(384b) Heat Integrated Distillation Column (HIDiC) Versus Heat Pump Systems

Improvement in energy demand in distillation can be achieved by upgrading the heat rejected in the rectifying section and transferring it to the stripping section. Heat integrated distillation column (HIDiC) accomplishes this objective by operating the rectifying section at a higher pressure than the stripping section and transferring heat from the rectifying to the stripping section. Here, heat integration is at multiple points along the length of each section. We compare this HIDiC scheme with a heat pump scheme involving a one point heat transfer operation wherein heat from only the top of the rectifying section is upgraded and is transferred to the bottom of the stripping section. Also, heat integration at a second point in the heat pump system is realized by introducing just one intermediate reboiler and/or one intermediate condenser. Thus, the goal of this work is to compare such schemes and evaluate and suggest useful and novel combinations.