Technological development of internal heat-integrated distillation column (HIDiC)

As the existing C5-splitter was treating a clean service producing pure cyclopentane from a mixed gasoline, a packed-column type HIDiC pilot plant was manufactured by Kimura Chemical Plants. The reasons why a packed column structure was selected were because (1) substantial data were available of the basic research of HIDiC process and system accumulated by Kyoto University and AIST, (2) large energy-saving rate can be expected if internal reflux liquid is distributed evenly over the heat transfer surfaces of packed columns, (3) no problem of fouling and plugging/blockade owing to the clean service of petrochemicals.