Distillation

In the distillation section Extra Neutral Alcohol and Technical Alcohol are refined by
using eight distillation columns. The clarified wash coming from the fermentation section is
sent through the Bear heater (shell and tube heat exchanger) and heated to about 65C 0 by
vapour coming from top of the Analyser column. Again it heated to 92 C 0 in fermented
preheater by spent wash from bottom of the Analyser column. Then wash is fed to
Degasifying column top.

Degasifying column
Clarified wash is firstly transfer to degasifying column. Degasifying column is located
at top of the Analyzer column. The degasifying column is used principally for removal of non
condensable present in the clarified wash. Top product of the degasifying column is sent as
feed of Aldehyde column. Bottom product of degasifying column is sent to the feed of
Analyzer column through gas separator. Degasifyingcolumn has sieve plates. Because of that
the clarified wash are very high in viscosity and viscous liquids can easy to pass through
sieve plate.
Column details
Number of plate

10

Feed plate

01

Type of plate

sieve plate

Temperature top

90 ~ 92 C

Temperature bottom

94 C

Height

7.279 m

Tray spacing

550mm

Insulation thick

50 mm

Design pressure

0.5 kg/cm

Operating pressure

0.3 kg/cm

Figure 2.23: Degasifying column &

analyzer column

Analyzer column
The feed for analyzer column is taking from bottom product of the Degasifying
column. It is fed to the top plate of the Analyzer column through a gas separator. Analyzer
column strips off alcohol from the spent wash. The bottom product of the analyzer
column(spent wash) in this column is send to spent wash tank. The top product of the
Analyzer column is sent through liquid separator to beer heater. Separatedvapor is sent to
shell side of the Beer heater to heated clarified wash to 65C. In Beer heater non condensable
gases is sent to vent condenser and then send to first Aldehyde condenser. After that non
condensable gas is send from first Aldehyde condenser to atmosphere. The condensed liquid
in Beer heater and vent condenser are sent to the Purifier column through a liquid separator.
Steam is directly introduced in to the analyzer column and no reboilers are used. Spent wash
is a bigger problem to the distillery and it cant be directly ejected to the environment
according to environmental standards.
Column details
Number of plate

18

Feed plate

01

Type of plate

Valve plate

Temperature top

94 C

Temperature bottom

105~107 C

Height

11.215 m

Tray spacing

550mm

Insulation thick

50 mm

Design pressure

0.5 kg/cm

Operating pressure

0.3kg/cm

Purifier column
Purifier column is operated on the principle of hydro
extraction and is principally used for removal of the
low boiling impurities. The feed of Purifier column is
taken

from

feed

bottle

of

Purifier

column.

Condensate of Beer heater and vent condenser are

sending to feed bottle of Purifier column. And other
feed line of that bottle is pumped from bottom vessel
of Head concentrated column. DM water is fed to top
Figure 2.24: Purifier column

of the column. Most of low boiling impurities are removed in this column. The column is
heated by using
a reboiler. Bottom product of this column is sent to the first purifier condenser andnon
condensable gases are sentto the second Purifier condenser in that condenser. After the
second condenser non condensable gases are sent to the atmosphere
Column details
Number of plate

50

Feed plate

29

Type of plate

Valve plate

Temperature top

90 C

Temperature bottom 92 ~ 93 C

Height

12.576 m

Tray spacing

250/200mm

Insulation thick

50 mm

Design pressure

1 kg/cm

Operating pressure

0.3 kg/cm

Aldehyde column

Aldehyde column is used to remove Aldehydes and

ketones from alcohol mixer. Feed is taken fromthe top
of the Degasifying column and is fed to plate number
16. The column is heated by direct steam. Bottom
product of that column is sent to the Head diluter. Top
product is sent to the second Aldehyde condenser. In
that condenser non condensable gasses are sent to
atmosphereand condensate liquid is sent through vapor
bottle to Head diluter. Disengagement gases and liquid
are fed back to Aldehyde column as reflux.

