Dividing wall column with a heat pump

1. A method for separating a multi-component fluid, comprising:

introducing a multi-component fluid to a dividing wall column comprising:

a fractionating section comprising a first fractionation zone and a second fractionation zone separated by a dividing wall; and

a stripping section disposed below the fractionating section, wherein the multi-component fluid is introduced to the first fractionation zone;

heating the multi-component fluid within the dividing wall column to provide a first product, a second product, an intermediate distillate, and a process fluid;

compressing at least a portion of the first product to provide a compressed first product;

indirectly transferring heat from the compressed first product to at least a portion of the intermediate distillate to provide a heated intermediate distillate;

recycling the heated intermediate distillate to the dividing wall column; and

expanding the compressed first product to provide an expanded first product.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising condensing another portion of the first product and recovering at least a portion of the condensed first product as a final first product.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising indirectly transferring heat from a heat transfer medium to a first portion of the process fluid to provide a heated process fluid, recycling the heated process fluid to the dividing wall column, and recovering a second portion of the process fluid as a third product.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising recycling at least a portion of the expanded first product to the dividing wall column.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising cooling the compressed first product prior to expanding the compressed first product.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first product is withdrawn from the top of the dividing wall column as an overhead.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate distillate is withdrawn from the stripping section.

8. A method for separating a multi-component fluid, comprising:

introducing a multi-component fluid to a dividing wall column comprising:

a fractionating section comprising a first fractionation zone and a second fractionation zone separated by a dividing wall; and

a stripping section disposed below the fractionating section, wherein the multi-component fluid is introduced to the first fractionation zone;

heating the multi-component fluid within the dividing wall column to provide a first product, a second product, an intermediate distillate, and a process fluid;

compressing a first portion of the first product to a first pressure;

compressing a second portion of the first product to a second pressure;

indirectly transferring heat from the first product at the first pressure to at least a portion of the intermediate distillate to provide a heated intermediate distillate and a first cooled first product;

indirectly transferring heat from the first product at the second pressure to a first portion of the process fluid to provide a first heated process fluid and a second cooled first product;

recycling the heated intermediate distillate to the dividing wall column; and

recycling the heated process fluid to the dividing wall column.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising expanding the second cooled first product to provide a gaseous phase first product and a liquid phase first product; and combining the gaseous phase first product with the first product at the first pressure.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising expanding the liquid phase first product; expanding the first cooled first product; and combining the expanded liquid phase first product and the expanded first cooled first product to provide a mixed first product.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising indirectly transferring heat from a heat transfer medium to a second portion of the process fluid to provide a second heated process fluid; and recycling the second heated process fluid to the dividing wall column.

12. A method for separating a multi-component fluid, comprising: introducing a multi-component fluid to a dividing wall column comprising:

a fractionating section comprising a first fractionation zone and a second fractionation zone separated by a dividing wall; and

a stripping section disposed below the fractionating section, wherein the multi-component fluid is introduced to the first fractionation zone;

heating the multi-component fluid within the dividing wall column to provide a first product, a second product, an intermediate distillate, and a process fluid;

compressing a first portion of the first product to a first pressure;

compressing a second portion of the first product to a second pressure;

indirectly transferring heat from the first product at the first pressure to at least a portion of the intermediate distillate to provide a heated intermediate distillate and a first cooled first product;

indirectly transferring heat from the first product at the second pressure to a first portion of the process fluid to provide a first heated process fluid and a second cooled first product;

recycling the heated intermediate distillate to the dividing wall column; and

recycling the heated process fluid to the dividing wall column,

expanding the second cooled first product to provide a gaseous phase first product and a liquid phase first product;

combining the gaseous phase first product with the first product at the first pressure;

expanding the liquid phase first product; expanding the first cooled first product;

combining the expanded liquid phase first product and the expanded first cooled first product to provide a mixed first product; and

recycling a first portion of the mixed first product to the dividing wall column and recovering a second portion of the mixed first product as a final first product.

