Gary Michael Culp

US Patent:

41667735, Sep 4, 1979

Filed:

Dec 22, 1977

Appl. No.:

5/863353

Inventors:

David P. Higley - Katonah NY
Gary L. Culp - Sissonville WV
John W. Crandall - Charleston WV
Scott M. Farquhar - Charleston WV

Assignee:

Union Carbide Corporation - New York NY

International Classification:

B01D 328

US Classification:

203 72

Abstract:

This invention is concerned with a continuous process for separating higher boiling, heat sensitive components from a liquid product stream. It involves a rapid evaporation of the desired product of the stream in an evaporator which minimizes residence time, such as a falling film evaporator, and feeding the vapors and the remainder of the stream to a separation column where the vaporized products rise in the column. Part of the vaporized products are removed after condensation and then recycled back to the column as a reflux. This reflux after contacting one or more trays is collected and recycled to the evaporator and mixed with the product feed being treated. The liquid remainder of the feed stream is collected at the bottom of the column. The bottom of the column can be kept at a temperature which minimizes any breakdown of the heat sensitive components present therein and, if desired, the bottoms in the column can be quickly withdrawn for treatment elsewhere or for recycling back to the process. A desirable embodiment is to recycle a portion of the residue at the bottom of the column back to the evaporator.