Heat-Integrated Distillation for Pyrolysis Gasoline Separation

The patent applies parameter changes by operating distillation columns at different pressure levels (first column at higher pressure, second column at lower pressure) to create temperature differences that enable heat integration. This pressure parameter modification allows the condenser of one column to provide heat to the reboiler of another column, reducing external energy consumption while maintaining separation precision between C6 and C7 fractions.

The patent merges the heat exchange functions by directly coupling the condenser of the first distillation column with the reboiler of the second distillation column. This merging allows heat released during condensation in the first column to be directly utilized for vaporization in the second column, eliminating the need for separate external heating and cooling systems and significantly reducing overall energy consumption.

The patent introduces heat exchangers as intermediary devices that facilitate heat transfer between the condenser and reboiler streams. These intermediaries enable efficient thermal coupling between distillation columns by transferring heat from the condensing vapor stream to the boiling liquid stream, preventing heat energy loss while maintaining the independence and reliability of each column's separation function.

The patent implements continuous heat integration where the heat released by condensing overhead vapors in one column continuously supplies the reboiler duties of another column. This continuous thermal interaction creates a cascading heat utilization pattern across multiple columns, ensuring that useful thermal energy is continuously transferred and utilized rather than being lost to the environment.