Industrial Plants / Vapour permeation units
Efficient dehydration of vapour
If your process already delivers solvents in the vapour phase, vapour permeation is the most appropriate technology. Our units separate water directly in the vapour.
When is vapour permeation the right solution?
The choice of process primarily depends on the physical state of your feed: while pervaporation processes liquid media, vapour permeation shows its strengths when the mixture is already present as vapour – for example, directly at the top of a distillation column. Working closely with you, we assess your separation setup to integrate the vapour permeation plant seamlessly into your existing infrastructure.
Simple design, maximum reliability
By avoiding re-evaporation or condensation, you save valuable process energy. Our units make use of the existing system pressure to efficiently drive membrane separation process. This makes the process technically simpler, easier to maintain, and reliable for continuous operation in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries.
Seamless integration into your sepation process
We specifically design our vapour permeation units for coupling with distillation or rectification plants. Working closely with you, we find the optimal configuration to purify the vapour stream directly after the column head.
- Modular and scalable: Our units are configurable for virtually any throughput. From compact systems for small process streams to large industrial installations, we scale the membrane area precisely according to your needs.
- Flexible design: We offer both standardised modules and fully customised skids designed to match your specific process pressure and temperature requirements.
- Robust technology: Since the medium remains vapour, the risk of deposits on the membrane is reduced, extending maintenance intervals.
Designed for demanding media
Our vapour permeation plants are based on the same robust membrane technology that has proven in industrial use for over a decade. We validate the chemical compatibility of your specific mixtures in advance. Whether handling alcohols such as ethanol and IPA or complex solvents such as acetonitrile and THF – our plants separate these reliably and long-term from water content.
Applications in the vapour phase
Our vapour permeation systems are ideally suited for the purification of:
- Solvent vapours directly from distillation processes
- Azeotropic mixtures that are already present in vapour form
- Process streams where condensation and re-evaporation are not energetically viable
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to superheat the feed for vapour permeation?
Superheating the vapour is not required, as the membranes are compatible with any liquid phase that may form within the module.
How high is the pressure loss in the plant?
Our systems are designed with optimised flow paths, minimising the pressure loss enable efficient use of the existing system pressure within column.
Does DeltaMem provide the complete control system?
Yes. We deliver turnkey systems including automation or prepare the interfaces for your process control system – according to your individual requirements.
How does the plant respond to fluctuating vapour compositions?
Our vapour permeation plants are designed for dynamic operation. The intelligent control system adjusts the process parameters in real time to accomodate changes in the feed composition. This ensures that the specified final purity is maintained consistently, even under fluctuating conditions at the top of the distillation column.