13. A method for separating a multi-component fluid, comprising: introducing a multi-component fluid to a dividing wall column comprising:

a fractionating section comprising a first fractionation zone and a second fractionation zone separated by a dividing wall; and

a stripping section disposed below the fractionating section, wherein the multi-component fluid is introduced to the first fractionation zone;

heating the multi-component fluid within the dividing wall column to provide a first product, a second product, an intermediate distillate, and a process fluid;

compressing a first portion of the first product to a first pressure;

compressing a second portion of the first product to a second pressure;

indirectly transferring heat from the first product at the first pressure to at least a portion of the intermediate distillate to provide a heated intermediate distillate and a first cooled first product;

indirectly transferring heat from the first product at the second pressure to a first portion of the process fluid to provide a first heated process fluid and a second cooled first product;

recycling the heated intermediate distillate to the dividing wall column; and

recycling the heated process fluid to the dividing wall column,

expanding the second cooled first product to provide a gaseous phase first product and a liquid phase first product;

combining the gaseous phase first product with the first product at the first pressure;

expanding the liquid phase first product; expanding the first cooled first product; combining the expanded liquid phase first product and the expanded first cooled first product to provide a mixed first product; and

cooling the mixed first product by indirectly transferring heat from the mixed first product to a heat transfer medium.

14. A method for separating a multi-component fluid, comprising:

introducing a multi-component fluid to a dividing wall column comprising:

a fractionating section comprising a first fractionation zone and a second fractionation zone separated by a dividing wall; and

a stripping section disposed below the fractionating section, wherein the multi-component fluid is introduced to the first fractionation zone;

heating the multi-component fluid within the dividing wall column to provide a first product, an intermediate distillate, and a process fluid;

indirectly transferring heat from the first product to a heat transfer medium to provide a cooled first product;

compressing the heat transfer medium to provide a compressed heat transfer medium;

indirectly transferring heat from the compressed heat transfer medium to a portion of the intermediate distillate to provide a heated intermediate distillate;

recovering a portion of the intermediate distillate as a second product;

recycling the heated intermediate distillate to the dividing wall column;

expanding the compressed heat transfer medium to provide the heat transfer medium; and

recovering at least a portion of the process fluid as a third product.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising indirectly transferring heat from a second heat transfer medium to a portion of the process fluid to provide a heated process fluid; and recycling the heated process fluid to the dividing wall column.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising recycling at least a portion of the cooled first product to the dividing wall column.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the heat transfer medium is a two phase liquid and gas mixture.

18. A method for separating a multi-component fluid, comprising:

introducing a multi-component fluid to a dividing wall column comprising:

a fractionating section comprising a first fractionation zone and a second fractionation zone separated by a dividing wall; and

a stripping section disposed below the fractionating section, wherein the multi-component fluid is introduced to the first fractionation zone;

heating the multi-component fluid within the dividing wall column to provide a first product, an intermediate distillate, and a process fluid;

indirectly transferring heat from the first product to a heat transfer medium to provide a cooled first product;

compressing a portion of the heat transfer medium to a first pressure;

compressing a portion of the heat transfer medium to a second pressure;

indirectly exchanging heat from the heat transfer medium at the first pressure to at least a portion of the intermediate distillate to provide a heated intermediate distillate;

recycling the heated intermediate distillate to the dividing wall column;

indirectly exchanging heat from the heat transfer medium at the second pressure to a first portion of the process fluid to provide a first heated process fluid;

recycling the heated process fluid to the dividing wall column; and

recovering a second portion of the process fluid as a third product.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising recycling a portion of the cooled first product to the dividing wall column.

20. The method of claim 18 , further comprising combining the heat transfer medium at the first pressure and the heat transfer medium at the second pressure after indirectly transferring heat to provide a mixed heat transfer medium, and expanding the mixed heat transfer medium to provide the heat transfer medium.

21. The method of claim 18 , further comprising indirectly transferring heat from a second heat transfer medium to a third portion of the process fluid to provide a second heated process fluid, and recycling the second heated process fluid to the dividing wall column.

22. The method of claim 18 , further comprising recycling at least a portion of the cooled first product to the dividing wall column.