Processes and systems are provided to compress vapors produced in distillation and recover the heat of condensation through vapor compression and to derive mechanical, thermal, and electrical energy from a combined heat and power system, while maintaining the plant's original ability to operate. The plant's existing distillation system, steam generation, and electrical demand determine the design basis for the retrofit system that is targeted at an optimized combination of energy usage, energy cost, and environmental impact. Vapor compression (by mechanical vapor recompression and/or thermal vapor recompression) minimizes the total energy usage. Optionally, combined heat and power provides a means of converting energy between fuel, electricity, and thermal energy in a manner that best complements plant requirements and energy economics and minimizes inefficiencies and energy losses.

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for separation of sulfurous material(s) from a multi-component feed stream. The systems and methods can comprise contacting the multi-component feed stream with a solvent in a contacting column so that at least a portion of the sulfurous material(s) is transferred from the multi-component feed stream to the solvent. A stream of a substantially purified gas can thus be provided along with a liquid stream comprising at least a majority of the sulfurous material. In particular, the solvent can comprise liquid carbon dioxide, which can be particularly beneficial for removing sulfurous materials from multi-component feed streams.

Embodiments described herein provide a method, comprising reducing pH of a glycol vaporization separator purge stream to form an acid stream; distilling the acid stream to form an overhead stream and a bottoms stream; and recycling the bottoms stream to the vaporization separator.

The invention relates to an apparatus for carrying out mass transfer processes, comprising a column having at least two inlet pipes for introducing a gaseous phase, where separation-active internals are accommodated in the column and a column section extends from the at least two inlet pipes to the separation-active internals, in which section a coverage of a cross-sectional area of the column is less than 25%, based on the total cross-sectional area, and where the at least two inlet pipes have a height offset which corresponds to not more than three times an inlet pipe diameter and the at least two inlet pipes are at an angle (α) of from 60° to 150° to one another and have asymmetry with respect to one another. The invention further relates to a use of the apparatus and also a method for designing the apparatus.

A method for producing an easily polymerizable compound, comprising a step of introducing an easily polymerizable compound-containing liquid into a vaporization separation column (1) selected from a distillation column and a stripping column to purify, wherein: the vaporization separation column (1) is provided with a circulation path (2) for returning a drawn liquid, obtained by withdrawing at least a part of a bottom liquid (3) of the column, to the vaporization separation column (1); the circulation path (2) is provided with a reboiler (4) having a heating part (5) and a supply port (7) for supplying an oxygen-containing gas on an upstream side of the reboiler (4); the supply port (7) is located below an inlet of the heating part (5) with a height difference of 0.5 m or more; and an oxygen-containing gas is supplied to the drawn liquid from the supply port (7).

Systems and methods in accordance with the present invention provide for the efficient distillation of ethanol in an ethanol plant including a beer column. Heat is captured in the distillation process and utilized to drive operations in the ethanol plant.

An alkanolamine gas treatment unit system that may comprise an absorber column, a regenerator column, and a once-through natural circulation vertical thermosyphon reboiler comprising a reboiler tube and a shell. The reboiler may be a steam driven one having a process side and a shell side, wherein the process side is inside the reboiler tube, the process side of the reboiler and the regenerator column are in fluid communication with one another, an inner surface of the reboiler tube, on the process side, has a surface roughness of 0.06 .Math.m or greater, the shell side of the reboiler is in fluid communication to a steam source, and the regenerator column and the absorber column are in fluid communication with one another. An absorbent regenerator system that may comprise the regenerator column and the once-through natural circulation vertical thermosyphon reboiler.

A process of the type for producing 1,1,1,2,3-pentachloropropane by introducing 1,1,1,3-tetrachloropropane, chlorine, and Lewis acid catalyst, optionally in the presence of carbon tetrachloride, the improvement comprising introducing the Lewis acid as a slurry within a chlorinated hydrocarbon.

The separation method separates a polyalcohol compound from water, so as to obtain a purified product stream comprising the polyalcohol compound in output concentration of at least 90 wt %. Thereto, a mixture of the polyalcohol compound and water is provided, said mixture having a polyalcohol concentration. The polyalcohol concentration of mixture is increased in an evaporation stage, at least a portion of which is operated in at first pressure. Subsequently, the mixture is treated in distillation stage to be deliver the stream comprising the polyalcohol compound in the output concentration of at least 90 wt %, which distillation stage is operated at a second pressure. Herein, the distillation stage is operated to produce steam output, that optionally compressed to a third pressure and is coupled to the evaporation stage. The second pressure and/or any third pressure is higher than first pressure. The reactor system is configured for performing the separation method.

The invention is directed to a combined naphtha hydrotreating (NHT) and isomerization process scheme, which includes dividing wall columns (DWC) that replace multiple distillation columns and allow optimized heat integration within the system. The disclosed design provides reductions in both capital and energy costs compared to conventional schemes.