ISSN Online: 2377-424X
ISBN Print: 978-1-56700-474-8
ISBN Online: 978-1-56700-473-1
International Heat Transfer Conference 16
TRANSPORT PROCESSES AND SEPARATION IN ZERO-GRAVITY DISTILLATION
Abstract
Zero-gravity distillation is a micro distillation process, in which the liquid flow is driven by capillary forces, similar to a heat pipe. In this study, the separation of ethanol-methanol mixtures in a zero-gravity distillation apparatus is investigated. Heat fluxes, temperature profiles and the fluid interface evolution are evaluated. The results show larger temperature differences between condenser and evaporator for a fluid mixture than for the pure fluids. For the investigated heat fluxes, the curvature change is dominated by gravitational forces. The curvature distribution is in good agreement with a numerical model. The results show that the process can be successfully used to separate an ethanol-methanol mixture despite the narrow vapour-liquid equilibrium of this fluid system. Under the conditions studied in this work, the separation efficiency of the process does not significantly depend on the heat flux.