The following feed at 355 K and 1035 kPa is to be fractionated at the given pressure so that the

distillate contains 98% of C3H8, but only 1% of the n-C5H12. (a) Determine the number of
theoretical stages at total reflux, (b) estimate the minimum reflux ratio, and (c) estimate the
number of theoretical stages and the optimal location of the feed tray for a reflux ratio of 0.8.

Component CH4 C2 H 6 n-C3H8 n-C4H10 n-C5H12 n-C6H14 R

zF 0.03 0.07 0.15 0.33 0.3 0.12 0.8
FR (LK),D 0.98
FR (HK),D 0.01

Assignment # 3 , Problem 3
 Where P in kPa, and T in K
Compound -aT1 aT2 -aP1 aP2 aP3
Methane 90,389 9.973 0.8951 2846.4 0
Ethylene 185,209 9.541 1 0.84677 2,042.60 0
Ethane 212,114 9.6178 0.886 2,33 1.8 0
Propylene 285,026 9.4141 0.87871 2,267.60 0
Propane 299,595 8.6372 0.76984 0 47.6017
Isobutane 360,138 9.5073 0.922 13 0 0
n-Butane 395,234 9.8124 0.96455 0 0
Isopentane 457,279 9.3796 0.93 159 0 0
n-Pentane 470,645 9.0527 0.89143 0 0
n-Hexane 549,044 8.6021 0.84634 0 0
n-Heptane 62 1,544 8.065 1 0.79543 0 0
Feed, kgmol/h 100
FR (LK),D 0.98
FR (HK),D 0.01
Component Class. zF ai-HK Shiras et al value D*xD
Methane LNK 0.03 172.18348 16.818 3
Ethane LNK 0.07 32.957745 3.148 7
Propane LK 0.15 10.879132 0.980 14.7
Butane Unknown 0.33 2.989627 0.205 16.5
Pentane HK 0.3 1 0.010 0.3
Hexane HNK 0.12 0.3627499 -0.053 0
41.5

 z 
1 q    i i 
i i   
q= 0.653
Solving the equation to obtain two roots (C+1) F1 = 1.5276
F2 = 7.5637
Component Class. zF αi-HK xF * αi-HK [xF *αi-HK]/[ αi-HK -Φ1 ]
Methane LNK 0.03 172.18348 5.1655 0.030268541277578
Ethane LNK 0.07 32.957745 2.3070 0.0734022229040567
Propane LK 0.15 10.879132 1.6319 0.174503029009283
Butane Unknown 0.33 2.989627 0.9866 0.674803004360533
Pentane HK 0.3 1 0.3000 -0.568607303858899
Hexane HNK 0.12 0.3627499 0.0435 -0.0373694459148674
0.000
solving the second Underwood equation to find Vmin and D*xButane,D Vmin =
Lmin =
Rmin =
Component Class. zF αi-HK D*xD [αi-HK * D * xi,D ]/[αi - Φ1]
Methane LNK 0.03 172.18348 3 3.027
Ethane LNK 0.07 32.957745 7 7.340
Propane LK 0.15 10.879132 14.7 17.101
Butane Unknown 0.33 2.989627 12.4196612286009 25.396
Pentane HK 0.3 1 0.3 -0.569
Hexane HNK 0.12 0.3627499 0 0.000
37.4196612286009 26.900

Vmin =
52.296
 i  1   i
D i ,R  FR LK ,D  LK F
 LK  1  LK  1
W*xW xD xW
0 0.072289 0
0 0.168675 0
0.300000000000001 0.354217 0.005128
16.5 0.39759 0.282051
29.7 0.007229 0.507692
12 0 0.205128
58.5

1 < F1 < ai-HK

ai-HK < F2 < ai-LK
[xF * αi-HK]/[ αi-HK - Φ2 ]
0.0313784013714337
0.09084985965642
0.492209649568887
-0.215687230289998
-0.0457056768465634
-0.00604500346017955
0.000
 i Dx i ,D
V min  i i  
[ αi-HK * D * xi,D ]/[αi - Φ2]
3.138
9.085
48.237
-8.117
-0.046
0.000
60.414 a,b
c,d

