Matrix integrating at least one heat exchange function and one distillation function

A matrix, configured to form at least part of a material-transfer separation unit, the matrix comprising a stack of several plates arranged parallel to one another in a direction known as the direction of stacking, thereby defining passages, the matrix having a length, a width and a thickness, the length of a matrix being the greatest dimension of the parallel plates, the width of the matrix being measured perpendicular to the length, and the thickness of the matrix being measured in the direction of stacking of the plates,

• each plate having the same length and the same width as the matrix,
• the matrix comprising at least two zones, including a first zone referred to as indirect heat-transfer zone, defined by a first fraction of the length of the matrix, at least half the total width of the matrix and at least half the total thickness of the matrix, and a second zone referred to as the distillation-separation zone, defined by a second fraction of the length of the matrix, at least half the total width of the matrix and at least half the total thickness of the matrix,
• the first zone and the second zone being connected and the matrix being constructed to allow fluid coming from just some of the passages of the first zone to communicate with the passages of the second zone, and to allow fluid coming from the passages of the second zone to communicate with at least some of the passages of the first zone,
• the collection of passages of the first zone having a dimension which is the first fraction of the length of the matrix, a dimension which is at least half the total width of the matrix, and a dimension which is at least at least half the thickness of the matrix,
• the passages of the first zone containing a means to encourage indirect heat transfer and/or material transfer, and the passages of the second zone containing means to encourage the transfer of material between a liquid phase and a gas phase,
• the passages of the first zone consisting of a first series of passages to channel at least one refrigerating or heating fluid, the passages of the first series not being in fluidic communication with the second zone, and a second series of passages for channelling a fluid produced by distillation in the second zone, the passages of the second series being in fluidic communication with the second zone, the passages of the first zone being closed in order to prevent the fluid produced by the material transfer from entering the first series and in order to prevent the refrigerating or heating fluid from entering the second series,
• the collection of passages of the second zone having a dimension which is the second fraction of the length of the matrix, a dimension which is at least at least half the total width of the matrix, and a dimension which is at least half the thickness of the matrix, each passage being defined between two successive plates and extending parallel to a longitudinal axis, and
• the number of passages in the first zone being strictly greater than the number of passages in the distillation second zone.