Low energy distillation system and method

Abstract

A distillation system for separating components fluid feed includes a stripper and a rectifier. The stripper includes an inlet to receive a feed of fluid a compressor in fluid communication with a more volatile portion of the fluid within the stripper to provide an output feed, and a reboiler in fluid communication with a less volatile portion of fluid within the stripper. The rectifier receives the output feed and includes a condenser in fluid communication with a more volatile portion of the output feed from the compressor, the condenser including an exit to remove at least one component from the more volatile portion of the output feed, and an outlet to recycle a less volatile portion of the output feed back to the stripper. Heat pipes transfer thermal energy from the rectifier to the stripper.

1 . A distillation system for separating at least two components of a multi-component fluid feed comprising:
 (a) a stripper section including
 (i) an inlet to receive a feed of fluid containing at least two components, 
 (ii) a compressor in fluid communication with a more volatile portion of the fluid within the stripper section to provide an output feed, and 
 (iii) a reboiler to receive a heating fluid and in fluid communication with a less volatile portion of fluid within the stripper section; and 
   (b) a rectifier section aligned vertically with and disposed below the stripper section, the rectifier section to receive the output feed from the compressor and further including
 (i) a condenser to receive a cooling fluid and in fluid communication with a more volatile portion of the output feed from the compressor, the condenser including an exit to remove at least one component from the more volatile portion of the output feed, and 
 (ii) an outlet to recycle a less volatile portion of the output feed from the compressor for recycle back to the stripper section. 
   
     
     
         2 . The distillation system of  claim 1 , wherein the stripper section and the rectifier section are contained within a single at least partially enclosed structure. 
     
     
         3 . The distillation system of  claim 1 , wherein the rectifier section is operated at a higher average pressure and temperature than the stripper section. 
     
     
         4 . The distillation system of  claim 3 , further comprising at least one heat pipe traversing between at least a portion of the rectifier section and at least a portion of the stripper section to transfer heat from the rectifier section to the stripper section. 
     
     
         5 . The distillation system of  claim 4 , wherein the heat pipe is oriented substantially perpendicular to a base of the rectifier section. 
     
     
         6 . The distillation system of  claim 4 , wherein the heat pipe directs condensate inside the heat pipe to the rectifier section via gravity. 
     
     
         7 . The distillation system of  claim 4 , wherein at least one hollow distillation tray is located at least one end of the heat pipe to increase the transfer surface area for heat transfer. 
     
     
         8 . The distillation system of  claim 1 , wherein the feed is primarily hydrocarbons. 
     
     
         9 . A distillation method for separating at least two components of a multi-component fluid feed comprising:
 (a) introducing a feed of fluid containing at least two components to a stripper section, the stripper section including
 (i) an inlet to receive the feed of the fluid, 
 (ii) a compressor in fluid communication with a more volatile portion of the fluid within the stripper section to provide an output feed, and 
 (iii) a reboiler to receive a heating fluid and in fluid communication with a less volatile portion of fluid within the stripper section; and 
   (b) directing the output feed from the compressor to a rectifier section aligned vertically with and disposed below the stripper section, the rectifier section including
 (i) a condenser to receive a cooling fluid and in fluid communication with a more volatile portion of the output feed from the compressor, the condenser including an exit to remove at least one component from the more volatile portion of the output feed, and 
 (ii) an outlet to recycle a less volatile portion of the output feed from the compressor to the stripper section. 
   
     
     
         10 . The distillation method of  claim 9 , wherein the stripper section and rectifier section are contained within a single at least partially enclosed structure. 
     
     
         11 . The distillation method of  claim 9 , wherein the rectifier section is operated at a higher average pressure and temperature than the stripper section. 
     
     
         12 . The distillation method of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one heat pipe traversing between at least a portion of the rectifier section and at least a portion of the stripper section to transfer heat from the rectifier section to the stripper section. 
     
     
         13 . The distillation method of  claim 12 , wherein the heat pipe is oriented substantially perpendicular to a base of the rectifier section. 
     
     
         14 . The distillation method of  claim 12 , wherein the heat pipe directs condensate inside the heat pipe to the rectifier section via gravity. 
     
     
         15 . The distillation method of  claim 12 , wherein at least one hollow distillation tray is located at least one end of the heat pipe to increase the surface area for heat transfer. 
     
     
         16 . The distillation method of  claim 9 , wherein the feed is predominately hydrocarbons.