innovation Solution
A heat integrated distillation apparatus configuration featuring a rectifying column and a stripping column with a compressor to transfer vapor from the stripping column to the rectifying column, utilizing a tube-bundle-type heat exchanger and eliminating the partition plate in the rectifying column to reduce pressure loss and enhance energy efficiency, allowing for side-cutting, flexible feed stage optimization, and easy maintenance, while enabling free setting of the heat transfer area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If double-pipe structures with structured packing are used for heat integration, then energy efficiency is improved, but side-cutting capability is lost and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the heat integration system into separate heat exchanger units positioned at different stages of the distillation column, rather than using continuous double-pipe structures. This segmentation allows independent access to different sections for side-cutting operations while maintaining heat recovery functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces intermediate heat exchangers as mediator devices between the rectifying and stripping sections, enabling heat transfer without requiring direct contact between packed sections. This intermediary approach preserves the ability to perform side-cutting while achieving heat integration.
2Loss of energy
If double-pipe structures with equal packing heights are used, then heat transfer is achieved, but feed stage optimization is disabled
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes the system dynamically adjustable by allowing different packing heights in the rectifying and stripping sections, and by enabling flexible positioning of feed stages. This dynamic configuration capability allows optimization of feed stages based on specific operating conditions while maintaining heat transfer efficiency through properly sized heat exchangers.
3Power
If tube units are densely arranged for heat transfer, then heat exchange rate increases, but maintenance accessibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the heat exchange function from the densely packed tube units and relocates it to separate heat exchanger devices positioned at accessible locations in the column. This extraction allows the packed sections to be accessed for maintenance while heat transfer functionality is preserved in easily accessible external heat exchangers.
4Device complexity
If fixed heat transfer area is used in double-pipe structure, then device simplicity is maintained, but heat exchanged rate design flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes the heat transfer area dynamically adjustable by using separate heat exchanger units with configurable surface areas. This allows the heat transfer area to be optimized for different operating conditions and product requirements while maintaining relatively simple device structure through modular heat exchanger design.
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 configuration achieves higher energy efficiency, simplifies the apparatus structure, and reduces manufacturing costs by eliminating the need for pressure-feeding means, allowing for flexible heat transfer area design and easy handling of side-cutting and multi-feed streams, thereby improving overall energy savings and operational flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
a compressor (4) installed in the first pipe (23) and configured to compress vapor from the column top (2c) of the stripping column and then feed the compressed vapor to the column bottom (1a) of the rectifying column
Implementation Method 2
a heat exchanger (8) located in the liquid sump unit (2e) of the stripping column; a second pipe (29) for introducing vapor in the rectifying column to the heat exchanger (8) of the stripping column
Implementation Method 3
Distillation separation is a unit operation widely applied to industrial processes in general
Data Source
AI summary
A distillation apparatus includes a rectifying column, a stripping column located above seen from the rectifying column, a liquid sump unit located at a predetermined stage of the stripping column and configured to hold liquid that has flowed downward, a heat exchanger located in the liquid sump unit, a second pipe for introducing vapor in the rectifying column to the heat exchanger of the stripping column, and a third pipe for introducing fluids flowing out from the heat exchanger of the stripping column to the rectifying column. Further, a flare line having lower pressure than pressure in the rectifying column is connected to a downstream side of the third pipe. The distillation apparatus can switch a first flow toward an inside of the rectifying column through the third pipe to a second flow branching from the third pipe toward a pipe at a lower pressure side.