Dividing Wall Column as Energy Saving Retrofit Technology

The present paper shows that existing two- or three-column sequences could be transformed in a cost-effective way into a dividing wall column (DWC) to allow for energy saving equivalent to that achievable in new designs. This makes DWC an interesting retrofit option for process industries willing to achieve a substantial reduction in energy requirement and car- bon dioxide emissions in existing plants. Additional benefit is reflected in the potential for increasing substantially the capacity of existing units in the most sustainable way.