Vapor recompression can save energy in distillation

Abstract EN

The introduction of a heat pump (vapor recompression) into an existing distillation column is studied.

This modification will produce approximately 25% reduction in consumed energy and about 42% optimization of the thermodynamic efficiency factor.

This is a substantial improvement to the much energy consuming distillation process.

It will be indicated that the use of modification methods such as intermediate reboilers and/or condensers and heat pumps (vapor recompression) produce among others [1] : reduction in the consumed energy, optimized thermodynamic efficiency factor and reduced column volume.

These modifications should be studied further, together with the economical aspects, to calculate the investment, the savings, the payback period and other important economic and technological impacts of such modifications.