Advantages of continuous distillation

Distillation, also known as classical distillation, is the process of selective boiling and condensation to separate components or substances from a liquid mixture. Dry distillation is the process of heating solid materials to produce gaseous products. DEGONG is a supplier of distillation equipment, beer brewing equipment and other processing equipment.

Distillation can produce almost complete separation or partial separation, thereby increasing the concentration of specific components in the mixture. In either case, this method takes advantage of changes in the relative volatility of the composition of the mixture. Distillation is a unit operation of almost universal importance in industrial applications, but it is a physical separation process rather than a chemical reaction.

However, there seem to be many misunderstandings and uncertainties regarding the benefits of continuous distillation, how it works, and its price, but it is much simpler than people think. The constant label indicates that the device will never shut down. This also requires a second or third shift to keep the machine running. However, this is to be expected when the winery increases production.

It is very important to choose a suitable distillation method. If you are not familiar with these two distillation procedures, making this decision without sufficient information can be challenging. Generally, there are two types of distillation equipment to choose from, namely batch distillation technology and continuous distillation technology. Since both methods have their own advantages and disadvantages, it is important to understand each method in detail before deciding which method is best for you.

Basically, batch distillation and continuous distillation are different, because batch distillation is carried out in batches, and continuous distillation is carried out continuously.

What is batch distillation?

Batch distillation is a technique for separating components from a mixture in small batches. The distillation procedure is repeated in this method. Performing batch distillation is simple. Due to this method, the separated chemicals are very pure and the process is very flexible.

A single distillation column can handle batch distillation. In this position, multiple components can be divided into separate receiving tanks. When a batch of distillation is completed, the tower can be used quickly and efficiently for a completely new mixture of components. This can also be a fully automated process.

Batch distillation is extremely susceptible to contamination. This is because after one distillation, traces of the previous batch may remain in the system and contaminate the next batch.

What is continuous distillation?

Continuous distillation is a continuous technique used to separate components in a mixture. This process will not be interrupted until the distillation is completed. For separation, this method is as effective as batch distillation, and the volume of the mixture used for separation is not limited.

Compared with batch distillation, continuous distillation is more expensive. Continuous distillation requires more distillation towers than batch distillation; the number of towers required for continuous distillation is N-1, where N is the number of components removed from the distillation.

Red copper continuous distillation tower

Advantages of continuous distillation

Efficiency and quantity are two key advantages of continuous distillation processes. The batch size is determined by the size of the distillation pot when batch distillation is used. This is not a limitation of a continuous process. Only upstream feed storage limits the processing capacity.

In terms of distillation, it has always been related to economies of scale. Stop squandering your potential income and start living a better life: the benefits and advantages of continuous distillation are well worth the investment.

The continuous still can be scaled up or down according to your current needs, and as your winery grows and popularizes, it provides you with greater flexibility. Why should I limit myself to using intermittent kettles that require more man-hours to achieve the same output?

Batch and continuous distillation

Using the distiller configuration can improve the quality of alcohol. Because of the larger surface area for vapor formation, the fractionation tower at the top of the distillation flask significantly increases the alcohol content. The small subsystems in some distillation equipment will contain the boiling liquid mixture in a separate plate.

The steam distillation process is used to make heat sensitive chemicals. Thanks to the steam control valve, the temperature of the steam allows rapid heat transfer without high heat transfer. Some target compounds will evaporate, and the resulting vapor will be cooled and condensed. For people who want to make their own essential oils, steam distillation is a common method, because steam usually contains a layer of water and oil.

DEGONG has many years of experience in providing food-grade and sanitary grades for crystallizers, evaporators, distillers, spray dryers and solvent recovery systems in the environment, food, chemical, beverage, food and pharmaceutical industries. Contact us now to learn more about these processing equipment!