New Horizons For Dividing Wall Columns

A dividing wall column (DWC) is an atypical distillation column with an internal, vertical partition wall that effectively accommodates — within one shell — two conventional distillation columns that are connected in series as required when separating a multicomponent feed mixture into three pure products.  Figure 1. Shown here is a side view of a simple dividing-wall column (DWC) that is equipped with structured packing Source: Julius Montz   DWC components Figures 1 and 2 show the anatomy and main components of a conventional packed DWC, with a centrally placed partition wall separating the prefractionator column (feed side) from the main column (product draw-off side), each of which contain just one bed above and below for simplicity. The prefractionator with a rectification section above and stripping section below the feed resembles the configuration of a typical column. On the main column side, there are two binary separation sections placed above each other. Therefore, the section above the side-product draw-off is the stripping section of the upper column, while the section below the side-product draw-off is the rectification section of the lower column. If a conventional column with an external side-rectifier…