Hydraulic design, technical challenges and comparison of alternative configurations of a four-product dividing wall column

• Alternative designs for a four-product dividing wall column (DWC) evaluated.
• Issues and technical challenges involved in design of a four-product DWC enlightened.
• A feasible design for a packed four-product DWC with two condensers is proposed.
• Hydraulic design details of a packed four-product DWC with two condensers revealed.
• Active control of multiple vapour splits prerequisite for optimal performance.

This study addresses technical feasibility related aspects of multi-partition wall alternatives for a four-product dividing wall column, which, although highly beneficial, have not been yet attempted in industrial practice. Utilizing an industrially relevant aromatics processing plant case as basis for design and evaluation of cost-effectiveness of alternative configurations, this paper focuses on the hydraulic design and dimensioning of a minimum energy configuration with two overhead product streams. DWC technology related issues are discussed, which can help to distinguish what makes sense and what not when dealing with practical implementation of multi-partition wall configurations.