CONCENTRATION OF ALCOHOL BY FREEZE-SEPARATION PROCESS

摘要

The process involves the steps of: spraying droplets of an aqueous alcohol input solution through spray-bars into a heat transfer fluid contained within a refrigerated process vessel and allowing the droplets to fall through the heat transfer fluid so that some of the water separates out as ice in the droplets; collecting the droplets as a slurry of ice and concentrated solution at the bottom of the process vessel and subsequently removing the ice to produce a concentrated output solution from the process. The process can be repeated in subsequent process stages up to a limiting concentration of 92% by weight of alcohol in the case of ethanol. The invention includes apparatus in which the process can be performed. Means by which the efficiency of the process may be optimized are also included.