Technological advantages of using cyclic distillation process in the production of ethanol food grade

The one of the main factor that provides high quality of ethanol food grade is distillation columns. Nowadays before the producers are strict market conditions on qualitative of ethanol, and reduced specific energy costs per unit of output. Nowadays manufacturers have strict conditions on the quantitative and organoleptic indicators of alcohol quality. At once market conditions dictate reduced specific energy costs per unit of output. This problem can be solved only by constantly improving technology of removing impurities by increasing the efficiency of mass transfer. Application of cyclic modes is one of the methods to increase the efficiency of interaction phases in distillation column, which essentially boils down to a circular motion phases in the contact zone. Mass transfer occurs on a tray in the absence of fluid flow. This allows you to achieve hydrodynamic regime that close to the ideal displacement as in a liquid, and a pair in real conditions. There is observed especially significant difference between standard and cyclic processes at high reflux. This scheme of contact phase makes it possible to get  number of structural and technological advantages : reduce the number of trays in the column 2 ... 2.5 times; reduce square of trays in 1.5 ... 2 times; reduce steam consumption is 1.5 .... 2, 5 times; increase the load on the liquid 1.5 ... 2 times; improve quality and increase the additional output of ethanol.

Let demonstrate the benefits of the transfer distillation column in cyclic mode on the example of the column final purification and column of concentration of impurities.

The Column of the final purification of ethanol, operating in the hydroselection mode: reduces the content of methanol in 1.3 ... 2 times, reduces the aldehydes content of 0.2 mg / liter; increases oxidation ethanol per 1 ... 2 min; improves organoleptic properties of ethanol. This specific steam consumption in the cyclic mode is 0.3 ... 0.4 kg / liter (for bubble column in standard mode is 0.6 ... 0.8 kg / liter).

The Column of impurities concentration performs the function of additional hydroselection column for the purification of contaminated flows. Release of additional ethanol for 3 ... 4 % is possible due to the higher concentration of impurities main character (esters and aldehydes) namely of 0.6 ... 0.7 % of plant capacity and specific consumption of steam 0.07 ... 0.08 kg / liter (for bubble column in standard mode is 0.3 ... 0.4 kg / liter).

Distillation column in a cyclic mode allow to reduce capital costs for the construction of new and reconstruction of existing ethanol plant, while reducing the cost and improving the quality of the final product.