A distillation system used for a distillation process including a distillation chamber having a curved and contoured body, a tube for continuous filling of a liquid solution to be distilled, and a drain hole in a bottom of the body configured for removal of concentrated semi-solid contaminants, and multiple layers of sheets of a flexible material. As designed the curved and contoured body shape of the distillation chamber coupled to the cooled surface (near a point of vapors condensation) creates negative pressure that drives the distillation process and the negative pressure built into the distillation system facilitates and increases distillation and evaporation rates.

The invention relates to a process for separating a component mixture (K) comprising hydrogen, methane, hydrocarbons having two carbon atoms and hydrocarbons having three or more carbon atoms, wherein in a deethanization at least a portion of the component mixture (K) is subjected to a first partial condensation by cooling from a first temperature level to a second temperature level at a first pressure level to obtain a first gas fraction (G1) and a first liquid fraction (C1), at least a portion of the first gas fraction (G1) is subjected to a second partial condensation by cooling from the second temperature level to a third temperature level at the first pressure level to obtain a second gas fraction (G4) and a second liquid fraction (C2), and at least a portion of the first liquid fraction (C1) and at least a portion of the second liquid fraction (C2) are subjected to a rectification to obtain a third gas fraction (G3) and a third liquid fraction (C3+). The first liquid fraction (C1) or its part subjected to the rectification and the second liquid fraction (C2) or its part subjected to the rectification are expanded to a second pressure level and the rectification is carried out at the second pressure level, the first pressure level being 25 to 35 bar and the second pressure level being 14 to 17 bar. An overhead gas formed during the rectification is cooled to 25 to 35 C. and partially condensed, wherein a condensed portion of the overhead gas is used partially or completely as a reflux in the rectification and an uncondensed portion of the overhead gas is provided partially or completely as the third gas fraction (G3). The present invention likewise provides a corresponding plant (100, 200).

Methods, apparatus, and processes are provided for a condenser including flowing a vapor stream including formaldehyde into a tube bundle in a vertical upflow reflux condenser, where a tube in the tube bundle has a length to outside diameter ratio of greater than about 170:1, flowing a cooling fluid on a shell-side of the vertical upflow reflux condenser to condense at least a portion of the vapor stream, where the condensed portion of the vapor stream forms a wetted tube internal surface area on each tube in the generally upright tube bundle; and maintaining the vapor stream velocity at a rate that provides a liquid residence time where formaldehyde condensed on the wetted internal surface area of each tube can react with water to form methylene glycol, removing at least sixty percent (60%) of formaldehyde from the vapor stream fed to the condenser.

The distillation apparatus of the disclosed technology has a bulbous bottom side which extends below a plane defined by an outer cover which circumscribes a rest of a lower collector region which has there-within the bulbous or spheroid end. Further within the outer cover and/or functionally connected to the lower collector region is a vertical tube passing both into an area circumscribed by the lower collector region as well as passing into an area circumscribed by a fraction collector situated there-above. The fraction collector can have a same width (horizontal directional extent) as the lower collector region at a widest portion thereof. A rejection area can be created beneath the spheroid bottom end of the lower collector region as well at an interior top side of the lower collector region outside of the vertical tube.

A distillation head of embodiments of the disclosed technology has a vertical tube which extends to and partially through a fraction collector. The vertical tube is mostly filled with a distillation key which is attached to a top side of the fraction collector and extends downwards through the vertical tube without coming into contact with same. A class housing or shell surrounds the vertical tube, which in turn, surrounds the distillation key or, at least a majority of each while the vertical tube extends past an area circumscribed by the shell and the distillation key extends past an area circumscribed by the vertical tube in some embodiments of the disclosed technology.

A multi-pass distillation system has a boiling flask with a side exit portal which is functionally connected to a condenser, which is, in turn, functionally connected to one or more cold traps. The condenser condenses wet vapors into liquid while the cold traps protect a pump which is used to suction the air through the system from the boiling flask through the condenser and cold traps. In this manner, one can more accurately collect fractions by way of a sideways exit from the boiling flask, near the top of the flask, with a condenser extending into a body of the spherical flask, such as at a 45 degree angle.

The distillation apparatus of the disclosed technology has a bulbous bottom side which extends below a plane defined by an outer cover which circumscribes a rest of a lower collector region which has there-within the bulbous or spheriod end. Further within the outer cover and/or functionally connected to the lower collector region is a vertical tube passing both into an area circumscribed by the lower collector region as well as passing into an area circumscribed by a fraction collector situated there-above. The fraction collector can have a same width (horizontal directional extent) as the lower collector region at a widest portion thereof. A rejection area can be created beneath the spheroid bottom end of the lower collector region as well at an interior top side of the lower collector region outside of the vertical tube.

Apparatus for treating liquids, comprisesa vapour inlet (201); a vessel (202) for housing liquid, the vessel being in fluid communication with the vapour inlet; and, a vapour outlet (204); configured such that in usevapour from the vapour inlet passes into liquid housed in the vessel; andliquid from the vessel can interact with material housed in a chamber (203) in fluid communication with the vessel; vapour from the liquid can pass to the vapour outlet. The apparatus can be used in distilling spirits in particular gin or rum.

A waterless, non-jacketed, laboratory reflux condenser for use in association with a reaction vessel, including: (a) a top portion, wherein the top portion is adapted to serve as a vapor vent; (b) a bottom portion, wherein the bottom portion is adapted for releasable securement to a reaction vessel; (c) a primary condenser; (d) a secondary condenser; and (e) wherein the primary condenser is preferably in-line with the top and bottom portions of the reflux condenser, and the secondary condenser is preferably offset relative to the primary condenser.

A system and method removes thermal decomposition components from biphenol and/or diphenyl oxide heat-transfer fluids. Light, volatile decomposition components such as benzene, water, hydrogen and phenol are passed out of the system for vapor recovery, chemical adsorption or thermal decomposition. Dimerized and polymerized heavy components such as biphenyl phenyl ether, terphenyl and isomers of each are concentrated and recovered for reprocessing and purification for reuse. The system can be operated as either a continuous, semi-continuous or batch operation. Solar electric plants employing the system can use solar field fluids and heating to operate the system during generator operation hours. A wash system operating at or near atmospheric pressure concentrates heavy thermal decomposition components while allowing light, volatile decomposition components to be removed for separation from the majority of the thermal fluid components. Temperature-controlled condensation of the majority of the thermal fluid components allows collection of the thermal fluid, while allowing light, volatile decomposition components to be removed from the system prior to vent processing.