Patent ID: 7846303

Claim:
A multi-structured internal heat exchange-type distillation column comprising at least an outermost heat exchange section, an intermediate section, and an innermost heat exchange section; wherein the innermost heat exchange section is isolated from the intermediate section; wherein the outermost heat exchange section is also isolated from the intermediate section; wherein the outermost heat exchange section and the innermost heat exchange section are in communication with one another through at least two vapor tunnel connecting ports; a channel formed inside the outermost heat exchange section in such a manner that, in a case where at least one of the vapor tunnel connecting ports serves as an inlet for vapor from the innermost heat exchange section into the outermost heat exchange section, and the other vapor tunnel connecting port serves as an outlet for vapor from the outermost heat exchange section back to the innermost heat exchange section, the vapor can smoothly flow in one-way traffic from the inlet toward the outlet; wherein either the outermost heat exchange section and the innermost heat exchange section, or the intermediate section, is a rectifying section, and the other is a stripping section; wherein the outermost heat exchange section is made up of a plurality of outermost heat exchange chambers that are arranged independent of one another and horizontal direction; wherein each of the plurality of outermost heat exchange chambers is in communication with the innermost heat exchange section through the at least two vapor tunnel connecting ports; and wherein the channel is formed inside each of the plurality of outermost heat exchange chambers.