IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0898687
(2004-07-23)
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등록번호 |
US-7305850
(2007-12-11)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Tonkovich,Anna Lee
- Simmons,Wayne W.
- Silva,Laura J.
- Qiu,Dongming
- Perry,Steven T.
- Yuschak,Thomas
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출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Renner, Otto, Boisselle & Sklar, LLP
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
44 인용 특허 :
36 |
초록
▼
The disclosed invention relates to a process for distilling a fluid mixture in a microchannel distillation unit, the microchannel distillation unit comprising a plurality of microchannel distillation sections, the fluid mixture comprising a more volatile component and a less volatile component, the
The disclosed invention relates to a process for distilling a fluid mixture in a microchannel distillation unit, the microchannel distillation unit comprising a plurality of microchannel distillation sections, the fluid mixture comprising a more volatile component and a less volatile component, the process comprising: flowing a vapor phase of the fluid mixture in a first microchannel distillation section in contact with a liquid phase of the fluid mixture, part of the more volatile component transferring from the liquid phase to the vapor phase to form a more volatile component rich vapor phase, part of the less volatile component transferring from the vapor phase to the liquid phase to form a less volatile component rich liquid phase; separating the more volatile component rich vapor phase from the less volatile component rich liquid phase; flowing the less volatile component rich liquid phase to another microchannel distillation section upstream from the first microchannel distillation section; and flowing the more volatile rich vapor phase to another microchannel distillation section downstream from the first microchannel distillation section.
대표청구항
▼
The invention claimed is: 1. A process for distilling a fluid mixture in a microchannel distillation unit, the microchannel distillation unit comprising a plurality of microchannel distillation sections, each microchannel distillation section comprising a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet and a vapo
The invention claimed is: 1. A process for distilling a fluid mixture in a microchannel distillation unit, the microchannel distillation unit comprising a plurality of microchannel distillation sections, each microchannel distillation section comprising a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet and a vapor inlet and a vapor outlet, the fluid mixture comprising a more volatile component and a less volatile component, the process comprising: flowing a vapor phase of the fluid mixture in the first microchannel distillation section in contact with a liquid phase of the fluid mixture, part of the more volatile component transferring from the liquid phase to the vapor phase to form a more volatile component rich vapor phase, part of the less volatile component transferring from the vapor phase to the liquid phase to form a less volatile component rich liquid phase; separating the more volatile component rich vapor phase from the less volatile component rich liquid phase; flowing the less volatile component rich liquid phase to the another microchannel distillation section upstream from the first microchannel distillation section; and flowing the more volatile rich vapor phase to the another microchannel distillation section downstream from the first microchannel distillation section. 2. The process of claim 1 wherein each microchannel distillation section comprises at least one process microchannel and at least one adjacent liquid channel, the liquid channel comprising a wicking region. 3. The process of claim 1 wherein the microchannel distillation unit further comprises a heat exchanger. 4. A process for distilling a fluid mixture in a microchannel distillation unit, the microchannel distillation unit comprising a plurality of microchannel distillation sections, the fluid mixture comprising a more volatile component and a less volatile component, the process comprising: flowing a vapor phase of the fluid mixture in a first microchannel distillation section in contact with a liquid phase of the fluid mixture, part of the more volatile component transferring from the liquid phase to the vapor phase to form a more volatile component rich vapor phase, part of the less volatile component transferring from the vapor phase to the liquid phase to form a less volatile component rich liquid phase; separating the more volatile component rich vapor phase from the less volatile component rich liquid phase; flowing the less volatile component rich liquid phase to another microchannel distillation section upstream from the first microchannel distillation section; and flowing the more volatile rich vapor phase to another microchannel distillation section downstream from the first microchannel distillation section; wherein each microchannel distillation section comprises at least one process microchannel and at least one adjacent liquid channel, the liquid channel comprising a wicking region; and wherein for each microchannel distillation section the process microchannel comprises a liquid inlet for permitting liquid to flow into the process microchannel, a liquid outlet for permitting liquid to flow out of the process microchannel, an interior wall extending from the liquid inlet to the liquid outlet; and a capture structure, the liquid outlet being downstream from the liquid inlet. 