Porous membrane materials as structured packing for distillation

Abstract

The present invention includes an apparatus and method for use of distillation packing material made from a non-selective meso/microporous membrane that separates light hydrocarbon mixtures.

1 . A distillation packing material for separating light hydrocarbon mixtures comprising a non-selective meso/ microporous membrane.  
     
     
         2 . The distillation packing material of  claim 1  bundled in a parallel tube configuration.  
     
     
         3 . The distillation packing material of  claim 1  where said distillation packing material density ranges from about 5% to 45%.  
     
     
         4 . The distillation packing material of  claim 1  where said distillation packing material is selected from the group consisting of: 
 polypropylene, polysulfone, polyethylene, polyvinylididene, mixed ester, and polyestersulfone.    
     
     
         5 . The distillation packing material of  claim 1  where said distillation packing material is a ceramic.  
     
     
         6 . The distillation packing material of  claim 1  where said distillation packing material is a metal.  
     
     
         7 . A distillation apparatus for separating light hydrocarbon mixtures, comprising: 
 a. a distillation packing material comprising a non-selective meso/ micro porous membrane bundled in a parallel tube configuration,    b. a distillation column, defining a top and a bottom, packed with said non-selective meso/ micro-porous membrane defining a liquid side and a vapor side within said distillation column,    c. a reboiler used to heat liquid light hydrocarbon mixtures creating a vapor on said vapor side and providing a thermal driving force within said distillation apparatus, and    d. a condenser used to condense said vapor creating a liquid on said liquid side.    
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising a drain on said vapor side of said distillation column to drain said liquid out of said vapor side.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , where said distillation packing material density ranges from about 5% to 45%.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising a bypass on said vapor side for accumulating said liquid at said top to prime said distillation column before said vapor is introduced into said distillation column, thereby providing liquid flow to start the separation process.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising a reservoir operatively connected to said top of said distillation column for holding said liquid inventory before and during said distillation process.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , where an across area ratio of said vapor to said liquid ranges from about 0.5 to 20.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , where said distillation packing material is selected from the group consisting of: polypropylene, polysulfone, polyethylene, polyvinylididene, mixed ester, and polyestersulfone.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , where said distillation packing material is a ceramic.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , where said distillation packing material is a metal.  
     
     
         16 . A method for separating light hydrocarbon mixtures, comprising: 
 a. providing a distillation column packed with a non-selective meso/microporous membrane bundled in a parallel tube configuration that defines a liquid side and a vapor side,    b. introducing said light hydrocarbon mixture to said liquid side of said distillation column, and    c. separating said light hydrocarbon mixture.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising the step of returning a partial amount of a low boiling point component of said light hydrocarbon mixture back to said distillation column to increase separation efficiency.