Mc-cabe

Thiele
VA S A N T H K A N N U C H A M Y
 Va , y a
Overall Mass Balance:
F= B + D
(1)
Overall Material Balance across more volatile
component A
F. xF = BxB + D. xD
(2) F L a, x a D, xD
Eliminating B from the above equation we
get:
𝐷 𝑥𝐹 − 𝑥𝐵
=
𝐹 𝑥𝐷 − 𝑥 𝐵
VB , y B

Eliminating D from the above equation we

get: L B, x B
𝐵 𝑥𝐷 − 𝑥𝐹
=
𝐹 𝑥𝐷 − 𝑥𝐵

B, xB

01/18/2025 SAMPLE FOOTER TEXT 2

Now we do a mass balance across condenser
Overall Mass Balance:
Va = L a + D
Va - L a = D
(5)
The vapor flowrate that leaves the tower and the condensed liquid that enters,
the flowrate remains the same anywhere in the upper section of the column.

01/18/2025 SAMPLE FOOTER TEXT 3

 As the difference between the liquid
that leaves the nth plate and the mass
Va flowrate of the vapor stream that
y1 enters the nth plate from the n+1th
plate should be equal to D
La This is the one of the main
x0 =xD assumption of the Mccabe-thiele
method
Overall mass balance for the nth place is
1 D
L1, x 1 given
V2 , y 2 Vn+1 =byL + D
n
2
. L2, x 2 Vn+1 - Ln = D
.
Vn+1. yn+1 = Ln.xn + D. xD
.
Vn, yn mass balance for the 2th place is given by
n
Vn+1, yn+1 V3 – L 2 = D
Ln, xn
n+1 V3. y3 = L2.x2 + D. xD

n+2
• DxD is the net flow rate of component A in the upper direction
in the upper section of the column

• DxD is constant in the rectifying section

01/18/2025 SAMPLE FOOTER TEXT 4

 Overall mass balance for the mth plate,
but before that, we do a mass balance
8 around the condenser
LB. X = VB.yB + B. x
B B
9
. LB. X - VB.yB =B. x
B B

.
. LB - VB=B
m .
We can do the mass balance across the
mth plate
m+1 Lm. X = Vm+1.ym+1 + B. x
m B
Lm , x m Vm+1, ym+1
m+2 B. x = L . X - V .y = Lm. X - Vm+1.ym+1= Lm+1. X
Lm+1, xm+1 B B B B B m m+1

Vm+2, ym+2 - Vm+2.ym+2

VB,yB

LB,xB
B, xB
01/18/2025 SAMPLE FOOTER TEXT 5
Operating Lines

• There are two sections in the distillation column where vapor liquid equilibrium exists.

• As we have two operating lines, one for the rectifying section and one for the stripping section

For the rectifying section, the operating line can be given by:

Vn+1. yn+1 = Ln.xn + D. xD

or
𝑳𝒏 𝑫
𝒚 𝒏 +𝟏= 𝒙 𝒏+ 𝒙
𝑽 𝒏 +𝟏 𝑽 𝒏 +𝟏 𝑫

The slope of the operating line is given by the ratio of the flow of the liquid to the flow
of vapor stream; we can eliminate Vn+1 from the above equation
Vn+1 = Ln + D

𝑳𝒏 𝑫
𝒚 𝒏 +𝟏= 𝒙 𝒏+ 𝒙
𝑳𝒏 + 𝑫 𝑳𝒏 + 𝑫 𝑫

01/18/2025 SAMPLE FOOTER TEXT 6

• Likewise, we can also obtain operating line for the stripping section

For the stripping section, the operating line can be given by:

Lm. X = Vm+1.ym+1 + B. x
m B

𝑳𝒎 𝑩 This line passes through

𝒚 𝒎 +𝟏= 𝒙 𝒎− 𝒙
𝑽 𝒎 +𝟏 𝑽 𝒎 +𝟏 𝑩 xB=yB

The equation of a straight line with slope and intercept of passes through (x B,yB)

𝑳𝒎 𝑩
𝒚 𝒎 +𝟏= 𝒙𝒎 − 𝒙 Slope of the rectifying
𝑳𝒎 − 𝑩 𝑳𝒎 − 𝑩 𝑩
section is always less
than unity
Slope of the stripping
section is always greater
than unity