5. The process of claim 4 wherein the liquid phase flows along the surface of the interior wall, the liquid phase being in the form of a thin film. 6. The process of claim 2 wherein part of the wicking region forms a wall of the process microchannel. 7. The process of claim 6 wherein the liquid phase flows in the wicking region and the vapor phase flows in the process microchannel and contacts at least part of the liquid phase in the wicking region. 8. The process of claim 1 wherein the more volatile component rich vapor phase is a first section more volatile component rich vapor phase formed in the first microchannel distillation section of the process microchannel, the process microchannel comprising the first microchannel distillation section and downstream second and third microchannel distillation sections, the first section more volatile component rich vapor phase flowing from the first microchannel distillation section into the downstream second microchannel distillation section, a downstream third section less volatile component rich liquid phase formed in the downstream third microchannel distillation section flowing from the downstream third microchannel distillation section into the downstream second microchannel distillation section and contacting the first section more volatile component rich vapor phase in the downstream second microchannel distillation section, the downstream third section less volatile component rich liquid phase flowing in a thin film along an interior wall in the downstream second microchannel distillation section, part of the more volatile component transferring from the downstream third section less volatile component rich liquid phase to the first section more volatile component rich vapor phase to form a downstream second section more volatile component rich vapor phase, part of the less volatile component transferring from the first section more volatile component rich vapor phase to the downstream third section less volatile component rich liquid phase to form a downstream second section less volatile component rich liquid phase; and separating the downstream second section more volatile component rich vapor phase from the downstream second section less volatile component rich liquid phase. 9. The process of claim 1 wherein the less volatile component rich liquid phase is a first section less volatile component rich liquid phase formed in the first microchannel distillation section of the process microchannel, the process microchannel comprising the first microchannel distillation section and upstream second and third microchannel distillation sections, the first section less volatile component rich liquid phase flowing from the first microchannel distillation section into the upstream second microchannel distillation section, an upstream third section more volatile component rich vapor phase formed in the upstream third microchannel distillation section flowing from the upstream third microchannel distillation section into the upstream second microchannel distillation section and contacting the first section less volatile component rich liquid phase in the upstream second microchannel distillation section, the first section less volatile component rich liquid phase flowing in a thin film along an interior wall in the upstream second microchannel distillation section, part of the more volatile component transferring from first section less volatile component rich liquid phase to the upstream third section more volatile component rich vapor phase to form an upstream second section more volatile component rich vapor phase, part of the less volatile component transferring from the upstream third section more volatile component rich vapor phase to the first section less volatile component rich liquid phase to form an upstream second section less volatile component rich liquid phase; and separating the upstream second section more volatile component rich vapor phase from the upstream second section less volatile component rich liquid phase. 10. The process of claim 2 wherein each microchannel distillation section further comprises a heat exchange channel adjacent to the liquid channel, the process microchannel, or both the liquid channel and the process microchannel. 