52.296
0.000
  LK   i
FR LK ,D  FR HK ,D
 LK  1
Feed, kgmol/h 100
FR (LK),D 0.98
FR (HK),D 0.01
Component Class. zF ai-HK Shiras et al value D*xD
Methane LNK 0.03 192.19766 17.790 3
Ethane LNK 0.07 35.516206 3.220 7
Propane LK 0.15 11.430797 0.980 14.7
Butane Unknown 0.33 3.0555397 0.201 12.4196612286009
Pentane HK 0.3 1 0.010 0.3
Hexane HNK 0.12 0.3546183 -0.050 0
37.4196612286009

 z 
1 q    i i 
i i   
q= 0.653
Solving the equation to obtain two roots (C+1) F1 = 1.5376
F2 = 7.8860
Component Class. zF αi-HK xF * αi-HK [xF *αi-HK]/[ αi-HK -Φ1 ]
Methane LNK 0.03 192.19766 5.7659 0.0302419395979396
Ethane LNK 0.07 35.516206 2.4861 0.0731676556905921
Propane LK 0.15 11.430797 1.7146 0.173313115063999
Butane Unknown 0.33 3.0555397 1.0083 0.66427730032975
Pentane HK 0.3 1 0.3000 -0.558028251987611
Hexane HNK 0.12 0.3546183 0.0426 -0.0359717586946699
0.000
solving the second Underwood equation to find Vmin and D*xButane,D Vmin =
Lmin =
Rmin =
Component Class. zF αi-HK D*xD [αi-HK * D * xi,D ]/[αi - Φ1]
Methane LNK 0.03 192.19766 3 3.024
Ethane LNK 0.07 35.516206 7 7.317
Propane LK 0.15 11.430797 14.7 16.985
Butane Unknown 0.33 3.0555397 12.4196612286009 25.000
Pentane HK 0.3 1 0.3 -0.558
Hexane HNK 0.12 0.3546183 0 0.000
37.4196612286009 26.768
2.013
 R= 0.8

X Y
0.231421 0.4341979 From Equation Gilliland correlation
Nmin = 3.483521
N= 6.924186 Equation

NR/NS = 1.037539
N= NR+NS
N= 1.03748NS+NS
NS = 3.398308
NR = 3.525878
 i  1   i
D i ,R  FR LK ,D  LK FR
 LK  1  LK  1
W*xW xD xW
0 0.080172 0
0 0.187067 0
0.300000000000001 0.392842 0.004794
20.5803387713991 0.331902 0.328863
29.7 0.008017 0.47459
12 0 0.191754
62.5803387713991 1 1

1 < F1 < ai-HK

ai-HK < F2 < ai-LK
[xF * αi-HK]/[ αi-HK - Φ2 ]
0.0312835850847941
0.0899788271258081
0.483698988025857
-0.208744109282057
-0.0435667190253592
-0.00565025767623493
0.000
51.7679  i Dx i ,D
14.348 V min  i i  
0.383
[ αi-HK * D * xi,D ]/[αi - Φ2]
3.128
8.998
47.403
-7.856
-0.044
0.000
59.485
-0.633
on Gilliland correlationn
  LK   i
LK ,D  FR HK ,D
 LK  1
Tdew, K = 0.00
Tbubble, K = 0.00

Feed P , psia= 150.1554 Tbubble , K =

P , kPa= 1035.00 Tbubble , F = -459.67
Component zF -aT1 aT2 -aP1 aP2 aP3
Methane (C1) 0.03 90,389 9.973 0.8951 2846.4 0
Ethane (C2) 0.07 212,114 9.6178 0.886 2,331.80 0
Propane (C3) LK 0.15 299,595 8.6372 0.76984 0 47.6017
Butane (nC4) 0.33 395,234 9.8124 0.96455 0 0
Pentane (nC5) HK 0.3 470,645 9.0527 0.89143 0 0
Hexane (nC6) 0.12 549,044 8.6021 0.84634 0 0

