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In depth analysis of the operating principle of alcohol distillation tower
Date: 2025-07-11Read: 22
Alcohol distillation tower usually consists of the following parts:
1. Tower kettle (reboiler): located at the bottom of the tower, used for heating liquid mixtures. By providing heat through steam or electric heating elements, the liquid inside the tower boils and produces rising steam.
2. Tower body (distillation section+distillation section):
Distillation section: the area between the top of the tower and the feed inlet. During the rising process, steam comes into countercurrent contact with the descending condensate (reflux liquid) for mass and heat transfer, further concentrating alcohol.
Distillation section: the area between the feed inlet and the tower kettle. When the liquid flows downwards and comes into contact with rising steam, it evaporates some of the alcohol and returns to the tower kettle, while the remaining liquid (distillate) is gradually purified.
3. Tower top condenser: Condenses the vapor at the top of the tower into liquid, with some returning as reflux and the rest being output as product (high-purity alcohol).
The key steps in the operation of an alcohol distillation tower are:
(1) Feeding and preheating
The raw materials (fermented mash, a mixture of alcohol and water) are added from the feed inlet in the middle of the tower.
The tower kettle is continuously heated, causing the liquid to boil and generate steam, which rises into the distillation section.
(2) Gas liquid mass transfer in distillation section
Steam rising: Steam rich in alcohol comes into countercurrent contact with the descending condensate (reflux) in the distillation section.
Mass transfer process: Alcohol in the gas phase diffuses into the liquid phase, and water in the liquid phase diffuses into the gas phase, achieving a gradual increase in alcohol concentration.
Reflux effect: Part of the condensate produced by the top condenser returns to the top of the tower (reflux), maintaining mass transfer balance in the distillation section while reducing alcohol loss.
(3) Purification of liquid in the distillation section
Liquid descent: Unvaporized liquid (containing more water) flows downward into the distillation section and comes into contact with rising steam.
Secondary evaporation: The alcohol in the steam continues to evaporate, and the alcohol concentration in the liquid gradually decreases, ultimately being discharged as waste liquid (distillate) from the tower kettle.
(4) Condensation and product collection
The steam at the top of the tower is cooled into liquid in the condenser, and high-purity alcohol (such as over 95%) is output as the product. Part of the reflux liquid returns to the top of the tower to maintain system stability.