11. A process for distilling a fluid mixture in a microchannel distillation unit, the microchannel distillation unit comprising a plurality of microchannel distillation sections, the fluid mixture comprising a more volatile component and a less volatile component, the process comprising: flowing a vapor phase of the fluid mixture in a first microchannel distillation section in contact with a liquid phase of the fluid mixture, part of the more volatile component transferring from the liquid phase to the vapor phase to form a more volatile component rich vapor phase, part of the less volatile component transferring from the vapor phase to the liquid phase to form a less volatile component rich liquid phase; separating the more volatile component rich vapor phase from the less volatile component rich liquid phase; flowing the less volatile component rich liquid phase to another microchannel distillation section upstream from the first microchannel distillation section; and flowing the more volatile rich vapor phase to another microchannel distillation section downstream from the first microchannel distillation section; wherein each microchannel distillation section comprises a liquid channel, a first process microchannel, a second process microchannel, a first vapor channel, a second vapor channel, a third vapor channel, a vapor inlet and a vapor outlet, the first process microchannel and the second process microchannel being adjacent to the liquid channel, the liquid channel comprising a wicking region, part of the wicking region forming a wall of the first process microchannel and a wall of the second process microchannel, the liquid phase flowing through the wicking region, the vapor phase flowing through the vapor inlet into the first vapor channel, through the first vapor channel into the first process microchannel, through the first process microchannel in contact with at least part of the liquid phase in the wicking region, from the first process microchannel into the second vapor channel, through the second vapor channel into the second process microchannel, through the second process microchannel in contact with at least part of the liquid phase in the wicking region, from the second process microchannel into the third vapor channel, and through the third vapor channel into the vapor outlet. 12. The process of claim 2 wherein the process microchannel has an internal dimension of width or height of up to about 10 mm. 13. The process of claim 2 wherein the process microchannel has an internal dimension of width or height of up to about 2 mm. 14. The process of claim 2 wherein the process microchannel is made of a material comprising: steel; monel; inconel; aluminum; titanium; nickel; copper; brass; an alloy of any of the foregoing metals; a polymer; ceramics; glass; a composite comprising a polymer and fiberglass; quartz; silicon; or a combination of two or more thereof. 15. The process of claim 2 wherein the liquid channel comprises a microchannel. 16. The process of claim 2 wherein the liquid channel has an internal dimension of width or height of up to about 10 mm. 17. The process of claim 2 wherein the liquid channel has an internal dimension of width or height of up to about 2 mm. 18. The process of claim 2 wherein the liquid channel is made of a material comprising: steel; monel; inconel; aluminum; titanium; nickel; copper; brass; an alloy of any of the foregoing metals; a polymer; ceramics; glass; a composite comprising polymer and fiberglass; quartz; silicon; silicon carbide; boron carbide; metal carbide; silicon nitride; boron nitride; metal nitride; or a combination of two or more thereof. 19. The process of claim 3 wherein the heat exchanger comprises at least one heat exchange channel having an internal dimension of width or height of up to about 10 mm. 20. The process of claim 3 wherein the heat exchanger comprises at least one heat exchange channel having an internal dimension of width or height of up to about 2 mm. 21. The process of claim 3 wherein the heat exchanger comprises at least one heat exchange channel made of a material comprising: steel; monel; inconel; aluminum; titanium; nickel; copper; brass; an alloy of any of the foregoing metals; a polymer; ceramics; glass; a composite comprising polymer and fiberglass; quartz; silicon; or a combination of two or more thereof. 22. The process of claim 4 wherein the capture structure comprises wire mesh. 23. The process of claim 4 wherein the capture structure comprises one or more of inverted cones, liquid-nonwetting porous structure, liquid-wetting porous structure, perforated foil, and fibers. 24. The process of claim 2 wherein the wicking region comprises a wick. 25. The process of claim 24 wherein the wick comprises one or more of sintered metal, metal screen, metal foam, and polymer fibers. 26. The process of claim 2 wherein the wicking region comprises a wicking surface. 27. The process of claim 26 wherein the wicking surface comprises grooves in one or more interior walls of the liquid channel. 