GB278211A - Improvement in process for the distillation of alcohol - Google Patents

Abstract

278,211. Marks, E. C. R., (U. S. Industrial Alcohol Co.). Nov. 29, 1926. Alccholic liquids, distilling.-Weak alcoholic liquids, such as beer, are distilled to separate strong alcohol, fuel oil, and light-boiling products such as aldehydes. The beer preheated by passage through a dephlegmator 2 or by heat exchange with the residual liquid passing through a pipe 6 is passed by a pipe 3 into a rectifying column 4. heated by a steam coil or by injection of steam at the base 7. The vapours pass from the top by by a pipe 5 through the dephlegmator 2 and a condenser 13. The condensate from the dephlegmator and part of that from the condenser pass by pipes 11, 19 to serve as reflux in the column. The remainder of the condensate together with uncondensed vapours passes by pipes 20, 23, 25 into a second rectifying column 24 heated by a steam coil 29, from the base of which purified alcohol is withdrawn. The light boiling vapours from the top of this column pass through a dephlegmator 31 and condenser 36, part of the condensate being returned as reflux to the column and the remainder being drawn off by a pipe 42. The temperature in the column 4 is regulated so that a thermometer 8 at a point just above the inlet 3 reads about 85‹ C. by varying the amount of condensate admitted to it through the pipe 19 either by varying the rate of passage of cooling water through the condenser 13 or by varying the amount drawn off by the pipe 20 through a cock 21. Fusel oil is drawn off by a pipe 9.