Annular divided wall column

An annular divided wall column for distillation or rectification of fluids, said column comprising:

• a first annular column wall;
• a second annular column wall radially spaced from the first annular column wall and disposed within a first interior space of the first annular column wall to define an annulus column region between the first annular column wall and the second annular column wall and to define an interior core column region as part or all of a second interior space of the second annular column wall;
• a conical shaped transition wall rigidly connected to the first annular column wall and an upper end of the second annular column wall and wherein the conical shaped transition wall is configured to isolate the annulus column region from the interior core column region proximate the upper end of the second annular column wall;
• a first plurality of structured packing elements or trays disposed within the interior core column region and a second plurality of structured packing elements disposed within the annulus column region;
• wherein the second annular column wall is hung from the first annular column wall via the conical shaped transition wall and a lower end of the second annular column wall is supported by the first annular column wall using a plurality of pivoting arms disposed around the periphery of the second annular column wall at a location proximate the lower end;
• and
• wherein thermal expansion and contraction of the second annular column wall in a radial direction and in an axial direction is independent of the thermal expansion and contraction of the first annular column wall in the radial direction and in the axial direction.