28. A process for distilling a fluid mixture in a microchannel distillation unit, the microchannel distillation unit comprising a plurality of microchannel distillation sections, the fluid mixture comprising a more volatile component and a less volatile component, the process comprising: flowing a vapor phase of the fluid mixture in a first microchannel distillation section in contact with a liquid phase of the fluid mixture, part of the more volatile component transferring from the liquid phase to the vapor phase to form a more volatile component rich vapor phase, part of the less volatile component transferring from the vapor phase to the liquid phase to form a less volatile component rich liquid phase; separating the more volatile component rich vapor phase from the less volatile component rich liquid phase; flowing the less volatile component rich liquid phase to another microchannel distillation section upstream from the first microchannel distillation section; and flowing the more volatile rich vapor phase to another microchannel distillation section downstream from the first microchannel distillation section; wherein each microchannel distillation section comprises at least one process microchannel and at least one adjacent liquid channel, the liquid channel comprising a wicking region, the wicking region comprising a wicking surface, the wicking surface comprising grooves in one or more interior walls of the liquid channel; and wherein the grooves are aligned parallel to the direction of flow of the vapor phase in the process microchannel. 29. A process for distilling a fluid mixture in a microchannel distillation unit, the microchannel distillation unit comprising a plurality of microchannel distillation sections, the fluid mixture comprising a more volatile component and a less volatile component, the process comprising: flowing a vapor phase of the fluid mixture in a first microchannel distillation section in contact with a liquid phase of the fluid mixture, part of the more volatile component transferring from the liquid phase to the vapor phase to form a more volatile component rich vapor phase, part of the less volatile component transferring from the vapor phase to the liquid phase to form a less volatile component rich liquid phase; separating the more volatile component rich vapor phase from the less volatile component rich liquid phase; flowing the less volatile component rich liquid phase to another microchannel distillation section upstream from the first microchannel distillation section; and flowing the more volatile rich vapor phase to another microchannel distillation section downstream from the first microchannel distillation section; wherein each microchannel distillation section comprises at least one process microchannel and at least one adjacent liquid channel, the liquid channel comprising a wicking region, the wicking region comprising a wicking surface, the wicking surface comprising grooves in one or more interior walls of the liquid channel; and wherein the grooves are aligned tangentially to the direction of flow of the vapor phase in the process microchannel. 30. The process of claim 27 wherein the grooves provide a flow path for the liquid phase to the another microchannel distillation section. 31. The process of claim 1 wherein the flow fo the liquid phase is driven by gravitational forces. 32. The process of claim 1 wherein the flow of the liquid phase is driven by gravitational force and/or a pressure differential. 33. The process of claim 1 wherein the fluid mixture comprises ethane and ethylene. 34. The process of claim 1 wherein the fluid mixture comprises styrene and ethylbenzene. 35. The process of claim 1 wherein the fluid mixture comprises oxygen and nitrogen. 36. The process of claim 1 wherein the fluid mixture comprises cycohexane and cyclohexanol or cyclohexanone. 37. The process of claim 1 wherein the fluid mixture comprises isobutane. 38. The process of claim 1 wherein the fluid mixture comprises naptha. 39. The process of claim 3 wherein the heat exchanger comprises at least one heat exchange channel and an endothermic or exothermic process is conducted in the heat exchange channel. 40. The process of claim 39 wherein the exothermic process comprises a water-gas shift reaction, a methanol synthesis reaction or an ammonia synthesis reaction. 41. The process of claim 39 wherein the endothermic reaction comprises a steam reforming process or dehydrogenation process. 42. The process of claim 3 wherein the heat exchanger comprises at least one heat exchange channel, and a heat exchange fluid flows through the heat exchange channel. 43. The process of claim 42 wherein the heat exchange fluid undergoes a phase change in the heat exchange channel. 44. The process of claim 42 wherein the heat exchange fluid undergoes partial boiling in the heat exchange channel. 45. The process of claim 1 wherein the microchannel distillation sections have adjacent heat exchange channel zones, a heat exchange fluid flows in the heat exchange channel zones, the heat exchange fluid undergoing partial boiling in the heat exchange channel zones, the pressure of the heat exchange fluid in each of the heat exchange channel zones being different. 46. The process of claim 1 wherein the microchannel distillation sections have adjacent heat exchange channel zones, a heat exchange fluid flows in the heat exchange channel zones, the heat exchange fluid undergoing partial boiling in the heat exchange channel zones, the temperature in each microchannel distillation section being different. 