The　indirect　sequence　as　a　conventional　process　was　simulated　by　using　Aspen　Plus　software　for　the　separation　of　thionyl　chloride.　And　divided　wall　column　(DWC)　was　proposed　as　an　innovative　process　to　separate　thionyl　chloride.　Furthermore,　the　effect　of　feed　stage,　side　draw　stage,　the　ratio　of　reflux　rate　to　feed　and　distribution　ratio　on　the　product　purity　and　reboiler　duty　was　discussed.　The　optimum　operating　conditions　determined　are　as　follows:　the　feed　stage　is　the　6th　tray　of　pre-fractionator,　the　side　draw　stage　is　the　55th　tray　of　main　column,　the　ratio　of　reflux　rate　to　feed　is　4.45,　the　liquid　distribution　ratio　is　1.60,　and　the　vapor　distribution　ratio　is　1.98.　The　results　show　that　DWC　operated　in　optimal　conditions　can　save　condenser　duty　and　reboiler　duty　by　34.62%　and　34.64%　respectively,　compared　with　the　conventional　indirect　sequence.　Meanwhile,　DWC　can　save　capital　cost　by　17.27%　from　the　calculating　result　of　CAPCOST　software.　So　DWC　for　the　separation　of　thionyl　chloride　is　an　energy　saving　and　efficient　separation　technology.