Figure 2.25: Aldehyde

column

Column details
Number of plate

30

Feed plate

16

Type of plate

Valve plate

Temperature top

76 ~ 78 C

Temperature bottom

93 ~ 95 C

Height

7.275 m

Tray spacing

200mm

Insulation thick

50 mm

Design pressure

1.2 kg/cm

Operating pressure

0.5 kg/cm

Design temperature

120 C

Heads concentration column

The main task of HCC column is to concentrate the top products of several columns. Feed of
this column is taken from the Head diluter. A Lot of entering linesis connected to the Head
diluter.

Top of Aldehyde column

Bottom of Aldehyde column

Top of rectifier column

Top of fusel oil concentration column

From first Aldehydevapor bottle

Top product of the HCC is sent to first heads

cool condenser. In that condenser non
condensable gases are sent to second head
cool condenser. After the second condenser
non condensable gasses are sent to the
atmosphere. The liquid separated in those two
condensers are sent to technical alcohol
receiver. HCC is heated by using areboiler.
Bottom product of HCC is sent to Head

Figure 2.26:Heads concentration

column

bottom vessel and then it is pumped to the feed bottle of Purifier column.
Column details
Number of plate

45

Feed plate

24

Type of plate

Valve plate

Temperature top

78 C

Temperature bottom

90 ~ 92 C

Height

11.325 m

Tray spacing

200/250mm

Insulation thick

50 mm

Design pressure

0.45 kg/cm

Operating pressure

0.3 kg/cm

Design temperature

120 C

Rectifier cum exhaust column

For this column feed is taken from bottom of

Purifier column. High boiling impurities are
removed in rectifier column and alcohol mixer is
more concentrated in this column. Bottom product
of the column is sent in to the spent lees tank. A
spent lee is used to heat DM water in. the column
is heated by using direct steam.
Column details
Number of plate

78

Feed plate

18

Type of plate

Valve plate

Temperature top

78 C

Temperature bottom 105 ~ 105 C

Height

19.100 m

Tray spacing

225mm

Insulation thick

50 mm

Figure 2.27:Rectifier cum

exhaust column

Design pressure

0.5 kg/cm

Operating pressure

0.5 kg/cm

Design temperature

120 C

Fusel oil concentration column

The main task of FOC is to fully concentrate and
separationof partially separated fusel oil (from Rectifier
fusel oil decanter and Purifier fusel oil decanter). Feed is
taken from the liquid separators of other two fusel oil
decanters. Top product of the column is sent to the FOC
condenser. In that condenser none condensable are sent to
atmosphere and condensates sent to Head diluter through a
liquid separator. Separated fusel oil from the fusel oil
decanter is sent to the fusel oil storage tank through flow
meters. Fusel oil concentration column is heated by using
direct steam.
Column details

Number of plate

50

Feed plate

25

Type of plate

Valve plate

Temperature top

78 C

Temperature bottom

103 C

Height

11.175 m

Tray spacing

200mm

Insulation thick

50 mm

Design pressure

0.5 kg/cm

Figure 2.28 :Fusel oil

concentration column

Refining column
In refinery column alcohol is concentrated up to 96.3 v/v%. Finally concentrated
alcohol is called Extra Neutral Alcohol. For Refinery column feed is taking from the Rectifier
cum exhaust column. Top product of Refinery column is sent to first refinery condenser and
in this condenser non condensable are sent to second refinery condenser. At second refinery
condenser non condensable are sent to atmosphere. Extra Neutral Alcohol is taken as the
bottom product of this column. It is passed through a heat exchanger (ENA cooler) for
cooling the ENA. After that cooled ENA is passed through a carbon chamber. Dissolved
oxygen from ENA is absorbed in carbon chamber. After that concentrated ENA sentto ENA
storage tank through flow meters.
Column details
Number of plate

50

Feed plate

15

Type of plate

Valve plate

Temperature top

78 C

Temperature bottom 80 C

Height

11.275 m

Tray spacing

200mm

Insulation thick

50 mm

Design pressure

1 kg/cm

Operating pressure

0.3 kg/cm

Design temperature

100 C

Figure 2.29;refining column