Experimental investigation of the flexible operation of multiple dividing wall columns

蒸馏是最耗能的分离过程之一，也是化学工业中应用最广泛的分离过程。据估计，该过程占美国能源消耗的2.5%至10%，因此蒸馏也对人为气候变化做出了重大贡献。最小化这种影响是本应用程序的首要科学目标。近年来正在深入研究的一种方法是过程强化，其目的是提高化学过程的效率。过程强化的一个常见示例是分隔墙柱，其中此应用程序关注具有多个分隔墙的多个分隔墙柱（mTWK）。与传统的四元混合物蒸馏相比，多个分隔墙柱开启了节省高达50%能源的可能性。然而，迄今为止，关于这一主题的科学文献仅限于理论考虑。然而，在2021年11月，世界上第一个多层分隔墙柱在乌尔姆大学投入使用。作为博士论文的一部分，申请人已经从理论的角度论述了这种植物。现在，这些理论上取得的成果将在乌尔姆的中试工厂进行实践验证。本应用程序的重点是对此类植物的灵活操作窗口进行实验研究。这种行为有可能促进多个分隔墙柱稳定可靠的运行。通过可靠的实验研究，结合理论前期工作，加深对多壁塔的认识，为多壁塔的广泛应用奠定基础，从而为提高精馏的能效做出贡献。

Distillation is one of the most energy-intensive separation processes and also the most widely used in the chemical industry. Estimates suggest that the process is responsible for 2.5 to 10 % of the energy consumed in the USA, thus distillation also contributes significantly to human-made climate change. Minimizing this impact is the overarching scientific goal of this application. One approach to this being studied intensively in recent years is process intensification, which aims to increase the efficiency of chemical processes. A common example for process intensification are dividing wall columns where this application focuses on multiple dividing wall columns (mTWK) with more than one dividing wall. Multiple dividing wall columns open up the possibility of saving up to 50% energy compared to conventional distillation of quaternary mixtures. However, the scientific literature on this topic has so far been limited exclusively to theoretical considerations. However, in November 2021, the first multiple dividing wall column worldwide was put into operation at Ulm University. As part of her PhD thesis the applicant has already dealt with the plant from a theoretical point of view. Now these theoretically achieved results are to be verified in practice at the pilot plant in Ulm. The focus of this application is on the experimental investigation of flexible operating windows of such plants. This behavior has the potential to facilitate stable and reliable operation of multiple dividing wall columns. Reliable experimental investigations, in combination with the theoretical preliminary work, deepen the understanding and should set the course to enable the transition of multiple partition wall columns into broad application and thus contribute to increasing the energy efficiency of distillation.