presentation montz-kaibel for divided wall technology

May 05th, 2007 B. Kaibel / Z. Olujic, EFCE WP on Fluid Separations, Z. Olujic Symposium, Delft, NL 1

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Unfixed Wall: The Key to a Breakthrough in Dividing Wall Column Technology

B. Kaibel, H. Jansen, T. Rietfort, E. ZichJulius MONTZ GmbH, Hilden, Germany

Z. OlujicTU Delft, Process & Energy Department, Delft, the Netherlands

EFCE WP on Fluid Separations, Z. Olujic Symposium, May 05th, 2007, Delft, NL



Overview

• Dividing wall columnconcept introduced:- 1935 by Monro

(US 2,134,882)and

- 1946 by Wright (US 2,471,134)as a concept design fortray columns.

• First commercial application in 1985 by BASF, as a packed column(Montz-Pak A3 packing)



Dividing Wall Column - a rising distillation star

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008

Non-welded dividing wall

Number of DWCsdelivered by Montzover the years



Range of Applications

Diameter 0.04 m - 4.0 mHeight 2.5 m - 74 m

Theoretical trays up to 100

Pressure 2 mbar - 10 bar

Purities normal purity demandsup to electronic grade specifications (< 1 ppm)



4 component DWC

A

D

A,B,C,DA,B,C

A

C

BC

B

Dividing Wall ColumnsSeparation of a three and four component mixture

Welded or non-welded dividing wall



Dividing Wall Columns

Main advantages Main drawbacks

• One operating pressure• Higher pressure drop• Higher temperature difference• Column height

• Lower investment costs• Lower energy demand• Smaller plant size• Minimized residence time• Better yields• High flexibility



DW-arrangements 3

αA αBαB αC

>αA αBαB αC

<

A,B,C

A

B

C

Dividing Wall ColumnsColumn set-up: Feed/Side product offset

A,B,C

A

B

C



DW-arrangements 2

mB << mA, mC. . . A

B

C

A, B, C

Dividing Wall ColumnsColumn set-up: Off-center dividing wall arrangements



DW-arrangements 1

High vacuumapplication

Vapour feed

Difficult liquiddistribution

A,B,C

A

B

C

A,B,C

A

B

C

Dividing Wall ColumnsColumn set-up: Different vapour traffic solutions

Appropriate wall position?



DW-arrangements 1

High vacuumapplication

A,B,C

A

B

C

Dividing Wall ColumnsImproved liquid distributors for extremely small liquid loads

A

B

C

Distribution supported by capillary action

A,B,C



Tight enough?Customers had to be convinced by experiments• Liquid: Tests with coloured water• Gas: Tests with carbon dioxide (TU Delft)

Non-welded Dividing Wall



Montz Patents Overview

• Non-welded wall elementsfor packed columns

• Non-welded wall elements for trayed columns

• Self-centering structured packing• Integrated flashbox• Welded-in dividing wall solution

for- small column diameters- big column diameters



Loose DW 2a

Main advantages

• Insensitive to poor manufacturing tolerances of the column shell

• No partition tolerances

• Less weight

• Easy and precise assembly

• Minimized welding

• Conventional columns convertible to DWC

• Removable

Non-welded Dividing Wall



DWC Competence

New column design• Can meet all requirements: Thermodynamic, hydrodynamic and

constructional lay-out

Revamp of conventional columns• Flexible solution• Reuse of existing column shells• Non-welded and welded

dividing walls • Modification of internals• Non-welded dividing wall solution

minimizes downtime



Revamp to a Dividing Wall Column

Job• Convert conventional column into DWC

Requires• Dividing wall elements

non-welded orwelded

• New set of structured packings• Modification of liquid collectors

and redistributors

Case study: Packed Column DN1200




• Hydraulic check of tower incl. existing nozzlesfor new loadings

• Removal of internals• Modification of liquid collectors and nozzles,

packing and dividing wall supports• Packing installation along with non-welded

dividing wall• Installation of liquid distributors and collectors

Time line



PackedDividing Wall Column

with the non-welded wall solution

• Weld-in parts with an „out-of-the-middle“ wall position

Vapour feed

A,B,C

A

B

C



Trayed Dividing Wall Columns

MONTZ Thormann®-tray DN300

• Retrofit of existing trays withwall elements

• New tray set along withdividing wall usingexisting tray support rings and downcomer bars

• New tray set with welded-individing wall

• Pilot and small scale plantspossible



Trayed Dividing Wall Columnswith non-welded dividing wall

MONTZ Tunneltray DN3000

Advantages• Easy and fast assembly• Less weight• Removeable• Retrofit existing columns• Different tray types possible



Conclusion

A non-welded wall allows great flexibility with respect to bothprocess and mechanical design.

Packed, non-welded dividing wall columns• Well established technology since mid 1990s• Wide variety of experiences

Trayed, non-welded dividing wall columns• Technical concepts developed

Further details: www.montz.de / [email protected]

presentation montz-kaibel for divided wall technology

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