01/18/2025 SAMPLE FOOTER TEXT 7

 The operating line for the rectifying section 𝑳𝒏 / 𝑫 𝟏
𝒚 𝒏 +𝟏= 𝒙𝒏 + 𝒙
𝑽 𝒏 +𝟏 / 𝑫 𝑽 𝒏+ 𝟏 / 𝑫 𝑫
𝑳𝒏 𝑫
𝒚 𝒏 +𝟏 = 𝒙 𝒏+ 𝒙𝑫
𝑽 𝒏 +𝟏 𝑽 𝒏 +𝟏

• Lets write the material balance for the rectifying section

• Va=La+D
Let us define the reflux ratio R=La/D The above line also satisfy the
conditions when xn=xD , yn+1=xD
La=D.R

Va=D.R+D= D(R+1)

D= Va/(R+1) (R+1)=
Va/D
𝑳𝒏 𝑫
𝒚 𝒏 +𝟏 = 𝒙 𝒏+ 𝒙𝑫 Operating Line having the slope
𝑽 𝒏 +𝟏 𝑽 𝒏 +𝟏 of and intercept of and passes
𝑳𝒏 / 𝑫 𝑫/𝑫 through (xD, xD) and this point
𝒚 𝒏 +𝟏= 𝒙𝒏 + 𝒙 lies on the diagonal line
𝑽 𝒏 +𝟏 / 𝑫 𝑽 𝒏+ 𝟏 / 𝑫 𝑫

01/18/2025 SAMPLE FOOTER TEXT 8

 The operating line for the stripping section
𝑳𝒎 𝑩
𝒚 𝒎 +𝟏= 𝒙 𝒎− 𝒙
𝑽 𝒎 +𝟏 𝑽 𝒎 +𝟏 𝑩

𝑳𝒎 𝑩
𝒚 𝒎 +𝟏= 𝒙𝒎 − 𝒙
𝑳𝒎 − 𝑩 𝑳𝒎 − 𝑩 𝑩

The above line also satisfy the

conditions when xm=xB , ym+1=xB
𝑳𝒎 𝑩
𝒚 𝒎 +𝟏= 𝒙𝑩− 𝒙
𝑳𝒎 − 𝑩 𝑳𝒎 − 𝑩 𝑩

𝑳𝒎 − 𝑩
𝒚 𝒎 +𝟏= 𝒙 = 𝒙𝑩
𝑳𝒎 − 𝑩 𝑩

Operating Line having the slope of and intercept of and passes through (xB, xB) and this
point lies on the diagonal line

01/18/2025 SAMPLE FOOTER TEXT 9

 F : flowrate of feed
and L: flowrate of liquid
and V: flowrate of Vapor
L,xf-1 V,yf : liquid leaving the feed plate
Hf L: liquid entering the feed plate
hf1
: vapor entering the feed plate
V: vapor leaving the feed plate
F,
xF
hf
If we assume a cold feed, then liquid tends to flow
xf
downwards at any point. So, the entire feed adds to
h yf+1 the liquid flowing down the column.
L,x f
Hf+1
If

01/18/2025 SAMPLE FOOTER TEXT 10

 and L, and V; L is not equal to
Material Balance over the feed plate is V is not equal to
given by The relation between the
flowrate above and below feed
plate depends upon the feed
enthalpy

To obtain the relationship between and L, we need to make an energy balance over
the feed plate as the flowrate of and L is dictated by the feed condition and the
specific feed enthalpy and to consider what happens, when feed enters the column

If the feed is at its bubble point

The temperature of overflowing to the plate will be that of L+F (No change in
flowrate)
= L+F, when the Tf is at Tb
No vapor will be condensed, so the flowrate of liquid leaving the plate will not
be altered.
If F in liquid at Tf < boiling point, some vapor rising from the plate below will
be condensed to provide sufficient heat to bring the feed liquid to the boiling
point.
01/18/2025 SAMPLE FOOTER TEXT 11
Let's say, Hf enthalpy/ mol of feed
Hfs is the enthalpy of one mole of feed at its boiling point
Then the heat required to be supplied to bring the feed to
temperature to its boiling point is
F(Hfs- Hf)

The number of moles of vapor to be

condensed to provide the heat is V,yf
L,xL HV
hL

F,
Where λ is the molar latent heat of vaporization xF
hf
𝑉
h 𝐿 =h 𝐿
𝐻 𝑉 =𝐻 𝑉
Neglecting the small change in the
enthalpy between and and and