Feed P , psia= 150.1554 TDew , K =

P , kPa= 1035.00 TDew , F = -459.67
Component zF -aT1 aT2 -aP1 aP2 aP3
Methane (C1) 0.03 90,389 9.973 0.8951 2846.4 0
Ethane (C2) 0.07 212,114 9.6178 0.886 2,331.80 0
Propane (C3) LK 0.15 299,595 8.6372 0.76984 0 47.6017
Butane (nC4) 0.33 395,234 9.8124 0.96455 0 0
Pentane (nC5) HK 0.3 470,645 9.0527 0.89143 0 0
Hexane (nC6) 0.12 549,044 8.6021 0.84634 0 0

TF , K = 355 P , kPa= 1035.00 n=

q=
Component zF -aT1 aT2 -aP1 aP2 aP3
Methane (C1) 0.03 90,389 9.973 0.8951 2846.4 0
Ethane (C2) 0.07 212,114 9.6178 0.886 2,331.80 0
Propane (C3) LK 0.15 299,595 8.6372 0.76984 0 47.6017
Butane (nC4) 0.33 395,234 9.8124 0.96455 0 0
Pentane (nC5) HK 0.3 470,645 9.0527 0.89143 0 0
Hexane (nC6) 0.12 549,044 8.6021 0.84634 0 0
 Ki yi
#DIV/0!

0.000000

Ki xi

0.000000

0.3470
0.6530
Ki f(n)
20.9995753 0.075566549
5.96623255 0.127653394
2.6158154 0.155298381
0.98038246 -0.006518158
0.41883287 -0.2183922
0.19593891 -0.133826021
-0.000218056
First trial for the distribution of the unknown component (nC4)

Feed P , psia= 150.1554 Tbubble , K = 302.7526468

P , kPa= 1035.00 Tbubble , F = 85.28476415
Component zF -aT1 aT2 -aP1 aP2 aP3
Methane (C1) 0.03 90,389 9.973 0.8951 2846.4 0
Ethane (C2) 0.07 212,114 9.6178 0.886 2,331.80 0
Propane (C3)LK 0.15 299,595 8.6372 0.76984 0 47.6017
Butane (nC4) 0.33 395,234 9.8124 0.96455 0 0
Pentane (nC5)HK 0.3 470,645 9.0527 0.89143 0 0
Hexane (nC6) 0.12 549,044 8.6021 0.84634 0 0

Distillate P , psia= 150.1554 Tbubble , K = 249.2533395

P , kPa= 1035.00 Tbubble , F = -11.0139888
Component xD -aT1 aT2 -aP1 aP2 aP3
Methane (C1) 0.07228916 90,389 9.973 0.8951 2846.4 0
Ethane (C2) 0.1686747 212,114 9.6178 0.886 2,331.80 0
Propane (C3)LK 0.35421687 299,595 8.6372 0.76984 0 47.6017
Butane (nC4) 0.39759036 395,234 9.8124 0.96455 0 0
Pentane (nC5)HK 0.00722892 470,645 9.0527 0.89143 0 0
Hexane (nC6) 0 549,044 8.6021 0.84634 0 0

Bottoms P , psia= 150.1554 Tbubble , K = 391.2527453

P , kPa= 1035.00 Tbubble , F = 244.5849415
Component xW -aT1 aT2 -aP1 aP2 aP3
Methane (C1) 0.000 90,389 9.973 0.8951 2846.4 0
Ethane (C2) 0.000 212,114 9.6178 0.886 2,331.80 0
Propane (C3) LK 0.005 299,595 8.6372 0.76984 0 47.6017
Butane (nC4) 0.282 395,234 9.8124 0.96455 0 0
Pentane (nC5) HK 0.508 470,645 9.0527 0.89143 0 0
Hexane (nC6) 0.205 549,044 8.6021 0.84634 0 0
relative volatilities
Component αD αF αW αavg
Methane (C1) 1116.642 155.410 29.416 172.183
Ethane (C2) 117.482 30.739 9.913 32.958
Propane (C3) 25.224 10.389 4.914 10.879
Butane (nC4) 4.331 2.929 2.106 2.990
Pentane (nC5) 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000
Hexane (nC6) 0.247 0.370 0.522 0.363
 Ki yi
16.048099 0.48144297
3.1742325 0.22219627
1.07279319 0.16091898
0.3025062 0.09982705
0.10326304 0.03097891
0.03825864 0.00459104
0.999955

