Thermal diffusion in branch columns for improved separation

The remixing effect due to the forced convection currents in a continuous-flow thermal diffusion column can be reduced by employing the device of branch columns, instead of the device of single column, with the same total column lengths. The improvement in separation increases when the flow rate or the total column lengths increases. It is found that the improvement in separation can reach about 50% for the numerical example given.

► Separation theory of thermal diffusion in the device of branch columns has been developed.
► The undesirable remixing effect can be reduced by employing the device of branch columns.
► Separation was compared with that in a single column of same total column lengths.
► Considerable improvement in separation is obtainable in the device of branch columns.