Rotating Packed Bed Distillation for Hydrohalocarbon Purification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for purifying hydrofluoroolefins, such as HFO-1234yf, face challenges due to close boiling points and the formation of azeotropes, making distillation ineffective, and struggle to minimize toxic and flammable impurities, which are difficult to separate from the desired compounds.
Innovation Solution
A process involving a pressurized distillation device with one or more rotating packed beds is used, where the composition is compressed and cooled to form a liquid stream that is then distilled, utilizing centrifugal force to separate hydrohalocarbon constituents effectively, avoiding the formation of azeotropes and achieving high purity levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional distillation is used to purify hydrofluoroolefins, then the process is simple to operate, but the separation is ineffective due to close boiling points and azeotrope formation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the operating parameters of distillation by applying centrifugal force through rotating packed beds, which modifies the separation mechanism from purely thermal to a combination of thermal and centrifugal effects. This enables effective separation of compounds with close boiling points and breaks azeotropic compositions that cannot be separated by conventional distillation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces dynamic rotation of packed beds into the distillation process. The rotating packed beds create centrifugal forces that enhance mass transfer and separation efficiency, transforming a static distillation process into a dynamic one capable of achieving higher purity levels for difficult-to-separate hydrofluoroolefin isomers.
2Manufacturing precision
If extractive distillation is used to separate impurities, then separation effectiveness improves, but energy consumption and process complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention modifies distillation parameters by incorporating centrifugal acceleration through rotating packed beds. This changes the mass transfer dynamics and allows for more efficient separation with reduced energy input compared to traditional extractive distillation methods that require additional solvents and higher energy inputs.
3Device complexity
If conventional distillation apparatus is used, then the device is simple in structure, but the apparatus size is large and energy consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces large-scale static distillation columns with compact rotating packed bed units. The dynamic rotation creates intense mixing and separation effects in a much smaller volume, dramatically reducing the footprint of the distillation apparatus while maintaining or improving separation performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds the rotational dimension to the traditional vertical distillation column. By introducing rotation around the vertical axis, the system achieves enhanced mass transfer and separation in a compact configuration, effectively utilizing three-dimensional space more efficiently than conventional linear distillation paths.
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 process allows for the effective separation of hydrohalocarbon constituents, achieving a hydrohalocarbon purity of greater than 90% by weight and reducing impurity content to less than 1%, using a more compact and energy-efficient apparatus that operates at temperatures near ambient, surpassing the limitations of cryogenic distillation.
Implementation Method 1
distilling said stream A2 obtained in step ii) in order to form and recover a stream A3 comprising said hydrohalocarbon B, characterized in that step iii) is carried out in a pressurized distillation device comprising one or more rotating packed beds
Implementation Method 2
The purification of this type of reaction mixture can be carried out by various techniques known from the prior art, such as, for example, distillation
Implementation Method 3
compressing said composition A1, and optionally cooling it, so as to obtain said hydrohalocarbon B in liquid form
Implementation Method 4
compressing said composition A1, and optionally cooling it, so as to obtain said hydrohalocarbon B in liquid form
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a process for purifying a composition comprising a hydrohalocarbon B comprising the steps of: i) providing a composition A1 comprising a hydrohalocarbon B and at least one impurity C different from said hydrohalocarbon B, ii) compressing said composition A1, and optionally cooling it, so as to obtain said hydrohalocarbon B in liquid form in order to form a liquid stream A2 comprising said hydrohalocarbon B, iii) distilling said stream A2 obtained in step ii) in order to form and recover a stream A3 comprising said hydrohalocarbon B, characterized in that step iii) is carried out in a pressurized distillation device comprising one or more rotating packed beds.