1.

OBJECTIVE

The objectives of this simulation laboratory was to understand the usage of valve and
distillation specification on the simulation process using Aspen HYSYS program.

2.0

PROCEDURE

By using ASPENTECH Aspen HYSYS V8.6 software. We create a simulation process based
on the given process condition in laboratory manual. Step by step procedure was given to
create this process on the program.
1. First, select a new project and then properties. At the properties section, added 2
components which is methanol and water onto the system feed component and used
Advance Pend-Robinson property package.
2. Then at the simulation section, the Stream material icon was selected and named it
into stream 1. This value on table 2.1 was inserted into it.
Temperature
Pressure
Molar flow
Composition

25C
5.2 bar
2700 kmol/hr
Methanol: 0.5
Water: 0.5

Table 2.1: Properties of Material Stream Feed

Figure 2.1: Properties of Material Stream Feed

3. After that, use Splitter icon to split the stream into 2 stream named into stream 2 and 3
in which the splitting ratio of both stream was 0.5.

4. Based on the process flow, 2 distillation column was used to produce an outcome
product of most pureness methanol. Thus on the stream 2, the distillation column was
selected from PFD. This value was inserted into the distillation column 1.
Pressure
Number of trays
Feed tray
Reflux ratio
Distilled to feed ratio
Condenser
Table 2.2: Properties of distillation column 1

5.2 bar
16
12
1.26
0.96
Total

Figure 2.2: Properties of distillation column 1

5. Because the distillation column 2 was operated with lower pressure than the
distillation column 1, the control valve was put into the stream 3 before connected it
to the distillation column 2 via stream 4. The control valve reduce the pressure from
5.2 bar to 1.01 bar.

6. Then, select the distillation column icon to use as distillation column 2. This data was
inserted into it.
Pressure
Number of trays
Feed tray

1.01 bar
13
9

Reflux ratio
Distilled to feed ratio
Condenser
Table 2.3: Properties of distillation column 2

0.834
0.96
Total

Figure 2.3: Properties of distillation column 2

3.0

PROCESS FLOW DIAGRAM (PFD)

Figure 3.1: Process Flow Diagram

4.0

STREAM SUMMARY

Stream 1
Temperature

25

Pressure

520

kPa

Molar flow rate

2700

Kgmole/h

Composition

Methanol: 0.5
Water: 0.5

Stream 2
Temperature

25

Pressure

520

kPa

Molar flow rate

1350

Kgmole/h

Stream 3
Temperature

25

Pressure

520

kPa

Molar flow rate

1350

Kgmole/h

Stream 4
Temperature

25.03

Pressure

419

kPa

Molar flow rate

1350

Kgmole/h

Stream 5
Temperature

66.79

Pressure

101.0

kPa

Molar flow rate

0.9600

Kgmole/h

Mole fraction(methanol)

0.9994

Mole fraction(water)

0.0006

Stream 6
Temperature

81.16

Pressure

101.0

kPa

Molar flow rate

1349

Kgmole/h

Mole fraction(methanol)

0.4996

Mole fraction(water)

0.5004

Stream 7
Temperature

115.0

Pressure

520.0

kPa

Molar flow rate

0.9600

Kgmole/h

Mole fraction(methanol)

0.9997

Mole fraction(water)

0.0003

Stream 8

5.0

Temperature

132.2

Pressure

520.0

kPa

Molar flow rate

1349

Kgmole/h

Mole fraction(methanol)

0.4996

Mole fraction(water)

0.5004

QUESTION AND DISCUSSION

1) What is the molar flow before entering DC1 and DC2?

To separate the stream into stream 2 and 3, we using stream splitter in which does not
affect the physical attribution of the fluid inside the stream such as temperature and
pressure. Because we set the splitter to split the stream flow to ratio 0.5 for each
stream, both of the stream 2 and 3 have the same molar flowrate of 1350 kgmole/hr
before entering the distillation column.
2) How to reduce pressure in DC 2?
As the distillation column 2 operated at lower pressure, we using the control valve to
reduce the pressure from 5.2 bar to 1.01 bar at stream 4 before entering the DC2.
3) What is the temperature at the bottom of DC1 and DC2?
The distillation column usually operated with help of boiler and condenser to increase
the temperature inside the DC to separate the material based on it boiling point. Thus,
the bottom of the DC is usually hotter than the upper part. The temperature at the
bottom of DC1 and DC2 is 132.2C and 81.16C respectively. The difference in the
bottom temperature of both DC was properly cause by different operating pressure of
5.2 bar and 1.01 bar respectively.

4) Did the process achieve a methanol that free from water? What is the purity of the
methanol? How to increase the purity?
The process does not really achieve a 100% methanol that are free from water. After
distillation process, the per cent of methanol produce of upper stream for DC1 is
0.9997 meanwhile for DC2 is 0.9994. To increase the purity of the methanol product,
the process can use more distillation column. The product stream of the DC1 and DC2
can feed into another distillation column so the product stream can have lower
impurities.