A mass transfer column comprising: a shell (12); an open internal region (14) defined by said shell; and a mass transfer assembly (16) positioned in the open internal region (14), the mass transfer assembly (16) comprising: a dividing wall (18) forming first and second sub-regions; one or more zones of mass transfer structures positioned in the first and second sub-regions (22 and 24); and a liquid flow divider (48) positioned above the dividing wall (18) for delivering a volumetric split of liquid to the first and second sub-regions. The liquid flow divider (48) may comprise a moveable weir (68) or a valve (180) in order the change the ratio of liquid flow between the two sub-regions.

A mass transfer assembly has at least one dividing wall, zones of mass transfer structures on opposite sides of the dividing wall, and a vapor flow restrictor that is operable to vary the split of vapor ascending through the zones of mass transfer structures on the opposite sides of the dividing wall.

The present disclosure provides a method for separating a feed stream in a distillation tower. The method includes operating a controlled freeze zone section in a distillation tower that separates a feed stream at a temperature and pressure at which the feed stream forms a solid in the controlled freeze zone section, wherein the feed stream includes a first contaminant; maintaining a melt tray assembly in the controlled freeze zone section; introducing the feed stream to the controlled freeze zone section; and accumulating a liquid in the melt tray assembly until the liquid is at a predetermined liquid level in the controlled freeze zone section, by: feeding a second contaminant to the controlled freeze zone section; and adding the second contaminant to the melt tray assembly, wherein the liquid comprises the second contaminant.

An emergency distillation column is disclosed, connected to a plant wherein a main distillation column is present. Such connection occurs by means of by-pass of the pipes which supply said main column, which by-pass has stopping means of the liquid which allow the supply of said emergency column when the pressure drops downstream of the main column exceed a preset threshold value. Preferably, said stopping means are shut-off valves. A process of using the emergency is involves continuously measuring a pressure different between inflow and outflow of liquid being distilled and comparing the measured pressure against a dedicated threshold. A plant for the regeneration of waste oils is disclosed, comprising a distillation column, which furthermore comprises the emergency distillation column as disclosed herein.

The present invention relates to a method of controlling a concentration of a first component of a rectification column for separating a binary mixture of the first component with a second component on the basis of temperature measurements, wherein a control path defined by temperature sensors (T3, T2, T6) arranged in the longitudinal direction of the column is linearized with the aid of an estimated temperature profile, wherein a real temperature profile T*(h), determined by means of the temperature sensors, is approximated by a function T(h) in dependence on a column height h, wherein the column id divided into two sections along the column height h and the function T(h) is defined section by section on the basis, in each case, of a logistical function.

A distillation apparatus for NMP including a first distillation column in which the spent NMP as a liquid to be treated is subjected to distillation; and a second distillation column in which bottoms from the first distillation column are further subjected to distillation, the distillation apparatus being provided with an automatic treatment function including a start-up function, and then a continuous treatment operation of the distillation apparatus being initiated; and an operational mode switching function in which upon the continuous treatment operation, an operational mode of the distillation apparatus being switched again to the circulation operation according to a level of the liquid in the raw material tank or a level of the liquid in the product tank.

The present application relates to a distillation device. The distillation device of the present application can minimize energy loss occurring in a purification process of the olefin monomer, the solvent, and the raw material including, for example, 1-octene, iso-octene, and n-hexane, used in a polymerization process of the polyolefin elastomer, and can increase economic efficiency by isolating a high-purity product.

A mass transfer assembly has at least one dividing wall, zones of mass transfer structures on opposite sides of the dividing wall, and a vapor flow restrictor that is operable to vary the split of vapor ascending through the zones of mass transfer structures on the opposite sides of the dividing wall.

An automatic control system is provided for controlling the operation of a mass transfer system that includes a mass transfer column. The automatic control system includes a field data collection device that collects process data from the mass transfer system, a data collection module for receiving and storing process data received from the field data collection device, and an online simulator that includes a column simulation module for calculating a column performance parameter from the process data.

A method to continuously monitor for tube leakage in a shell and tube thermosiphon reboiler for heating feedstock in a fractionating column includes: determining the column is in service by continuously monitoring an input flow of the feedstock into the column; determining the reboiler is inactive by continuously monitoring an output valve of tube-side heating fluid from the reboiler; determining the reboiler is losing the heating fluid by continuously monitoring an output flow of the heating fluid from the reboiler; determining the reboiler is heat exchanging by continuously monitoring a temperature difference between input and output flows of shell-side bottoms fluid with the column; and determining the tube leakage in the reboiler is taking place when the column is determined to be in service, the reboiler is determined to be inactive, the reboiler is determined to be losing the heating fluid, and the reboiler is determined to be heat exchanging.