Steady state considerations for designing minimum energy control strategies for a dividing wall distillation column with trace components

[Display omitted] A dividing wall distillation column is a separations technology in the field of process intensification that promises energy and capital savings. Though the technology has been around for many years, dividing wall columns (DWC) have yet to gain widespread industrial acceptance. This paper examines an experimentally validated rigorous model scaled to the size of an industrial column. The model includes heat transfer both through the dividing wall and to the atmosphere. A response surface that captures the minimum reboiler duty necessary to meet product specifications for various liquid and vapor split values is presented. Steady state considerations are used to investigate potential controlled variables for minimizing energy use. Though conclusions are specific to the particular chemical system and column design investigated, this paper highlights a general method on how dividing wall column design and control can be rigorously explored.