Distillation equipment is key to the production of high-quality spirits, with design and functionality directly impacting the quality of the final product. Distillation is a traditional process that separates the components by heating a liquid mixture to its boiling point and then condensing the vapors. With the development of science and technology and the continuous improvement of industrial needs, distillation technology is also constantly improving, especially in improving separation efficiency saving energy, and reducing consumption, and has achieved remarkable results.
Table of Contents
What is distillation equipment?
Distillation is a process that uses a combination of heating and cooling to separate different components in a mixture. It is widely used in chemistry, pharmaceuticals, food, energy, and other fields. As the core tool for realizing this process, distillation equipment comes in a wide variety, showing indispensable importance according to different uses and needs, from small devices in the laboratory to huge equipment on an industrial scale.
Features of distillation equipment:
- Efficient separation capability: Since the distillation process relies on the difference in boiling points of substances, distillation equipment can efficiently separate substances with different boiling points, and is especially suitable for the separation of liquid mixtures.
- Higher energy consumption: Since the distillation process requires heating and cooling, higher energy consumption is usually required, especially when performing large-scale separations.
- Higher purity: Distillation can effectively improve the purity of products, especially during the extraction and refining process, high-purity solvents, chemicals, or other liquid components can be obtained.
- Equipment size and capacity are adjustable: Distillation equipment can be adjusted in size and capacity as needed, ranging from small laboratory equipment to large industrial-scale equipment.
Types of distillation equipment
Classification by operation mode
- Batch distillation equipment: Add raw materials to the equipment intermittently, and discharge the distillation residue after distillation. Suitable for small batches, high value, or production that requires flexible adjustment. Typical equipment: distillation pot.
- Continuous distillation equipment: Raw materials are continuously added to the equipment, and products and residues are continuously discharged, suitable for large-scale production. Efficient and stable, suitable for industrial large-scale production. Typical equipment: distillation tower.
Classification by distillation method
- Simple distillation equipment: Heat the liquid to evaporate, and then condense it into liquid. Separate components with large boiling point differences. Typical equipment: ordinary distiller.
- Fractional distillation equipment: Multiple evaporation and condensation of components are achieved through multiple stages, suitable for separating components with similar boiling points. Typical equipment: tower fractionation equipment.
- Vacuum distillation equipment: Distillation is performed under low pressure to reduce the boiling point of the liquid and avoid high-temperature decomposition. Suitable for the separation of heat-sensitive substances or high-boiling point substances. Typical equipment: vacuum distillation device.
- Steam distillation equipment: Use steam to directly take away volatile substances, suitable for high-boiling point substances. It can be used for essential oil extraction and aromatic substance separation. Typical equipment: steam distiller.
- Azeotropic distillation equipment: Add a third component to change the azeotropic point and separate mixtures that are difficult to separate directly. Mainly used for the separation of ethanol-water azeotropes.
- Extraction distillation equipment: Improve the separation effect with the help of selective solvents. Mainly used for the separation of difficult-to-separate liquids, such as aromatic hydrocarbons and alkane mixtures.
Classification by structural form
- Pot distillation equipment: Simple structure, generally composed of a distillation pot, a condenser, and a receiver. Suitable for small-scale production and laboratory use.
- Tower distillation equipment: Including tray type, packing type, and spray type structure, used for continuous distillation. Suitable for industrial production, especially distillation.
- Multi-effect distillation equipment: Multiple distillation units are used in series, using multiple cycles of steam to improve energy efficiency. Suitable for seawater desalination and pharmaceutical industries.
- Molecular distillation equipment: Under high vacuum, the liquid is separated by a short distance between the evaporation surface and the condensation surface. Suitable for the separation of high boiling points, vitamins, and fatty acid substances.
Classification by heat transfer method
- Direct heating distillation equipment: Directly heat the material by flame or electric heating. However, it may have a destructive effect on heat-sensitive materials.
- Indirect heating distillation equipment: indirectly heat the material through a jacket or heat exchanger to avoid direct contact with high temperatures. Precise temperature control, suitable for heat-sensitive materials.
Classification by application field
- Chemical distillation equipment: used for separation of petroleum and chemical products, such as fractionation towers.
- Food distillation equipment: used for extracting alcohol, essential oils, etc.