01/18/2025 SAMPLE FOOTER TEXT 12

 ( 𝐿− 𝐿)
𝐹 ( 𝐿− 𝐿) ( 𝑉 − 𝑉 ) 𝑞=
= + 𝐹
𝐹 𝐹 𝐹

1 ( 𝑉 −𝑉 ) 𝑞𝐹 =𝐹 − ( 𝑉 − 𝑉 )
𝑞=1 −
𝐹

( 1 − 𝑞 ) 𝐹 =( 𝑉 − 𝑉 )
( 𝐻𝑣 − h𝑓 )
𝑞=
( 𝐻 𝑣 −h 𝐿 )
( 𝐻 𝑣 − h 𝑓 ) =𝑞 ( 𝐻 𝑣 − h 𝐿 )
q is the function of feed enthalpy, hf for a given value of
and

01/18/2025 SAMPLE FOOTER TEXT 13

 The thermodynamics state of a liquid
( 𝐻 𝑣 − h 𝑓 ) 𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑣𝑎𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑑 entering or leaving the feed plate is
𝑞= = equal to the property of the feed liquid
( 𝐻 𝑣 −h 𝐿 ) 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡 h𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑑

𝑤h𝑒𝑛 𝑡h𝑒 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑙𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑑 ,h 𝑓 =h 𝐿

q=1

If the feed is saturated vapor, then the thermodynamics state of a liquid near the feed plate is
equal to The thermodynamics state of a vapor entering or leaving the feed plate, then

h 𝑓 =𝐻 𝑉 =0 =0

01/18/2025 SAMPLE FOOTER TEXT 14

 Overall mass balance of the entire column

𝐹 =𝐷+ 𝐵
We know that the rectifying and stripping section
intersect at some point
𝐹 𝑥 𝑓 =𝐷 𝑦 𝐷 + 𝐵 𝑥 𝐵

Rectifying section: Vn+1. yn+1 = Ln.xn + D.

xD
Striping section: Lm. xm = Vm+1.ym+1 + B. xB

This point can be found as follows: Vn+1. yn+1 - Vm+1.yn+1 - Ln.xn + Lm. xn - D. xD
Substitute ym+1 = yn+1 and xn=xm ; we get - B. xB =0
=0
Lm. xn = Vm+1.yn+1 + B. xB
𝑦 𝑛+1 ( 𝑉 𝑛 +1 − 𝑉 𝑚 +1 ) = 𝑥𝑛 ( 𝐿 𝑚 − 𝐿 𝑛 ) + ( 𝐷𝑥 𝐷 + 𝐵 𝑥 𝐵 )
Vm+1.yn+1 + B. xB - Lm. xn =0
Vn+1. yn+1 = Ln.xn + D. xD
Vn+1. yn+1 - Ln.xn - D. xD =0

01/18/2025 SAMPLE FOOTER TEXT 15

 The equation can also be written as
The above equation is called the equation of the
feed line on which there is an intersection of the
𝑦 𝑛+1 ( 𝑉 𝑛 +1 − 𝑉 𝑚 +1 ) =𝑥𝑛 ( 𝐿𝑚 − 𝐿𝑛 ) + 𝐹𝑥 𝑓 operating line

As we are dealing with the feed plate Position of line depends upon xf and q
Slope of the line:
When x= xf

𝑞 𝑥𝑓 1− 𝑞 𝑦 =𝑥 𝑓
𝑦 =− 𝑥𝑓 + 𝑦= 𝑥
1 −𝑞 1 −𝑞 1− 𝑞 𝑓
We know that
So, the above equation will become The feed line passes through (xf, xf ) and with the
slope of

( 𝑉 −𝑉 )= (1 −𝑞 ) 𝐹
When y=0;
( 1 −𝑞 ) 𝐹𝑦 =−𝑞𝐹𝑥 + 𝐹𝑥 𝑓 𝑥𝑓 𝑥𝑓
0 𝑞 𝑥=
𝑥= 𝑞
1− 𝑞 1− 𝑞
𝑞 𝑥𝑓
𝑦 =− 𝑥+
1 −𝑞 1− 𝑞 So, the feed line can be drawn by joining two points
(xf,xf) and (xf/q,0)

