Distillation in high gravity chemical engineering

Abstract

Distillation is the most widely used separation process in industry, typically carried out in large, tall columns that dominate the skylines of chemical facilities. High gravity technology (Higee) aims to enhance mass transfer through the application of high centrifugal forces, presenting a promising approach to significantly reduce the size of distillation columns. However, Higee has not yet been fully integrated into distillation processes. A key reason for this limited application is that Higee devices need to be customized to meet the specific requirements of distillation. This article introduces a generally preferred Higee structure designed for this purpose, taking into account several critical considerations, including liquid distribution, dynamic sealing, intermediate feeding, and multirotor configurations. Most importantly, to tackle the longstanding issue of variable flow cross-sections in traditional Higee devices, an innovative rotor design with constant vapor flow area was proposed. This rotor, combined with the advantageous features of the favorable Higee structure, will open up new opportunities for the application of Higee technology in distillation processes.