Ki yi
10.0425529 0.72596768
1.05658151 0.17821857
0.22685606 0.08035624
0.03895515 0.01548819
0.00899353 6.50135E-05
0.00221891 0
1.000096

Ki yi
23.8374747 0
8.03311998 0
3.98171197 0.02041904
1.70649662 0.48131956
0.81036061 0.41141385
0.42316107 0.08680227
0.99995471
Second trial for the distribution of the unknown component (nC4)

Feed P , psia= 150.1554 Tbubble , K = 302.7558

P , kPa= 1035.00 Tbubble , F = 85.29049
Component zF -aT1 aT2 -aP1 aP2 aP3 Ki
Methane (C1) 0.03 90,389 9.973 0.8951 2846.4 0 16.04843
Ethane (C2) 0.07 212,114 9.6178 0.886 2,331.80 0 3.174387
Propane (C3)LK 0.15 299,595 8.6372 0.76984 0 47.6017 1.072867
Butane (nC4) 0.33 395,234 9.8124 0.96455 0 0 0.302534
Pentane (nC5)HK 0.3 470,645 9.0527 0.89143 0 0 0.103274
Hexane (nC6) 0.12 549,044 8.6021 0.84634 0 0 0.038263

Distillate P , psia= 150.1554 Tbubble , K = 243.5415

P , kPa= 1035.00 Tbubble , F = -21.2954
Component xD -aT1 aT2 -aP1 aP2 aP3 Ki
Methane (C1) 0.0802 90,389 9.973 0.8951 2846.4 0 9.372559
Ethane (C2) 0.1871 212,114 9.6178 0.886 2,331.80 0 0.898536
Propane (C3)LK 0.3928 299,595 8.6372 0.76984 0 47.6017 0.180452
Butane (nC4) 0.3319 395,234 9.8124 0.96455 0 0 0.028804
Pentane (nC5)HK 0.0080 470,645 9.0527 0.89143 0 0 0.006278
Hexane (nC6) 0.0000 549,044 8.6021 0.84634 0 0 0.001459

Bottoms P , psia= 150.1554 Tbubble , K = 388.1776

P , kPa= 1035.00 Tbubble , F = 239.0497
Component xW -aT1 aT2 -aP1 aP2 aP3 Ki
Methane (C1) 0.000 90,389 9.973 0.8951 2846.4 0 23.61463
Ethane (C2) 0.000 212,114 9.6178 0.886 2,331.80 0 7.857998
Propane (C3) LK 0.005 299,595 8.6372 0.76984 0 47.6017 3.859665
Butane (nC4) 0.329 395,234 9.8124 0.96455 0 0 1.637831
Pentane (nC5) HK 0.475 470,645 9.0527 0.89143 0 0 0.771683
Hexane (nC6) 0.192 549,044 8.6021 0.84634 0 0 0.399695
relative volatilities
Component αD αF αW αavg
Methane (C1) 1493.005 155.396 30.601 192.198
Ethane (C2) 143.133 30.737 10.183 35.516
Propane (C3) 28.745 10.389 5.002 11.431
Butane (nC4) 4.588 2.929 2.122 3.056
Pentane (nC5) 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000
Hexane (nC6) 0.232 0.371 0.518 0.355
 yi
0.4814529
0.2222071
0.16093
0.0998361
0.0309823
0.0045916
1.000000

yi
0.7514145
0.1680869
0.0708891
0.00956
5.033E-05
0
1.000001

yi
0
0
0.0185026
0.5386216
0.366233
0.0766428
1