GT-DWC™: Transforming Distillation with Dividing Wall Column Technology

Introduction

Reducing costs and energy use in distillation is a top priority for today’s chemical and refining facilities.

Sulzer’s GT-DWC™ (Dividing Wall Column) technology provides a revolutionary approach by enabling the separation of three or more purified streams within a single, highly efficient tower. This innovation can significantly lower both capital and operational expenses while enhancing process simplicity and plant flexibility.

Key Benefits of Sulzer GT-DWC

• Capital Cost Reduction: Up to 40% lower investment by eliminating the need for multiple columns and associated infrastructure.

• 20–30% Lower Energy Usage: Advanced heat integration reduces overall power and utility requirements.

• Maximized Plant Space: A compact, integrated column design frees up valuable plot space for other operations.

• Superior Product Purity: Achieves sharper heart-cut separations and higher yield for valuable streams like benzene, toluene, and xylenes.

• Simplified Operation: Fewer units mean easier process control, maintenance, and faster startup/shutdown cycles.

  
  

How GT-DWC Works

A vertical wall inside the column divides it into two distinct sections. Multi-component feed enters the pre-fractionation area, where light components separate upward, heavier ones move downward, and a heart-cut is drawn off at peak purity. This one-column solution delivers products that would otherwise require two or more separate columns, maximizing both efficiency and product quality.

At a Glance: GT-DWC Advantages

Feature	Benefit
Fewer Columns	Reduced costs, maintenance, and footprint
Enhanced Purity	Higher product quality with precise separation
Lower Energy Need	Major reduction in utility and reboiler duties
Flexible Design	Easily adapts to new builds, retrofits, and expansions
Reliable Operation	Proven technology with robust, stable performance