Thermostating as a basis for perfect distillation

If the temperature within a distillation process fluctuates, so too will the separating performance and thereby the quality of the end product, the so-called ‘yield’. For the R&D and production departments of companies in the chemicals and pharmaceuticals industry as well as the food industry this leads to financial losses. Absolute purity of the distillate and high security of analysis using comparable distillation results are at the very top of their list of priorities.

"In distillation systems with separation columns and wherever high purity of the distillate is required, constant thermostating is often the key to success," explained Dr Jürgen Grebner, Sales and Distribution Manager at Lauda OEM. "There is a widespread misconception that thermostating using a water cooler during distillation is sufficient."

Temperature fluctuations cannot happen with the distillation systems of the Iludest company. Where other manufacturers use just a thermostat, the expert in thermal process technology uses one thermostat for condensation and another for thermostating the product piping. For example, the distillation systems separate odours during the production of cosmetics and fractionate crude oil into individual components, like gasoline and diesel. The requirements of the different distillation systems are very different. But regardless of whether it's a mini-distillation or distillation processes with several cubic meters' holding capacity, they all require precise thermostating suited to the respective application. And this thermostating can mainly be found at Lauda, a company whose professionals are familiar with all aspects of the liquid thermostating process, from water baths all the way to large heating and cooling systems.

"It is frustrating for us when a product meets 90% of our requirements, but does not perfectly suit our application," explained Wolfgang Finger, who, as Project Manager at Iludest, often spends a lot of time trying to find the suitable components for the respective application. Half-hearted solutions do not come into consideration for him. "For this reason, we need partners who have a very wide range of devices, but also the skills and power to adapt them to our requirements," explains the experienced project engineer. "At Lauda we have both."

A few months ago Lauda launched its Variocool circulation chiller product line, which is to be used primarily in labs, covering a temperature range of -20 to 80°C. The device line aroused desires. Variocool would also suit our applications perfectly, thought the persons in charge at Iludest. To all intents and purposes it did, but for the fact that gases in crude oil only start condensing out at -25°C. After just a few phone calls, the problem was solved and a new development project for Lauda was born. And it certainly won't be the last for the two partners either.