47. The process of claim 10 wherein the vapor phase flows through the process microchannel in a first direction, and a heat exchange fluid flows through the heat exchange channel in a second direction, the second direction being co-current, cross-current or counter-current relative to the first direction. 48. The process of claim 10 wherein a heat exchange fluid flows through the heat exchange channel, the heat exchange fluid comprising one or more of air, steam, liquid water, carbon dioxide, gaseous nitrogen, liquid nitrogen, a gaseous hydrocarbon or a liquid hydrocarbon. 49. The process of claim 3 wherein the heat exchanger comprises an electric heating element, resistance heater and/or non-fluid cooling element. 50. The process of claim 10 wherein the gauge pressure within the microchannel distillation sections is in the range from about 30 to about 100 atmospheres, and a heat exchange fluid flows in the heat exchange channel, the temperature of the heat exchange fluid being in the range from about-30 to about 200째 C. 51. A process for distilling a fluid mixture in a microchannel distillation unit, the microchannel distillation unit comprising a process microchannel and an adjacent liquid channel, the fluid mixture comprising a more volatile component and a less volatile component, the process comprising: flowing a vapor phase of the fluid mixture in one direction through the process microchannel, the process microchannel comprising a plurality of microchannel distillation sections, each microchannel distillation section comprising an internal space for permitting vapor flow, an interior wall, a capture structure, a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, the capture structure and the liquid outlet being downstream from the liquid inlet, the interior wall extending from the liquid inlet to the liquid outlet, the capture structure being suitable for capturing liquid and permitting vapor to flow through it, the liquid outlet being suitable for permitting the flow of the liquid from the capture structure through the liquid outlet into the liquid channel, the liquid inlet being suitable for permitting liquid to flow from the liquid channel into the process microchannel; flowing a liquid phase of the fluid mixture through the liquid channel in a direction opposite to the direction of flow of the vapor phase in the process microchannel, the liquid channel including a wicking region, the liquid phase flowing through the wicking region; the liquid phase flowing from the liquid channel through the liquid inlet in a first microchannel distillation section of the process microchannel and flowing as a thin film along the interior wall to the capture structure within the first microchannel distillation section, the vapor phase flowing through the first microchannel distillation section in contact with the liquid phase flowing along the interior wall, part of the more volatile component transferring from the liquid phase to the vapor phase to form a more volatile component rich vapor phase, part of the less volatile component transferring from the vapor phase to the liquid phase to form a less volatile component rich liquid phase, the less volatile component rich liquid phase contacting the capture structure and flowing from the capture structure through the liquid outlet of the first microchannel distillation section into the liquid channel, the more volatile component rich vapor phase flowing through the capture structure of the first microchannel distillation section. 52. The process of claim 51 wherein at least part of the more volatile component rich vapor phase is condensed and withdrawn from the microchannel distillation unit. 53. The process of claim 52 wherein the more volatile component rich vapor phase is condensed in a microchannel condenser. 54. The process of claim 51 wherein at least part of the more volatile component rich vapor phase is condensed and flows into the liquid channel. 55. The process of claim 54 wherein the more volatile component rich vapor phase is condensed in a microchannel condenser. 56. The process of claim 51 wherein at least part of the less volatile component rich liquid phase is withdrawn from the microchannel distillation unit. 57. The process of claim 51 wherein at least part of the less volatile component rich liquid phase is vaporized and flows into the process microchannel. 58. The process of claim 57 wherein the less volatile component rich liquid phase is vaporized in a microchannel reboiler. 59. The process of claim 1 wherein the fluid mixture comprises natural gas, the fluid mixture flows through a series of microchannel distillation units to remove water, butanes and/or butylenes, propanes and/or propylene, and ethane and/or ethylene, from the fluid mixture. 