Design, optimization, and industrial-scale experimental study of a high-efficiency dividing wall column

Li, Chunli; Zhang, Qianlong; Xie, Jiangwei; Fang, Jing; Li, Hao

doi:10.1016/j.seppur.2020.116891

Cited by 19 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…However, usually heat losses occur due to imperfect insulation or thermal bridges at the flanges or sensors. Energy loss can affect the separation efficiency of the column [1,2] and might need to be compensated for by an additional energy input at the evaporator [3]. Despite the reduction of the thermal efficiency, heat losses cause an undesired partial condensation of vapor inside the column, which affects the internal fluid dynamics [4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental Investigation of Heat Losses in a Pilot-Scale Multiple Dividing Wall Distillation Column with Three Parallel Sections

2023

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For an in-depth investigation of the separation process in small-scale distillation columns, knowledge about the exact vapor load inside the column is highly important. However, since columns with small diameters have a comparatively high surface-to-volume ratio, heat losses have a significant impact on fluid dynamics, as they lead to unwanted condensation, and thus, to changes in the internal flows. This work presents a procedure used to measure heat losses in a 9.6 m high distillation column with three partially parallel segments (multiple dividing wall column). The evaporator is made of stainless steel, and the column walls are made of double-walled, evacuated, mirrored glass, and additionally, these can be heated. It is found that significant amounts of heat are lost in the evaporator. Throughout the column height, around 0.8 kW are additionally lost, even with external wall heating. To determine the main reason for this significant loss, thermal images are taken, indicating that the problem mainly arises because of the flanges. Based on this, it can be concluded that proper insulation and additional heating jackets for the column walls are highly recommended for small-scale distillation columns in order to increase their thermal efficiency.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental Investigation of Heat Losses in a Pilot-Scale Multiple Dividing Wall Distillation Column with Three Parallel Sections

2023

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“…Wang et al 18 used the DWC to separate a pentane−hexane− heptane system, which lowered the energy consumption by 15.8% compared with that of the traditional distillation sequences process. Zhang et al 19 used a DWC to separate an ethanol−n-propanol−n-butanol system, which lowered the energy consumption by 33.39%.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Design of Reaction Region of Reactive Dividing Wall Column Based on Cross-Wall Heat Transfer

Sun

et al. 2023

Ind. Eng. Chem. Res.

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The reactive dividing wall column (RDWC) is a column structure that couples a reactive distillation and dividing wall column. It has become a research hotspot because of its remarkable advantages in energy consumption. Most RDWCs ignore the possibility of cross-wall heat transfer. For the RDWC, the effect of reaction heat is also ignored. In this work, the reaction of methyl acetate with butanol was studied, and Aspen is used to study the effect of the reaction heat and reaction region length on the cross-wall heat transfer. The results show that compared with the RDWC with an adiabatic cross-wall, the RDWC with cross-wall heat transfer can save 3.2% energy. Cross-wall heat transfer could achieve reactants conversion of 99.4%. From the perspective of energy saving maximization, the double reaction region is set. The research results show that the RDWC with cross-wall heat transfer in the double reaction region can save 4.2% energy compared with the cross-wall insulation.

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“…As typical chemical process intensification equipment, 2 the divided-wall column 3 (DWC) can complete the efficient separation of ternary mixtures in one column, 4 which has obvious energy-saving advantages. 5 Recently, researchers 6 have also attempted to achieve the separation of quaternary mixtures using divided-wall distillation techniques. The Agrawal divided-wall column (ADWC, see Figure 1a) is an enhanced configuration of the DWC with two interlaced upper and lower partitions in one column.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…How to reduce the energy consumption of distillation has become an urgent issue. As typical chemical process intensification equipment, the divided-wall column (DWC) can complete the efficient separation of ternary mixtures in one column, which has obvious energy-saving advantages . Recently, researchers have also attempted to achieve the separation of quaternary mixtures using divided-wall distillation techniques.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dynamic Control of Liquid-Only Transfer Stream Agrawal Divided-Wall Column

Li,

Zhao

et al. 2023

Ind. Eng. Chem. Res.

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The distillation columns with no vapor−liquidcoupled flow streams are easier to control and operate, especially for the few industrial implementations of the Agrawal divided-wall column (ADWC). This work focuses on the dynamic control of the liquid-only transfer stream Agrawal divided-wall column (LTS-ADWC) for separating the quaternary alcohol system. First, the composition control structure (CCS) is proposed, and the dynamic results show that CCS could handle ±15% feed disturbance, and the purity of most products can be returned to the specified value. Subsequently, the temperature control structure (TCS) is designed on account of the control logic of the CCS. When facing ±15% feed disturbances, good dynamic performance can be achieved through TCS. The product's purity stabilizes and returns to the near-nominal value in a shorter time. In brief, these works provide an attractive substitute for ADWC in academic research and industrial practice.

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Design, optimization, and industrial-scale experimental study of a high-efficiency dividing wall column

Cited by 19 publications

References 29 publications

Experimental Investigation of Heat Losses in a Pilot-Scale Multiple Dividing Wall Distillation Column with Three Parallel Sections

Experimental Investigation of Heat Losses in a Pilot-Scale Multiple Dividing Wall Distillation Column with Three Parallel Sections

Design of Reaction Region of Reactive Dividing Wall Column Based on Cross-Wall Heat Transfer

Dynamic Control of Liquid-Only Transfer Stream Agrawal Divided-Wall Column

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