Heat and Mass Transfer | Distillation Problems

Problem 1. (Flash Distillation) A flash distillation chamber operating at 101.3 kPa is separating
an ethanol-water mixture. The feed mixture is 40 mol% ethanol and F = 100 kmol/h. If V/F =
2/3, what are the liquid and vapor compositions?

Solution:
The figure below illustrates the flash distillation process, as well as the given.

To calculate for the liquid and vapor compositions, we are going to use the material balance
equation for one hour of operating time, and as well as the graph of the VLE of ethanol.

For the overall material balance (OMB): 𝐹 = 𝑉+𝐿

For the component material balance (EtOH): 𝐹𝑥𝐹 = 𝑉𝑦 + 𝐿𝑥; but 𝐿 = 𝐹 − 𝑉 according to
OMB, ∴ 𝐹𝑥𝐹 = 𝑉𝑦 + (𝐹 − 𝑉 )𝑥

We are given the value of F and xF which are 100 kmol and 0.4, respectively. Now what we
need to calculate is V. Given that V/F = 2/3, we can now calculate for the value of V.

𝑉 2 2
= →𝑉= 𝐹
𝐹 3 3
2
𝑉 = (100 𝑘𝑚𝑜𝑙)
3
𝑉 = 66.6667 𝑘𝑚𝑜𝑙
Now that we have all the values needed, we can now substitute it to the component material
balance equation of ethanol.

𝐹𝑥𝐹 = 𝑉𝑦 + (𝐹 − 𝑉 )𝑥
(100 𝑘𝑚𝑜𝑙)(0.40) = (66.6667 𝑘𝑚𝑜𝑙)𝑦 + (100 𝑘𝑚𝑜𝑙 − 66.6667 𝑘𝑚𝑜𝑙)𝑥
40 = 66.6667𝑦 + 33.3333𝑥

We will be using the above equation in order to calculate for the x and y compositions.
Assuming different values of x, we get the values of y.

@ x1 = 0.8,

33.3333(0.8) + 66.6667𝑦 = 40
𝑦1 = 0.2 ∴ 𝑝𝑡 1 (0.8, 0.2)

@ x2 = 0,

33.3333(0) + 66.6667𝑦 = 40
𝑦2 = 0.6 ∴ 𝑝𝑡 1 (0, 0.6)

Plotting these two points on the below graph and connecting them, we get the liquid and vapor
compositions. According to the graph, the liquid and vapor compositions are

𝑥 = 0.19, 𝑦 = 0.5
Problem 2. (Batch/Differential Distillation) A simple batch distillation with a single equilibrium
stage is employed to separate methanol from water. The feed charged to the still pot is 100 moles
with 75 mol% of methanol. We desire a final bottom product concentration of 55 mol% methanol.
Find the amount of the distillate collected, the amount of material remained in the still pot, and the
average concentration of the distillate. The following table are the equilibrium data of the
methanol-water mixture at 1 atm:

Methanol liquid (mol%) Methanol vapor (mol%)

(100x) (100y)
0 0
2.0 13.4
4.0 23.0
6.0 30.4
8.0 36.5
10.0 41.8
15.0 51.7
20.0 57.9
30.0 66.5
40.0 72.9
50.0 77.9
60.0 82.5
70.0 87.0
80.0 91.5
90.0 95.8
95.0 97.9
100.0 100.0

Solution:
The figure below illustrates the batch/differential distillation process, as well as the given.
What we are going to calculate is amount of the distillate collected (V), the amount of material
remained in the still pot (L2), and the average concentration of the distillate (yav). We will be
using the Rayleigh equation in order to calculate for the amount of material left in the still pot.
𝑥1
𝐿1 𝑑𝑥 𝐿1
ln = ∫ → 𝐿2 = 𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝐿2 𝑥2 𝑦 − 𝑥 ∫𝑥 1𝑦−𝑥
𝑒 2

Let us first determine the area under the curve of the plot between x and 1/(y-x) from 0.55 to
𝑥 𝑑𝑥
0.75, that is ∫𝑥 1 𝑦−𝑥. The table of values and the figure for the x vs. 1/(y-x) curve are shown
2
below.

x y 1/(y-x)
0 0 ---
0.02 0.134 8.77193
0.04 0.23 5.263158
0.06 0.304 4.098361
0.08 0.365 3.508772
0.10 0.418 3.144654
0.15 0.517 2.724796
0.20 0.579 2.638522
0.30 0.665 2.739726
0.40 0.729 3.039514
0.50 0.779 3.584229
0.60 0.825 4.444444
0.70 0.87 5.882353
0.80 0.915 8.695652
0.90 0.958 17.24138
0.95 0.979 34.48276
1.0 1.0 ---
 0.75 𝑑𝑥
The area covered by the red lines is the area that we have to calculate, that is ∫0.55 . To
𝑦−𝑥
calculate for the area, we are going to use a numerical integration method which is the
Trapezoidal rule. Based from the calculations using Trapezoidal rule, the area under the curve
is equal to 1.090457516. Substituting this value in the equation, we have

100 𝑚𝑜𝑙
𝐿2 =
𝑒 1.090457516
𝐿2 = 33.6063 𝑚𝑜𝑙

Now that we have the moles left in the still pot, we can calculate the amount of distillate
product. Using the overall mass balance, we have

𝐿1 = 𝐿2 + 𝑉 → 𝑉 = 𝐿1 − 𝐿2
𝑉 = 100 𝑚𝑜𝑙 − 33.6063 𝑚𝑜𝑙
𝑉 = 66.3937 𝑚𝑜𝑙

All that’s left to calculate is the average concentration of the distillate (yav). Using a component
material balance, we can solve for the average concentration of the distillate.

