Fractional condensation processes, apparatuses and systems

Abstract

The present invention provides fractional condensation apparatuses, systems and methods that can recover volatile products from highly diluted liquid and vapor feed mixtures with high purity and recovery yield, both in batch and continuous distillation, while being also designed to achieve low-cost and efficient recovery processes. Single apparatuses and columns can be connected to each other to expand or shrink the column length for desired separation. The apparatuses, systems and methods can be applied to separate mixtures with both narrow and wide boiling point ranges.

1 . A fractional condensation apparatus for recovering a compound from a feed mixture, the apparatus comprising:
 (a) an enclosure providing a fractional condensation volume for the mixture, the enclosure having an internal surface in contact with the fractional condensation volume, wherein the temperature of the internal surface is controllable, and the enclosure having an inlet adapted for receiving the feed mixture and an outlet for providing recovered compound;   (b) a second surface positioned centrally within the fractional condensation volume, wherein the temperature of the second surface is controllable; and   (c) first packing material between the internal surface and the second surface.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first packing material provide thermal contact between the internal surface of the enclosure and the second surface. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the feed mixture is a vapor feed comprising an alcohol, and one or more gases selected from the group consisting of nitrogen gas and oxygen gas, the alcohol has an initial concentration in the vapor feed between about 0.5 and about 10 mol %, and the apparatus is adapted in the presence of a suitable temperature conditions to recover the alcohol with a purity of at least about 40% and a recovery yield of at least about 20%; or the feed mixture is a feed solution comprising an alcohol, and one or more gases selected from the group consisting of nitrogen gas and oxygen gas, alcohol has an initial concentration in the feed solution of between about 0.5 and about 5% by weight, and the apparatus is adapted in the presence of a suitable temperature conditions to recover the alcohol with a purity of at least about 40% and a recovery yield of at least about 20%. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the feed mixture is a vapor feed comprising ethanol, nitrogen gas and oxygen gas, the compound is ethanol and has an initial concentration in the vapor feed between about 0.5 and about 3 mol %, and the apparatus is adapted in the presence of a suitable temperature conditions to recover the ethanol with a purity of at least about 90% and a recovery yield of at least about 90%; or the feed mixture is a feed solution, the compound is ethanol and has an initial concentration in the feed solution of between about 0.5 and about 3% by weight, and the apparatus is adapted in the presence of a suitable temperature conditions to recover the ethanol with a purity of at least about 90% and a recovery yield of at least about 74%. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure comprises a column jacket which is adapted to be evacuated and/or is adapted for flowing a fluid, and the column jacket has an internal wall providing the internal surface. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the column jacket contains second packing material. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the second surface within the fractional condensation volume is provided by a fluid tube positioned centrally within the column jacket and along the length of the column jacket. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the first packing material are in direct contact with the internal surface and the fluid tube. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a bottom opening and a top opening in the enclosure adapted for connecting the apparatus with a second fractional condensation apparatus, the apparatus being adapted to allow flow of the feed mixture through the bottom opening and the top opening, the second fractional condensation apparatus comprising:
 (a) an enclosure providing a fractional condensation volume for the mixture, the enclosure having an internal surface in contact with the fractional condensation volume, wherein the temperature of the internal surface is controllable, and the enclosure having an inlet adapted for receiving the feed mixture and an outlet for providing recovered compound;   (b) a second surface positioned centrally within the fractional condensation volume, wherein the temperature of the second surface is controllable; and   (c) first packing material between the internal surface and the second surface.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , being adapted for control of temperature within the fractional distillation volume, both across and along the column. 
     
     
         11 . A fractional condensation column for recovering a compound from a feed mixture comprising:
 (a) a column jacket;   (b) a fluid tube positioned centrally within the column and along the length of the column; and   (c) first packing material between the column jacket and the fluid tube.   
     
     
         12 . The fractional condensation column of  claim 11 , wherein the first packing material provides thermal contact between the column jacket and the fluid tube. 
     
     
         13 . The fractional condensation column of  claim 11 , wherein the column jacket is adapted to be evacuated. 
     
     
         14 . The fractional condensation column of  claim 11 , wherein the column jacket is adapted for flowing a fluid, contains second packing material, and the column jacket extends around the circumference of the column and along the length of the column, and is entirely filled with the second packing material. 
     
     
         15 . The fractional condensation column of  claim 11 , wherein the first packing material are in direct contact with an internal wall of the column jacket and the fluid tube. 
     
     
         16 . The fractional condensation column of  claim 11 , further comprising a bottom opening and a top opening adapted for connecting the fractional condensation column with another fractional condensation column, the fractional condensation column being adapted to allow flow of the feed mixture through the bottom opening and the top opening. 
     
     
         17 . The fractional condensation column of  claim 11 , wherein the feed mixture is a vapor feed, the compound has an initial concentration in the vapor feed between 0.5 and 10 mol %, and the apparatus is adapted in the presence of a suitable temperature conditions to recover the compound with a purity of at least about 40% and a recovery yield of at least about 20%; or the feed mixture is a feed solution, the compound has an initial concentration in the feed solution of between about 0.5 and about 5% by weight, and the apparatus is adapted in the presence of a suitable temperature conditions to recover the compound with a purity of at least about 40% and a recovery yield of at least about 20%. 
     
     
         18 . The fractional condensation column of  claim 11 , the compound has an initial concentration in the vapor feed between about 0.5 and about 3 mol %, and the apparatus is adapted in the presence of a suitable temperature conditions to recover the compound with a purity of at least about 90% and a recovery yield of at least about 90%, or the feed mixture is a feed solution, the compound has an initial concentration in the feed solution of between about 0.5 and about 3% by weight, and the apparatus is adapted in the presence of a suitable temperature conditions to recover the compound with a purity of at least about 90% and a recovery yield of at least about 74%. 
     
     
         19 . The fractional condensation column of  claim 11 , wherein the compound is ethanol and the feed mixture comprises ethanol, nitrogen gas and oxygen gas. 
     
     
         20 . The fractional condensation column of  claim 11 , being adapted for control of temperature within the column, both across and along the column.