Distillation process using microchannel technology

A process for distilling a fluid mixture in a microchannel distillation unit, the microchannel distillation unit comprising a plurality of microchannel distillation sections, a distillate end and a microchannel condenser at the distillate end, a bottoms end and a microchannel reboiler at the bottoms end, and at least one feed inlet, the fluid mixture comprising a more volatile component and a less volatile component, the process comprising:

• flowing the fluid mixture through the at least one feed inlet into at least one microchannel distillation section, part of the more volatile component transferring from the fluid mixture to the vapor phase to form a more volatile component rich vapor phase, part of the less volatile component transferring from the fluid mixture to the liquid phase to form a less volatile component rich liquid phase;
• flowing the more volatile component rich vapor phase through at least one of the microchannel distillation sections towards the distillate end, the more volatile component rich vapor phase contacting the liquid phase in each microchannel distillation section and becoming enriched with the more volatile component;
• condensing at least part of the more volatile component rich vapor phase in the microchannel condenser and withdrawing at least part of the condensed more volatile component rich vapor phase from the microchannel distillation unit;
• flowing the less volatile component rich liquid phase through at least one of the microchannel distillation sections towards the bottoms end, the less volatile component rich liquid phase contacting the vapor phase in each microchannel distillation section and becoming enriched with the less volatile component;
• and
• vaporizing at least part of the less volatile component rich liquid phase in the microchannel reboiler and flowing at least part of the vaporized less volatile component rich liquid phase back into the microchannel distillation unit.