- Pharmaceutical distillation equipment: suitable for separation of pharmaceutical components, commonly used for reduced pressure or molecular distillation.
- Laboratory distillation equipment: small distillation equipment, used for experimental research.
Basic principles of distillation equipment
Evaporation stage
- The mixture is heated to a certain temperature, and the low-boiling point components evaporate first.
- During the heating process, different components will vaporize in sequence according to their boiling points. For example, in a mixture of alcohol and water, the boiling point of alcohol (about 78.5℃) is lower than that of water (100℃), so alcohol will evaporate first.
Fractional distillation stage
- Tower tray: Improve separation efficiency through multi-stage evaporation and condensation.
- Padding: Provide a gas-liquid contact surface to enhance heat and mass transfer.
Condensation stage
- The steam is cooled through the condenser and converted into liquid.
- The low-boiling point components will be collected earlier because they vaporize and condense first.
Collection and product separation
- The condensed liquid is collected in different storage tanks.
- Products are generally distinguished according to the boiling point range and component purity, such as high-purity ethanol, water, etc.
Application areas of distillation equipment
- Food and beverage: Distillation is an important part of the brewing industry. It produces highly pure strong liquor by separating ethanol and impurities in the fermentation liquid.
- Petrochemicals: The fractionation process of petroleum determines the output and quality of gasoline, kerosene, diesel, and other products, and is the core link of the oil refining industry.
- Pharmaceuticals and chemical synthesis: In the pharmaceutical industry, distillation equipment is used to purify active ingredients and produce high-quality pharmaceutical raw materials; in the field of chemical synthesis, it is used to separate intermediates or by-products.
- Environmental protection: In the field of wastewater treatment, distillation technology is used to recover organic solvents or extract reusable substances to reduce pollution.
How to clean the distillation equipment?
- Turn off the power and cool the equipment: First, make sure that the distillation equipment is powered off and completely cooled to a safe temperature.
- Remove removable parts: Remove the removable parts in the equipment, such as condensers, joints, valves, etc., for easy cleaning.
- Clean internal residues: Use warm water and an appropriate amount of neutral detergent to clean the inner wall of the distiller to remove residual impurities.
- If there are deposits that are difficult to remove, you can use a soft brush to brush gently to avoid scratching the equipment.
- Rinse thoroughly: Rinse all parts thoroughly with clean water to ensure that the detergent is completely removed.
- Disinfection: If necessary, you can use a food-grade disinfectant to disinfect the equipment to ensure hygiene.
- Drying: Dry all parts of the equipment thoroughly with a clean cloth or air to avoid water stains.
- Reassembly: After drying, assemble all parts back into the equipment to ensure a good seal.
- Check the function of the equipment: After cleaning, perform a functional check of the equipment to ensure that there are no leaks or other problems.
FAQ
What is the “reflux” phenomenon?
Reflux refers to the process in which a portion of the evaporated liquid liquefies in the condenser and then flows back into the distiller during the distillation process. This phenomenon is more common in the fractional distillation process, and multiple refluxes help to better separate the components in the mixture.
What are the common types of distillation?
- Simple distillation: Applicable to mixtures with large differences in boiling points.
- Fractional distillation: Applicable to mixtures with small differences in boiling points, and the separation effect is improved by multiple evaporation and condensation.
- Steam distillation: Used to separate water and other non-volatile liquids.
- Vacuum distillation: Distillation is carried out under reduced pressure, suitable for heat-sensitive substances.
What are the commonly used materials for distillation equipment?
Distillation equipment usually uses high-temperature and corrosion-resistant materials such as glass, stainless steel, copper, or aluminum alloy. Glass is widely used in laboratory distillation equipment due to its chemical resistance and transparency.
What is the relationship between distillation and purification?
Distillation is a common purification method, especially suitable for separating liquid components with different boiling points by heating. Distillation can effectively remove impurities and purify substances. It is often used in solvent recovery and chemical purification in laboratories or industrial production.
Get a turnkey solution for brewery equipment
If you plan to open or expand the brewery, you can contact Micet Craft directly. Our engineers will design and manufacture brewery equipment according to your brewing process. Of course, we will also provide you with a complete turnkey solution. Also, if you plan to expand the brewery, we will provide you with customized solutions.