Stacked-plate distillation column

A system for distilling a fluid mixture, comprising:

• (i) a 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;
• wherein, the plates comprise a respective liquid channeling network on a top surface thereof, a respective vapor opening, and a respective descending ramp, the respective descending ramp abuts a respective liquid feed location of a plate immediately below to form a continuous liquid channeling network;
• 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.

A process of distilling a fluid mixture having a first percentage of a more volatile component and a first percentage of a less volatile component, comprising:

• (i) providing 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, wherein the respective descending ramp abuts a respective liquid feed location of the 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;
• (ii) flowing a vapor phase through the continuous S-shaped vapor channel in a first direction;
• (iii) flowing a liquid phase through the continuous liquid channeling network in a second direction, the second direction being counter-current to the first direction;
• (iv) vaporizing a portion of the more volatile component into the vapor phase forming a more volatile component rich vapor phase, and a portion of the less volatile component transferring into the liquid phase forming a less volatile component rich liquid phase;
• wherein the more volatile component rich vapor phase located at or proximate a top end of the distillation column has a second percentage of the more volatile component, the second percentage of the more volatile component is greater than the first percentage of the more volatile component.