Patent ID: 8323457

Claim:
A method for separating a multi-component fluid, comprising: introducing a multi-component fluid to a dividing wall column comprising: a fractionating section comprising a first fractionation zone and a second fractionation zone separated by a dividing wall; and a stripping section disposed below the fractionating section, wherein the multi-component fluid is introduced to the first fractionation zone; heating the multi-component fluid within the dividing wall column to provide a first product, a second product, an intermediate distillate, and a process fluid; compressing at least a portion of the first product to provide a compressed first product; indirectly transferring heat from the compressed first product to at least a portion of the intermediate distillate to provide a heated intermediate distillate; recycling the heated intermediate distillate to the dividing wall column; and expanding the compressed first product to provide an expanded first product.