60. A process for separating ethylene from a fluid mixture comprising ethylene and ethane in a distillation unit comprising a plurality of microchannel distillation sections, the process comprising: contacting a vapor phase of the fluid mixture with a liquid phase of the fluid mixture in each of the microchannel distillation sections, progressively enriching the vapor phase with ethylene to form an ethylene enriched vapor phase, and separating the ethylene enriched vapor phase from the distillation unit, the distillation unit having a height of up to about 20 meters, the separated ethylene enriched vapor phase having an ethylene content of at least about 95% by volume. 61. The process of claim 60 wherein the distillation unit has a height of up to about 3 meters. 62. The process of claim 60 wherein the ethylene enriched vapor phase has an ethylene content of at least about 99% by volume. 63. A process for distilling a fluid mixture in a distillation apparatus comprising a plurality of microchannel distillation units, each microchannel distillation unit comprising a plurality of microchannel distillation sections, each microchannel distillation section comprising a liquid inlet and liquid outlet and a vapor inlet and vapor outlet, the fluid mixture comprising a more volatile component and a less volatile component, the process comprising: flowing a vapor phase of the fluid mixture in the first microchannel distillation section of at least one microchannel distillation unit in contact with a liquid phase of the fluid mixture, part of the more volatile component transferring from the liquid phase to the vapor phase to form a more volatile component rich vapor phase, part of the less volatile component transferring from the vapor phase to the liquid phase to form a less volatile component rich liquid phase; separating the more volatile component rich vapor phase from the less volatile component rich liquid phase; flowing the less volatile component rich liquid phase to the another microchannel distillation section in the microchannel distillation unit upstream from the first microchannel distillation section; and flowing the more volatile rich vapor phase to the another microchannel distillation section in the microchannel distillation unit downstream from the first microchannel distillation section. 64. The process of claim 63 wherein the distillation process is conducted in all of the microchannel distillation units in the distillation apparatus. 65. A process for distilling a fluid mixture in a distillation apparatus comprising a plurality of microchannel distillation units, each microchannel distillation unit comprising a plurality of microchannel distillation sections, the fluid mixture comprising a more volatile component and a less volatile component, the process comprising: flowing a vapor phase of the fluid mixture in a first microchannel distillation section of at least one microchannel distillation unit in contact with a liquid phase of the fluid mixture, part of the more volatile component transferring from the liquid phase to the vapor phase to form a more volatile component rich vapor phase, part of the less volatile component transferring from the vapor phase to the liquid phase to form a less volatile component rich liquid phase; separating the more volatile component rich vapor phase from the less volatile component rich liquid phase; flowing the less volatile component rich liquid phase to another microchannel distillation section in the microchannel distillation unit upstream from the first microchannel distillation section; flowing the more volatile rich vapor phase to another microchannel distillation section in the microchannel distillation unit downstream from the first microchannel distillation section; and wherein the distillation process is conducted in some but not all of the microchannel distillation units in the distillation apparatus. 66. A microchannel distillation unit, comprising: a process microchannel and a liquid channel; the liquid channel being adjacent to the process microchannel, the liquid channel comprising a wicking region; the process microchannel comprising a plurality of microchannel distillation sections connected in series, each microchannel distillation section comprising an internal space for permitting vapor flow, an interior wall for permitting liquid to flow as a thin film along the interior wall, a capture structure for capturing liquid and permitting vapor to flow through it, a liquid outlet for permitting liquid to flow from the capture structure into the liquid channel, and a liquid inlet for permitting liquid to flow from the liquid channel into the process microchannel. 67. The microchannel distillation unit of claim 66 wherein the microchannel distillation unit further comprises a microchannel condenser for condensing vapor. 68. The microchannel distillation unit of claim 66 wherein the microchannel distillation unit further comprises a microchannel reboiler for vaporizing liquid. 