Stacked-plate distillation column
AssigneeThe Johns Hopkins University
InventorsPhillip I. Johnson, Jonathan P. Jones
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A distillation column including a plurality of alternating plates and spacers stacked in a z-direction is provided. The plates include a respective liquid channeling network on a top surface thereof, a respective vapor opening, and a respective descending ramp. The respective descending ramps abut a respective liquid feed location of the plate immediately below to form a continuous liquid channeling network. The respective vapor openings of adjacent plates are located on opposite sides of the distillation column and form a continuous S-shaped vapor channel defined by the plurality of alternating plates and spacers, and the respective vapor openings. Systems including such distillation columns and processes of distilling a fluid mixture are also provided.
Claims17
A distillation column, comprising:
- a plurality of alternating plates and spacers stacked in a z-direction;
- the plates comprising a respective liquid channeling network on a top surface thereof, a respective vapor opening, and a respective descending ramp including a respective ramp-liquid channeling network on a top ramp-surface thereof;
- wherein the respective descending ramps extend downward through the respective vapor openings and abut a respective liquid feed location of a plate immediately below to form a continuous liquid channeling network defined by the respective liquid channeling networks and the respective ramp-liquid channeling network;
- the respective vapor openings of adjacent plates are located on opposite sides of the distillation column and form a continuous S-shaped vapor channel defined by the plurality of alternating plates and spacers, and the respective vapor openings, and wherein the continuous S-shaped vapor channel defines a respective vapor head space above and in contact with the top surface;
- and
- wherein the continuous liquid channeling network and the continuous S-shaped vapor channel define a countercurrent flow configuration between a flow of a liquid phase and flow of a vapor phase through the distillation column during operation of the distillation column.
A system for distilling a fluid mixture, comprising:
- (i) a countercurrent distillation column including a plurality of alternating plates and spacers stacked in a z-direction, the distillation column further comprising a first vapor outlet, a first liquid outlet, and a first vapor inlet;
- (ii) a boiler having a second liquid inlet and a second vapor outlet, wherein the second liquid inlet is operatively connected to the first liquid outlet and the second vapor outlet is operatively connected to the first vapor inlet;
- and
- (iii) a condenser having a third vapor inlet and a third liquid outlet, wherein the third vapor inlet is operatively connected to the first vapor outlet;
- wherein the distillation column or the boiler further comprises a first fluid mixture inlet;
- and the plates comprise a respective liquid channeling network on a top surface thereof, a respective vapor opening, and a respective descending ramp including a respective ramp-liquid channeling network on a top ramp-surface thereof, the respective descending ramps extend downward through the respective vapor openings and abut a respective liquid feed location of a plate immediately below to form a continuous liquid channeling network;
- and wherein the respective vapor openings of adjacent plates are located on opposite sides of the distillation column and form a continuous S-shaped vapor channel defined by the plurality of alternating plates and spacers, and the respective vapor openings, and wherein the continuous S-shaped vapor channel defines a respective vapor head space above and in contact with the top surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.