<p>An apparatus for reducing the energy consumption of a distillation column (10) is disclosed. The apparatus draws off an intermediate vapor stream (60) from the rectification section (20) of the distillation column (10), where the vapor stream is compressed and used to reboil a portion of the bottoms stream. The compressed vapor stream transfers energy to the bottoms stream, thereby condensing a portion of the vapor stream while vaporizing the bottoms stream.</p>