69. A microchannel distillation unit, comprising: a process microchannel and a liquid channel; the liquid channel being adjacent to the process microchannel, the liquid channel comprising a wicking region; the process microchannel comprising a plurality of microchannel distillation sections, each microchannel distillation section comprising an internal space for permitting vapor flow, an interior wall for permitting liquid to flow as a thin film along the interior wall, a capture structure for capturing liquid and permitting vapor to flow through it, a liquid outlet for permitting liquid to flow from the capture structure into the liquid channel, and a liquid inlet for permitting liquid to flow from the liquid channel into the process microchannel; and wherein the microchannel distillation unit further comprises a heat exchange channel adjacent to the liquid channel, the process microchannel, or both the liquid channel and the process microchannel. 70. The microchannel distillation unit of claim 66 wherein the process microchannel has an internal dimension of width or height of up to about 10 mm. 71. The microchannel distillation unit of claim 66 wherein the process microchannel has an internal dimension of width or height of up to about 2 mm. 72. The microchannel distillation unit of claim 66 wherein the process microchannel is made of a material comprising: steel; monel; inconel; aluminum; titanium; nickel; copper; brass; an alloy of any of the foregoing metals; a polymer; ceramics; glass; a composite comprising a polymer and fiberglass; quartz; silicon; silicon carbide; boron carbide; metal carbide; silicon nitride; boron nitride; metal nitride; or a combination of two or more thereof. 73. The microchannel distillation unit of claim 66 wherein the liquid channel comprises a microchannel. 74. The microchannel distillation unit of claim 66 wherein the liquid channel has an internal dimension of width or height of up to about 10 mm. 75. The microchannel distillation unit of claim 66 wherein the liquid channel has an internal dimension of width or height of up to about 2 mm. 76. The microchannel distillation unit of claim 66 wherein the liquid channel is made of a material comprising: steel; monel; inconel; aluminum; titanium; nickel; copper; brass; an alloy of any of the foregoing metals; a polymer; ceramics; glass; a composite comprising polymer and fiberglass; quartz; silicon; silicon carbide; boron carbide; metal carbide; silicon nitride; boron nitride; metal nitride; or a combination of two or more thereof. 77. The microchannel distillation unit of claim 69 wherein the heat exchange channel has an internal dimension of width or height of up to about 10 mm. 78. The microchannel distillation unit of claim 69 wherein the heat exchange channel has an internal dimension of width or height of up to about 2 mm. 79. The microchannel distillation unit of claim 69 wherein the heat exchange channel is made of a material comprising: steel; monel; inconel; aluminum; titanium; nickel; copper; brass; an alloy of any of the foregoing metals; a polymer; ceramics; glass; a composite comprising polymer and fiberglass; quartz; silicon; silicon carbide; boron carbide; metal carbide; silicon nitride; boron nitride; metal nitride; or a combination of two or more thereof. 80. The microchannel distillation unit of claim 66 wherein the capture structure comprises wire mesh. 81. The microchannel distillation unit of claim 66 wherein the capture structure comprises one or more of inverted cones, liquid-nonwetting porous structure, liquid-wetting porous structure, perforated foil, and fibers. 82. The microchannel distillation unit of claim 66 wherein the capture structure comprises one or more of sintered metal, metal screen, metal foam, and polymer fibers. 83. The microchannel distillation unit of claim 66 wherein the wicking region comprises a wick. 84. The microchannel distillation unit of claim 66 wherein the wicking region comprises a wicking surface. 85. The microchannel distillation unit of claim 66 wherein the microchannel distillation unit is formed using sheets of material with portions removed that allow flow passage. 86. The microchannel distillation unit of claim 66 wherein the microchannel distillation unit is formed using a stack of sheets to form an integrated microchannel distillation unit. 87. The microchannel distillation unit of claim 66 wherein the microchannel distillation unit is assembled using a combination of sheets and partial sheets. 88. A microchannel distillation unit, comprising: a liquid channel, a first process microchannel, a second process microchannel, a first vapor channel, a second vapor channel, a third vapor channel, a vapor inlet and a vapor outlet, the first process microchannel and the second process microchannel being adjacent to the liquid channel, the liquid channel comprising a wicking region, part of the wicking region forming a wall of the first process microchannel and a wall of the second process microchannel, the first vapor channel being adjacent to the first process microchannel, the third vapor channel being adjacent to the second process microchannel, the second vapor channel being adjacent to the first and third vapor channels, the first and third vapor channels being positioned between the first and second process microchannels and the second vapor channel. 