Dividing-wall columns: Design and control of a kaibel and a satellite distillation column for BTX separation

Abstract

Dividing wall distillation technologies have been amongst the most important contributions to process intensification efforts over the last few decades. This work focuses on design, dynamics and control of an extended dividing wall distillation column, referred to as a satellite column, and its comparison to the performance of a Kaibel column and to a direct distillation sequence for the separation of BTX mixtures. The results from optimized designs for these distillation structures show that the satellite column is the most energy-efficient configuration, with savings of 24.5% compared to the conventional direct sequence, and 11.8% to the performance of a Kaibel column. As far as the dynamics are concerned, the satellite column shows a similar performance when compared to the Kaibel column and to the conventional direct separation sequence, indicating that the additional energy savings provided by the satellite configuration can be achieved without a deterioration of its control behavior.