Patent ID: 6321567
Filing Date: 2001-11-27
Classification: B01J,F25J

Abstract:
A method for operating a rectification column comprising:(A) passing a feed mixture comprising a more volatile component and a less volatile component into a column, said column containing a height of packing comprising a plurality of bricks, said bricks having an area density greater than 600 m.sup.2 /m.sup.3 and less than 1500 m.sup.2 /m.sup.3 and comprising a plurality of vertically oriented structured packing sheets having a corrugation angle greater than 45 degrees and less than 70 degrees, and said bricks having at least one of (1) a height less than 8 inches, and (2) packing sheets having a lower region which differs in structure from the remaining region of that sheet so that the resistance to vapor flow in the lower region is less than the resistance to vapor flow in the remaining region;(B) carrying out rectification within the column wherein vapor flows upward through the bricks and liquid flows downward through the bricks whereby the said more volatile component concentrates in the upflowing vapor and the said less volatile component concentrates in the downflowing liquid; and(C) withdrawing first fluid from the upper portion of the column, said first fluid having a concentration of more volatile component which exceeds that of the feed mixture, and withdrawing second fluid from the lower portion of the column, said second fluid having a concentration of less volatile component which exceeds that of the feed mixture.