EP0010253A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Continuous distillation apparatus and method of operation
Assignee: University of Utah
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Filing: 1979-10-09
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Granted: —
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Expires: 1999-10-09
Abstract
Abstract Separate stripping (14) and rectifying (16) sections are arranged in tandem, each section being segregated into a plurality of vapor liquid contact stages (24-32, 34-42). The rectifying section (16) is operated at a higher temperature than the stripping section (14) by compressing (66) vapor from the stripping section (14) prior to introducing the vapor into the rectifying section (16). Thermal energy is conserved during the distillation process by transferring thermal energy from the rectifying section (16) to the stripping section (14) with a plurality of heat pipes (84-87).
Inventors
- 👤 Junior Devere Seader
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:51
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D3/00; B01D3/14; B01D3/16; B01D3/166; B01D3/141; B01D3/143; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S203/00; Y10S203/04; Y10S203/11; Y10S62/00; Y10S62/902; Y10S62/905
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
41 words
A continuous distillation apparatus comprising at least a first section (14), and at least a second section (16), characterised in that heat pipe means (84-87) are provided for transferring thermal energy from the second section (16) to the first section (14).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
41 words
A continuous distillation apparatus comprising at least a first section (14), and at least a second section (16), characterised in that heat pipe means (84-87) are provided for transferring thermal energy from the second section (16) to the first section (14).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A continuous distillation apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the first section is a stripping section (14) and the second section is a rectifying section (16).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
A continuous distillation apparatus as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that both the stripping section (14) and the rectifying section (16) are housed in a single column (10) with a longitudinal divider (18) separating the column (10) into the stripping section (14) and the rectifying section (16).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A continuous distillation apparatus as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the heat pipe means (36-42) pass through the divider (18).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
A continuous distillation apparatus as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the stripping section is formed as a separate column (202) and the rectifying section is formed as a separate column (204), and the heat pipe mean:: (206) extend between the separate columns (202, 204).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
A continuous distillation apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the stripping section (14) and the rectifying section (16) each comprise a plurality of vapor/liquid contact stages (24-32, 34-42), and the single column (10) or separate columns (202, 204) are oriented vertically.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
A continuous distillation apparatus as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that the heat pipe means (84-87) extend from at least some of the vapor/liquid contact stages (36, 38, 40, 42) of the rectifying section (16) to at least some of the vapor/liquid contact stages (25, 27, 29, 31) of the stripping section (14), respectively.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
152 words
A method of operating the continuous distillation apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised by feeding a multicomponent fluid mixture to the stripping section (14), separating vapor from the multicomponent fluid mixture-in the stripping section (14) during passage therethrough, the vapor representing a lower boiling point fraction of the feed stream, operating the rectifying section (16) at a higher temperature than the stripping section (14) by removing the vapor from the stripping section (14) and compressing the said vapor prior to introducing it into the rectifying section (16), condensing (68) the vapor from the rectifying section (16) and recycling a portion of the condensed vapor as a reflux liquid (76) into the rectifying section (16), and conserving energy during the continuous distillation of the feed stream by transferring thermal energy from the rectifying section (16) to the stripping section (14) by means of the heat pipe means (84-87).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that the stripping section (14) and the rectifying section (16) are oriented vertically and the multicomponent fluid mixture is fed as a feed stream (44) at the upper end of the stripping section (14).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as claimed in claim 8 or 9, characterised in tnat liquid is recycled from the bottom of the rectifying section (16) to the stripping section (14) by lowering the pressure (67) of the liquid prior to introducing the liquid into the stripping section (14).
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