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Distillation Column Design

The document describes two methods for designing a distillation column: graphical and analytical. The graphical method involves determining process variables, minimum reflux ratio using McCabe-Thiele analysis, choosing an actual reflux ratio higher than minimum, and using the operating lines to determine the theoretical number of trays. The actual number of trays is calculated by dividing the theoretical number by the tray efficiency.

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259Katkar Prathmesh
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
47 views

Distillation Column Design

The document describes two methods for designing a distillation column: graphical and analytical. The graphical method involves determining process variables, minimum reflux ratio using McCabe-Thiele analysis, choosing an actual reflux ratio higher than minimum, and using the operating lines to determine the theoretical number of trays. The actual number of trays is calculated by dividing the theoretical number by the tray efficiency.

Uploaded by

259Katkar Prathmesh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Two method of the distillation column design –

A. Graphical method
B. Analytical method

A. Graphical method :-

1. Allocation process operation variables.


2. Determination minimum reflux ratio.
3. Choose actual reflux ratio.
4. Determine minimum number of the tray.
5. Principle Dimensions of the column (Diameter/Height).
Step.1 Determine process
operation variables
1. Assumed feed rate , Feed composition , purity of the distillate and bottom, and
the quality of feed are known.
2. Perform overall material and component balances to determines the
compositions of the distillate and bottoms.

overall material balance

F = D+W ……(I)
Component balance

F Zf = D Xd+W Xw……(II)

Light key (LK) = MVC/More volatile component ( low boiling point& high
vapor pressure ).
Heavy key (HK) = LVC/ less volatile component ( high boiling point & low vapor
pressure ).
Step2.Determine Minimum Reflux
Ratio
Minimum ratio calculation by the two method –
A. Graphical
B. Analytical

Graphical method –

The graphical approach is determined by using the Mc Cabe Thiele


method of the binary mixtures.

The Ratio of the reflux flow to distillate flow is called reflux ratio.

R = Liquid return to the column / Withdrawal


Assumptions : Mc Cabe Thiele
method
1. Constant molar/molal overall flow rate:-
The molar flow rates of the vapor & the liquid are nearly constant
in each section ( Stripping & rectification / enriching ) of the
column .
This also ensures that the operating lines are straight.
Y = MX+C
2. The heat effects are negligible :-
I. The heat losses to the column and from the column are small
and negligible.
II. For Every mole of liquid vaporized , a mole of vapor is
condensed.
III. The liquid and vapor leaving the tray in equilibrium with the
vapor and liquid entering the tray.
Draw the Equilibrium Curve
1. Graphical method.
2. Analytical method.

Graphical method –
Analytical method
PT yA = xA pA sat ……….. (1)
PT yA = xB PB sat ……………… (2)

Both equation added-


PT(yA + yB) = xA PA sat. + xB PB sat.

we know that ( y A + yB )=1

PT= xA PA sat. + xB PB sat. ………………(3) .

TA & TB we will calculated by the Antoine equation or we will choose intermediate temp of TA
and TB and calculate the value of PA sat. or PB sat. and then apply in equn . (4) –

PT = xA pA sat. + (1-xA) PB sat. …………(4)

we will find the value of xA from equn.-(4) and put value in equn.(5) -

yA = xA PA sat. / PT ………….(5)

we will known parameters like T 1 ,T2,T3 or PA1 sat. …. PB1sat. . … or x1 x2 x3 and y1 y2 y3 then we
will draw TXY diagram and find equilibrium diagram .
Draw the feed line
The feed line can be draw by locating the point on the
forty five degree angle line that corresponds to feed
composition. This line can extended with a slop of
q/(q-1) where q is the feed quality .this feed line can be
directly plotted through the following equation.

y = q/(q-1) x - xf /(q-1)
Y = MX + C
Draw the upper operating line
( rectifying section )
Draw the operating line for the enriching section .first
find the desired the top product composition ( on the
X-axis ) and locate the corresponding point on the
forty five degree line. Connect this point to point
where the equilibrium curve and the feed line intersect
. This is the upper operating line .the Y intersect of the
line is equal to xD /(R+1). The folowing equation can be
used to determine Reflux.
Rmin = (xD/ Yintercept) -1

* For the minimum reflux ratio tray required infinite.


Step3. Choose the actual reflux
ratio
As the reflux ratio increases , the number of the trays
and thus the capital cost of the column decreases.
however as a trade off ,an increase in reflux ratio will
also increase the vapor rate within the tower , the
increasing expenses such as condensers and reboilers
.most column are designed to operate b/w the 1.2 to 1.5
times of the minimum reflux ratio because this is
approximately the region of minimum operating cost.
Therefore based on the first estimates the operating
reflux ratio is equated so the
Ractual = Rmin x 1.2
Step.4 Determine the
theoretical/Ideal Number of tray
Upper /lower operating line at Actual reflux ratio :-
1. Redraw the upper and lower operating line using the
actual reflux ratio .plot the point xD/(R+1) and draw a
line to xD . The equan . Of the upper operating line is.
2. starting form the composition of the distillate , a
horizontal line is drawn to the equilibrium curve. This
line demonstrate the first tray.
3. from the previous intersection ,drop vertically the upper
line is obtained. Following step to determine next tray.
* theoretical /Ideal no of tray /plates is equal to the no of
triangles.
Step.5 Determine the actual
Number of the tray
This determine by the taking the qutioned of the
theoretical trays to the tray efficiency .typical value of
the tray efficiency range from 0.5 to 0.7 . The value
depend on the type of the tray being used ,as well as
the internal liquid and vapor flow rates.

Actual tray = Theoretical/Efficiency

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