Apparatus for continuous thermal separation of a multi-component substance

A separation apparatus for continuous thermal separation of a substance being fed into a treatment chamber, the substance comprising two or more components where at least one of the components is evaporable at an evaporation temperature (Te),

• wherein the separation apparatus comprises a vessel comprising:
• a vessel wall with an inner surface enclosing the treatment chamber having a length lc, a height H and a width W,
• a substance inlet for feeding the substance into the treatment chamber,
• a vapor cloud formed comprising non-evaporated parts and evaporated parts of the substance,
• a first outlet for releasing non-evaporated parts of the substance from the treatment chamber,
• a second outlet for releasing evaporated parts of the substance from the treatment chamber, and
• a rotor comprising a rotatable axle arranged within the treatment chamber having an orientation directed along the treatment chamber's length lc and a mixing device fixed to, and extending perpendicular from, the rotatable axle, wherein a radial outermost part of the mixing device comprises a plurality of radially separated mixing protrusions,
• a rotary drive operatively connected to the rotatably axis, and
• a heater arranged outside the treatment chamber, wherein the heater is configured to transfer thermal energy to a minimum peripheral volume (Vp) of the treatment chamber via the inner surface, wherein the minimum peripheral volume (Vp) is defined as a volume between the inner surface and outer radial boundaries of the mixing device, wherein the mixing device comprises:
• a plurality of rotary discs fixed with axial offsets to the rotatable axle, and
• wherein the heater and the rotary drive are configured such that, when both the heater and the rotary drive are operated at their respective operational input powers (Phd, Prm), a resulting operational temperature (Top) is obtained from the powers of the heater and rotary drive within at least part of the minimum peripheral volume (Vp) which is equal or higher than the evaporation temperature (Te),
• wherein the mixing device further comprises a plurality of elongated objects interconnecting the plurality of rotary discs,
• wherein the plurality of elongated objects are arranged in a vicinity of a circumference of the plurality of the rotary discs,
• wherein the radially separated mixing protrusions comprises a plurality of radially protruding elements distributed with offsets along the length (lc) of the treatment chamber, the plurality of radially protruding elements configured to intensely mix the vapor cloud,
• wherein the plurality of radially protruding elements are replaceably connected directly to the plurality of elongated objects, such that the plurality of radially protruding elements are removable directly from the plurality of elongated objects.