Enhancing Energy Efficiency of Electric Grade Isopropyl Alcohol Production Process by Using Noble Thermally Coupled Distillation Technology

Neha Agarwal, Nguyen Nhu Nga, Le Cao Nhien, Raisa Aulia Hanifah, Minkyu Kim () and Moonyong Lee ()
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Neha Agarwal: School of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Republic of Korea
Nguyen Nhu Nga: School of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Republic of Korea
Le Cao Nhien: School of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Republic of Korea
Raisa Aulia Hanifah: School of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Republic of Korea
Minkyu Kim: School of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Republic of Korea
Moonyong Lee: School of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Republic of Korea

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 15, 1-14

Abstract: This study presents a comprehensive design, optimization, and intensification approach for enhancing the energy efficiency of electric grade isopropyl alcohol (IPA) production, a typical energy-intensive chemical process. The process entails preconcentration and dehydration steps, with the intensity of separation formulated from a multicomponent feed that consists of IPA and water, along with other impurities. Modeling and energy optimization were performed for a conventional distillation train as a base case by using the rigorous process simulator Aspen Plus V12.1. To improve energy efficiency, various options for intensifying distillation were examined. The side-stream preconcentration column was subsequently replaced by a dividing wall column (DWC) with two side streams, i.e., a Kaibel column, reducing the total energy consumption of corresponding distillation columns by 9.1% compared to the base case. Further strengthening was achieved by combining two columns in the preconcentration process into a single Kaibel column, resulting in a 22.8% reduction in reboiler duty compared to the base case. Optimization using the response surface methodology identified key operating parameters, such as side-draw positions and stage design, which significantly influence both energy efficiency and separation quality. The intensified Kaibel setup offers significant energy efficiencies and simplified column design, suggesting enormous potential for process intensification in energy-intensive distillation processes at the industrial level, including the IPA purification process.

Keywords: dividing wall column (DWC); process intensification; optimization; IPA; preconcentration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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