𝐿1 𝑥1 − 𝐿2 𝑥2
𝐿1 𝑥1 = 𝐿2 𝑥2 + 𝑉𝑦𝑎𝑣 → 𝑦𝑎𝑣 =
𝑉
(100 𝑚𝑜𝑙)(0.75) − (33.6063 𝑚𝑜𝑙 )(0.55)
𝑦𝑎𝑣 =
66.3937 𝑚𝑜𝑙
𝑦𝑎𝑣 = 0.8512

Problem 3. (Multistage distillation using McCabe-Thiele Method) A stream of aqueous methanol

having 45 mol% CH3OH is to be separated into a top product having 96 mol% methanol and a
bottom liquid with 4% methanol. The feed is at its bubble point and the operating pressure is 101.3
kPa. A reflux ratio of 1.5 is suggested. (a) Determine the number of ideal trays. (b) Find the number
of real trays if the overall tray efficiency is 40%. On which real tray should the feed be introduced?
The equilibrium data for the methanol-water system at 101.3 kPa are given below.

x y x y x y
0 0 0.30 0.665 0.90 0.958
0.02 0.134 0.40 0.729 0.95 0.979
0.04 0.23 0.50 0.779 1.0 1.0
0.06 0.304 0.60 0.825
0.08 0.365 0.70 0.87
0.10 0.418 0.80 0.915
0.15 0.517
0.20 0.579
Solution:
The figure below illustrates the problem and its given values.

Using the data given, the vapor-liquid equilibrium curve was plotted.
(a) Number of ideal trays. To begin with, let us first graph all other points or lines that are
needed for the McCabe-Thiele method. First is the q line. The q line is a vertical line which
is equal to 𝑥𝐹 = 0.45. Next is the enriching operating line. The enriching operating line is
calculated as follows:

𝑅 𝑥𝐷
𝑦𝑛+1 = 𝑥𝑛 +
𝑅+1 𝑅+1
1.5 0.96
𝑦𝑛+1 = 𝑥𝑛 +
1.5 + 1 1.5 + 1
𝑦𝑛+1 = 0.6𝑥𝑛 + 0.384 (𝑒𝑛𝑟𝑖𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒)

The other line, called the stripping operating line, was plotted from (0,0) to the intersection
of the q line and the enriching operating line. Now to determine the number of ideal trays,
steps were drawn in between the operating lines, changing from the upper to the lower as
the feed line is crossed. The number of ideal trays is 8.67. It is to be noted that the feed was
introduced in the 6th ideal tray.

𝑁𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑙 = 8.67

(b) Number of real trays. The number of real trays is determined using the overall tray
efficiency.

𝑁𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑙 𝑁𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑙
𝐸𝑂 = → 𝑁𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙 =
𝑁𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙 𝐸𝑂
8.67
𝑁𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙 =
0.40
𝑁𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙 = 21.68 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑦𝑠 𝑝𝑙𝑢𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑏𝑜𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑟
Problem 4. (Multistage distillation using Ponchon-Savarit Method) A feed containing 40 mole
percent n-hexane and 60 percent n-octane is fed to a distillation column. A reflux ratio of 1.2 is
maintained. The overhead product is 95 percent hexane and the bottoms 10 percent hexane. Find
the number of theoretical stages. Assume that a total condenser is used. The column is to operate
at 1 atm. The following tables are the equilibrium data to be used.

VLE data, mol fraction Hexane at 1 atm

x 0.0 0.1 0.3 0.5 0.55 0.7 1.0
y 0.0 0.36 0.70 0.85 0.90 0.95 1.0

Enthalpy-Concentration Data
Enthalpy (cal/gmol)
Mole fraction Hexane
Saturated Liquid Saturated Vapor
0.0 7000 15,700
0.1 6300 15,400
0.3 5000 14,700
0.5 4100 13,900
0.7 3400 12,900
0.9 3100 11,600
1.0 3000 10,000

Solution:
The figure below represents the problem.

Before we begin, let us first determine the amount of moles in the top product (D) and in the
bottom product (B). Using the overall mass balance and component mass balance of hexane,
we have:

OMB: 100 = 𝐷 + 𝐵
CMB: 100(0.4) = (0.95)𝐷 + (0.1)𝐵
Solving for the two equations with two unknown variables, we have D = 35.2941 mol and B =
64.7059 mol.

Now let us proceed to the graphing. First we are going to plot the feed and product points. All
three will lie on the saturated liquid line, B at xB = 0.1, F at xF = 0.4, and D at xD = 0.95. Next,
we are going to find the enthalpies of the distillate (both the liquid and vapor phase) from the
graph. Based from the graph, HLD = 3050 cal/gmol and HVD = 10,800 cal/gmol. These values
and the reflux ratio can be used to find the enthalpy coordinate for the Q’ point. Solving for
Q’, we have

𝑄′ − 𝐻𝑉𝐷
𝑅= → 𝑄′ = 𝑅 (𝐻𝑉𝐷 − 𝐻𝐿𝐷 ) + 𝐻𝑉𝐷
𝐻𝑉𝐷 − 𝐻𝐿𝐷
𝑄′ = 1.2(10800 − 3050) + 10800 = 20,100 𝑐𝑎𝑙/𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙

And so, the Q’ point on the enthalpy-concentration diagram can then be placed at (0.95,20100).
The overall enthalpy line is then drawn from Q’, through F. Its intersection with the line x =
0.1 is the point B’. Several steps are traced from the distillate up to the bottoms. Counting the
theoretical trays (red line),

𝑁𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜 = 4 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑦𝑠