System for separating and concentrating a liquid component from a liquid multi-component mixture, comprising a heat pump
In order to separate and concentrate a liquid component from a liquid multi-component mixture formed of several liquid components with different boiling temperatures, e.g. an ethanol-water mixture, a concentration apparatus ( 3 ) is proposed, with its separation section and concentration section designed as separate columns ( 5, 7 ) with different operating energy requirements. The column ( 7 ) with the higher operating energy requirements is designed for a lower temperature difference between the boiling temperature of the top of the column ( 29 ) and the boiling temperature of the bottom of the column ( 21 ) than the column ( 5 ) with lower operating energy requirements. Separate mechanical vapour compressors ( 15, 27 ) are assigned to the two columns ( 5, 7 ), said vapour compressors compressing the vapours from the top of the associated column ( 5, 7 ) and supplying the operating energy to the bottom region ( 11, 21 ) of the respective column ( 5, 7 ) by means of separate sump evaporators ( 9, 23 ) which act as, reboilers.
1. A system for separating and concentrating a liquid component from a liquid multi-component mixture formed of several liquid components with different boiling temperatures comprising an ethanol-water mixture or an isopropanol-water mixture, the system comprising:
a concentration apparatus with two separated columns including a first column forming an output portion column and a second column forming an intensification portion column, the first and second columns configured for different levels of operating energy consumption wherein a bottom region of the intensification portion column is connected to the output portion column by means of a feed pipe;
a first mechanical vapour compressor configured to deliver operating energy for the output portion column which compresses top alcohol vapours of the output portion column and delivers the operating energy to a bottom region of the output portion column through a first sump evaporator which acts as a reboiler;
a second mechanical vapour compressor configured to deliver operating energy for the intensification portion column by compressing top alcohol vapours of the intensification portion column and deliver the operating energy to a bottom region of the intensification portion column through a second sump evaporator which acts as a reboiler, a liquid multi-component mixture feed pipe connected to the bottom region of the intensification portion column,
wherein the intensification portion column has a higher level of operating energy consumption than the output portion column, the intensification portion column adapted for a lower temperature difference between a boiling temperature of a top region and a boiling temperature of the bottom region;
wherein the second mechanical vapour compressor has a higher level of operating energy consumption than the first mechanical vapour compressor and is configured to deliver the operating energy for the intensification portion column;
wherein a multi-component mixture condensed in the first sump evaporator is delivered to the intensification portion column as a feed stream; and
wherein all vapour from the second mechanical compressor flows to the second sump evaporator,
wherein a first portion of vapour from the second sump evaporator flows to a bottom region of the intensification portion column and a second portion of vapour flows through a pipe to a heat exchanger configured to heat the inflowing multi-component mixture and condense the second portion of vapour from the second sump evaporator.
2. A system according to claim 1 , wherein a heat exchanger heated from the bottom region of the output portion column is positioned in the feed path of the multi-component mixture to the intensification portion column.
3. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the intensification portion column is configured for higher energy requirements and lower temperature difference than the output portion column.
4. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the first sump evaporator and the second sump evaporator are connected to the bottom region of the intensification portion column by a separate forced circuit.