01/18/2025 SAMPLE FOOTER TEXT 16

From the definition of q, q line depends on the nature of the feed as follows

Feed condition Limit of q-value 1

Vapor-liquid
cold feed (below q>1 0.9
mixture, 0<q<1 Cold Li-
Saturated Liquid, quid, q>1
bubble point) 0.8
q=1
feed at bubble point q=1 0.7

(saturated liquid) 0.6

feed as partially 0<q<1 0.5 Saturated

yA
vaporized Vapor, q=0
0.4
feed at dew point q=0
(saturated vapor) 0.3
Superheated
0.2 Vapor, q>1 xF
feed as superheated q < 0
vapor 0.1

feed is a mixture of q is the fraction 0

0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
liquid and vapor of the feed that is
xA
liquid

01/18/2025 SAMPLE FOOTER TEXT 17

• Altering the slope of q line will alter the liquid concentration at which the operating lines cut each
other for a given reflux ratio

• This means that the number of plates required for the given separation will be altered.

• If the feed is cold, then there will be an increase reflux flow below the feed, and this means it will
increase the load of the reboiler and hence the heat consumption from the boiler per mol of
distillate

01/18/2025 SAMPLE FOOTER TEXT 18

Minimum reflux, total reflux and plate
requirements

xD

According to the above equation, R=0 means zero

reflux
In other words, Intercept will be xD , The rectifying
operating is shown here
In this case, the number y
of plates required will be
infinite

Let us define another condition known as total reflux

where R=which mean D=0 as R=L/D=
𝑖𝑓 𝑅=∞ x
x
xD
xD

01/18/2025 SAMPLE FOOTER TEXT 19

SAMPLE FOOTER TEXT
 , 1/R=0

𝒚 𝒏 +𝟏 =
𝟏
𝒙𝒏 +
𝟎
𝒙𝑫
𝒚 𝒏 +𝟏 =𝒙 𝒏
𝟏+𝟎 𝟏+𝟎

The slope of the line is 1 with an xD

intercept of zero, this means it is a
diagonal line passing through origin
In this case, the number of plates will be
minimum, the number of plates required y
to achieve the desired separation will be
minimum.
The stripping section operating line meet the
rectifying line where the feed line passes. In
this case, xf, yf which lies on the diagonal line. xF

xB x xD

01/18/2025 SAMPLE FOOTER TEXT 20

 If R is small, it is represented by the operating
Minimum Reflux line ‘ag’ in which the rectangular steps will
Slope of the operating line is never be able to reach the rectifying operating
line. So, operating the column becomes
If R increases, the slope increases impossible and an infinite number of plates are
required to reach ‘g’.
Note: to operate the distillation column, the steps
must reach the feed line, then only the liquid vapor xD a
contact is feasible.
Theoretically, impossible solution for the steps that g
never reaches the q-line
d
y
If the line ‘ad’ be considered, the point ‘d’ could be
reached, an infinite number of plates are required at
the feed plate
This is the least reflux that would be permit the
operation under any condition theoretically
possible xF

xB x xD

01/18/2025 SAMPLE FOOTER TEXT 21

The slope if the operating line is such that it passes
through the points (x’, y’) and (xD, yD), where (x’, y’) is
the point on xy diagram where the rectifying line and
feed line meets.
The corresponding Rmin can be obtained from the
intercept using the equation of the operating line for the xD a
rectifying section.
If R increases, the
number of plates When R =Rmin
decreases d
Total reflux: y (x’,
Number of plates y’)
required is
𝒙𝑫
minimum
𝒚 𝒏 +𝟏 = 𝒚 ′ ; 𝒙 𝒏 = 𝒙 ′ 𝑹𝒎𝒊𝒏 +𝟏

The equation for thew operating line for the xF

rectifying section passing through point d and
intersecting y axis.
xB x xD

01/18/2025 SAMPLE FOOTER TEXT 22

 ′ ′
𝑦 ( 𝑅 𝑚𝑖𝑛 +1 ) = 𝑅 𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝑥 + 𝑥 𝐷

𝑅𝑚𝑖𝑛 ( 𝑦 ′ − 𝑥′ ) = 𝑥 𝐷 − 𝑦 ′

𝑥𝐷 − 𝑦 ′
𝑅𝑚𝑖𝑛 = ′ ′
𝑦 −𝑥

Rmin
we operate
above Rmin

01/18/2025 SAMPLE FOOTER TEXT 23