Energy saving in multicomponent separation using an internally heat-integrated distillation column (HIDiC)

Energy savings by an internally heat-integrated distillation column (HIDiC) for the separation of multicomponent mixtures were studied. The design and the operating variables of a HIDiC were defined for this purpose, and were systematically varied to carry out a sensitivity analysis. Benzene–toluene–p-xylene (BTX) mixture and 12-component hydrocarbons (12HC) mixture were chosen as model systems. Sensitivity analysis showed that the HIDiC is able to reduce energy consumption by about 30% for the BTX system and an even better 50% for the 12HC system. The effects on energy consumption of the design and the operating variables were also examined.