AN INTRODUCTION TO DIVIDING WALL COLUMNS DESIGN AND MODELLING (DWC) (Atena Editora)

Abstract

A Dividing Wall Column (DWC) is a distillation system that replaces two conventional columns separations by only one shell. Three, or more, component mixture are separated in individual components by a vertical wall in a distillation column section, improving components separation quality. Due to the increasing need and challenges for advanced distillation technologies (e.g. reactive distillation, thermal coupling, dividing-wall columns, heat pump assisted distillation, cyclic distillation and heat integrated distillation columns) which can meaningly reduce the energy usage in modern chemical plants. Nevertheless, these distillation technologies should be analysed, as well conventional distillation operations, in the process context as a whole. Based on the overview provided in this book chapter, several opportunities and challenges for research directions are evidenced towards rethinking the energy use in distillation processes, for a more sustainable chemical industry. Dividing wall columns (DWCs) are a very promising technology allowing a significant energy requirement reduction. Moreover, the application of DWCs for azeotropic, heat pumps, extractive and reactive distillation are briefly pointed in this work. Otherwise, it’s reviewed the design and modelling of dividing wall columns (DWCs). It’s presented information about conceptual aspects, mathematical modeling and optimization of DWCs, together with successful case studies in pilot and industrial scale chemical plants. DWC four components separation is a challenge, but some results found in laboratory and pilot scale are encouraging.