A method of column control includes: passing a feed stream and a make-up stream through a column; withdrawing an overhead fraction from the column; purging at least a portion of the overhead fraction; cooling at least a portion of the overhead fraction in a heat exchanger and passing it through a reflux drum; withdrawing a purge stream and a distillate stream from the reflux drum, wherein the distillate stream has a constant flow rate; recycling at least a portion of the distillate stream back to the column; and passing at least a portion of the distillate stream to a downstream process.

Processes and systems that control operation of a commercial refinery distillation column and/or splitter operable to separate hydrocarbons. An automated process controller (APC) receives signal from at least one analyzer that provides information about the concentration of at least a first chemical in a first fraction and a second chemical in a second fraction obtained from the distillation column. The APC comprises programming in the form of an algorithm that calculates real-time monetary values for the first chemical and the second chemical and alters the operation of the distillation column to change either the percentage of the first chemical in the second fraction or the percentage of the second chemical in the first fraction, thereby maximizing overall operational profit for the distillation column.

A method of column control includes: passing a feed stream and a make-up stream through a column; withdrawing an overhead fraction from the column; purging at least a portion of the overhead fraction; cooling at least a portion of the overhead fraction in a heat exchanger and passing it through a reflux drum; withdrawing a purge stream and a distillate stream from the reflux drum, wherein the distillate stream has a constant flow rate; recycling at least a portion of the distillate stream back to the column; and passing at least a portion of the distillate stream to a downstream process.

The present invention relates to the fractionation technology that is used to create purified phenol and acetone products. More specifically, the present invention relates to a fractionation technology that is used to create crude acetone and crude phenol streams using a dividing wall column intended to remove cumene, alpha-methyl styrene and water from the product side of the wall.

The present disclosure relates to systems and/or methods for enabling a reflux process in one or more distillation columns. For example, various embodiments described herein can relate to a method that can utilize the column's feed stream to provide an internal reflux mechanism in the top portion of the distillation column. For instance, the method can include capturing overhead vapor from a distillation column. Additionally, the method can include comingling the overhead vapor with a feed stream. Further, the method can include partially condensing the feed stream to form a liquid hydrocarbon feed stream that is supplied to a top portion of the distillation column. In one or more embodiments, the comingling can incorporate reflux functionality into the liquid hydrocarbon feed stream to promote a rectification process in the top portion of the distillation column.

The present invention relates to the fractionation technology that is used to create purified phenol and acetone products. More specifically, the present invention relates to a fractionation technology that is used to create crude acetone and crude phenol streams using a dividing wall column intended to remove cumene, alpha-methyl styrene and water from the product side of the wall.

A system and method for distillation of a liquid sample at atmospheric pressure for the improved prediction of the heating necessary before the initial boiling point (IBP) of the sample is detected regardless of sample composition to ensure the IBP is observed within certain time constraints. A plurality of infrared (IR) sensors provides real-time temperature control in addition to a conventional measurement of vapor temperature. One IR-sensor monitors the liquid sample temperature in the distillation flask to obtain a corrected IBP time independent of the sample properties. Another IR-sensor monitors the temperature of the rising vapor column as the vapor rises up the neck of the distillation flask. Alternatively, an IR matrix may monitor the temperature of the rising vapor column. The system and method expand the scope of samples analyzed with improved signal, reproducibility, and test accuracy and still remain within the prescribed limits of a selected standard.

A continuous vacuum distillation system for separating one or more components of a multi-component composition by distillation, including a plurality of distillation columns, including a stripping column and a rectification column, wherein at least some of the distillation columns are configured according to an indirect split arrangement of coupled sections. In some embodiments, a near steady-state pressure condition operating range of 15 mmHg to 85 mmHg is obtained, with an operating temperature of less than 100? F., where the a near steady-state condition includes a nearly unchanged pressure condition across multiple stages. In some embodiments, processing across all stages occurs as a closed system.

A system and method for distillation of a liquid sample at atmospheric pressure for the improved prediction of the heating necessary before the initial boiling point (IBP) of the sample is detected regardless of sample composition to ensure the IBP is observed within certain time constraints. A plurality of infrared (IR) sensors provides real-time temperature control in addition to a conventional measurement of vapor temperature. One IR-sensor monitors the liquid sample temperature in the distillation flask to obtain a corrected IBP time independent of the sample properties. Another IR-sensor monitors the temperature of the rising vapor column as the vapor rises up the neck of the distillation flask. Alternatively, an IR matrix may monitor the temperature of the rising vapor column. The system and method expand the scope of samples analyzed with improved signal, reproducibility, and test accuracy and still remain within the prescribed limits of a selected standard.

The present disclosure relates to systems and/or methods for enabling a reflux process in one or more distillation columns. For example, various embodiments described herein can relate to a method that can utilize the column's feed stream to provide an internal reflux mechanism in the top portion of the distillation column. For instance, the method can include capturing overhead vapor from a distillation column. Additionally, the method can include comingling the overhead vapor with a feed stream. Further, the method can include partially condensing the feed stream to form a liquid hydrocarbon feed stream that is supplied to a top portion of the distillation column. In one or more embodiments, the comingling can incorporate reflux functionality into the liquid hydrocarbon feed stream to promote a rectification process in the top portion of the distillation column.