89. A process for distilling a fluid mixture in a microchannel distillation unit, the microchannel distillation unit comprising a plurality of microchannel distillation sections, the fluid mixture comprising a more volatile component and a less volatile component, the process comprising: flowing a vapor phase of the fluid mixture in a first microchannel distillation section in contact with a liquid phase of the fluid mixture, the first microchannel distillation section comprising at least one process microchannel and at least one liquid channel, the vapor phase and part of the liquid phase flowing in the process microchannel in a first direction, part of the liquid phase flowing in the liquid channel in a second direction, the first direction being counter-current to the second direction, part of the more volatile component transferring from the liquid phase to the vapor phase to form a more volatile component rich vapor phase, part of the less volatile component transferring from the vapor phase to the liquid phase to form a less volatile component rich liquid phase; separating the more volatile component rich vapor phase from the less volatile component rich liquid phase; flowing the less volatile component rich liquid phase to another microchannel distillation section upstream from the first microchannel distillation section; and flowing the more volatile rich vapor phase to another microchannel distillation section downstream from the first microchannel distillation section. 90. A process for distilling a fluid mixture in a microchannel distillation unit, the microchannel distillation unit comprising a plurality of microchannel distillation sections, the fluid mixture comprising a more volatile component and a less volatile component, the process comprising: flowing a vapor phase of the fluid mixture in a first microchannel distillation section in contact with a liquid phase of the fluid mixture, part of the more volatile component transferring from the liquid phase to the vapor phase to form a more volatile component rich vapor phase, part of the less volatile component transferring from the vapor phase to the liquid phase to form a less volatile component rich liquid phase; separating the more volatile component rich vapor phase from the less volatile component rich liquid phase; flowing the less volatile component rich liquid phase to another microchannel distillation section upstream from the first microchannel distillation section; and flowing the more volatile rich vapor phase to another microchannel distillation section downstream from the first microchannel distillation section; wherein for each microchannel distillation section the process microchannel comprises a liquid inlet for permitting liquid to flow into the process microchannel, a liquid outlet for permitting liquid to flow out of the process microchannel, an interior wall extending from the liquid entrance to the liquid exit, and a capture structure, the liquid outlet being downstream from the liquid inlet; and wherein the microchannel distillation unit further comprises a first supplemental vapor channel and a second supplemental vapor channel, each microchannel distillation section further comprising a supplemental vapor inlet and a supplemental vapor outlet, part of the vapor phase flowing from the first supplemental vapor channel through the supplemental vapor inlet into the microchannel distillation section, through the microchannel distillation section in contact with the liquid phase, and through the supplemental vapor outlet to the second supplemental vapor channel. 91. A microchannel distillation unit, comprising: a process microchannel and a liquid channel; the liquid channel being adjacent to the process microchannel, the liquid channel comprising a wicking region; the process microchannel comprising a plurality of microchannel distillation sections, each microchannel distillation section comprising an internal space for permitting vapor flow, an interior wall for permitting liquid to flow as a thin film along the interior wall, a capture structure for capturing liquid and permitting vapor to flow through it, a liquid outlet for permitting liquid to flow from the capture structure into the liquid channel, and a liquid inlet for permitting liquid to flow from the liquid channel into the process microchannel; wherein the microchannel distillation unit further comprises a first supplemental vapor channel and a second supplemental vapor channel, and each microchannel distillation section further comprises a supplemental vapor inlet and a supplemental vapor outlet, the first supplemental vapor channel and the supplemental vapor inlet being suitable for permitting vapor to flow from the first supplemental vapor channel into the microchannel distillation section, the second supplemental vapor channel and the supplemental vapor outlet being suitable for permitting vapor to flow from the microchannel distillation section to second supplemental vapor channel.
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