# US 8,771,479 B2 · Energy-saving distillation column assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,771,479 B2 - Document ID: US8771479B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/386,003 - Filed: 2010-07-19 - Published: 2012-10-25 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2009-07-20 - Assignees: LG Chem, Ltd. - Applicants: Sung Kyu Lee; Jong Ku Lee; Joon Ho Shin - Inventors: Sung Kyu Lee; Jong Ku Lee; Joon Ho Shin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8771479B2 ## CPC - C10G 7/00: Distillation of hydrocarbon oils - B01D 3/141: {where at least one distillation column contains at least one dividing wall} - C10G: CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION (cracking to hydrogen or synthesis gas C01B; cracking or pyrolysis of hydrocarbon gases to individual hydrocarbons or mixtures thereof of definite or specified constitution C07C; cracking to cokes C10B); RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) ## Abstract Provided is a distillation column assembly combining two distillation columns used in a distillation process. The distillation column assembly is characterized in that a dividing wall column (DWC) that has one inflow point, three outflow points and an internal dividing wall and a typical distillation column that has two inflow points and two outflow points are sequentially connected to each other, and in that streams of the two outflow points of the DWC are introduced into the two inflow points of the typical distillation column. The distillation column assembly improves an existing process apparatus based on two distillation columns, so that it can be easily installed, has a high energy-saving effect, and can be applied to the case where a separation pressure difference and a utility temperature difference are great. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A distillation column assembly, characterized in that: a dividing wall column (DWC) that has one inflow point, three outflow points and an internal dividing wall and a typical distillation column that has two inflow points and two outflow points are sequentially connected to each other; and streams of the two outflow points of the DWC are individually introduced into the two inflow points of the typical distillation column without being mixed with each other, wherein, in the case of a direct sequence, the two streams introduced from the DWC into the typical distillation column are an intermediate boiling-point stream and a high boiling-point stream, respectively, and in the case of an indirect sequence, the two streams introduced from the DWC into the typical distillation column are the intermediate boiling-point stream and a low boiling-point stream, respectively. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The distillation column assembly of claim 1, wherein, the distillation column assembly comprises: the DWC, wherein the two streams introduced from the DWC into the typical distillation column are an intermediate boiling-point stream and a high boiling-point stream, respectively; and the typical distillation column connected to the DWC, wherein the DWC comprises: a single inflow point supplying a mixture of three or more components; a first outflow point at which the high boiling-point component included in the mixture flows out; a second outflow point at which the middle boiling-point component included in the mixture flows out; a third outflow point at which the low boiling-point component included in the mixture flows out; and a dividing wall that is disposed in the DWC, wherein the typical distillation column comprises: the first inflow point; and the second inflow point and the two outflow points which are disposed below the first outflow point, and wherein the first outflow point of the DWC connects to the first outflow point of the typical distillation column, and the second outflow point of the DWC connects to the second outflow point of the typical distillation column. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The distillation column assembly of claim 1, wherein the distillation column assembly comprises: the DWC, wherein the two streams introduced from the DWC into the typical distillation column are an intermediate boiling-point stream and a low boiling-point stream, respectively; and the typical distillation column connected to the DWC, wherein the DWC comprises: a single inflow point supplying a mixture of three or more components; a first outflow point at which the high boiling-point component included in the mixture flows out; a second outflow point at which the middle boiling-point component included in the mixture flows out; a third outflow point at which the low boiling-point component included in the mixture flows out; and a dividing wall that is disposed in the DWC, wherein the typical distillation column comprises: the first inflow point; and the second inflow point and the two outflow points which are disposed below the first outflow point, and wherein the first outflow point of the DWC connects to the first outflow point of the typical distillation column, and the third outflow point of the DWC connects to the second outflow point of the typical distillation column. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A method comprising: supplying a mixture of three or more components to the distillation column assembly of claim 1, and assorting and distilling the mixture into three distillates. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) A method comprising: supplying a mixture of three or more components to the distillation column assembly of claim 2, and assorting and distilling the mixture into three distillates. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) A method comprising: supplying a mixture of three or more components to the distillation column assembly of claim 3, and assorting and distilling the mixture into three distillates.