Journal of Applied and Industrial Sciences, 2013, 1 (3): 44-48, ISSN: 2328-4595 (PRINT), ISSN: 2328-4609 (ONLINE) 44

Research Article

A short-Cut Method for Designing Multi-Component

Fractionation Column
Rawia. S.Hassan1 , Gurashi.A. Gasmelseed2, B. A. Karama3, and A.E Musa4
(1)
Faculty of graduate studies, University of Karary, Khartoum Sudan
Email : rawia.siddig@yahoo.com
(3)
Faculty of graduate studies, University of Karary, Khartoum Sudan
(2)
Department of Leather Technology, College of Applied and Industrial Sciences, University of Bahri, Khartoum
Sudan, P.O.Box 1660
Email : gurashigar@hotmail.com
Telephone: +249919634134
(4)
Department of Leather Technology, College of Applied and Industrial Sciences, University of Bahri, Khartoum
Sudan, P.O.Box 1660
E mail: ali206w@hotmail.com
(Received: June 11, 2013; Accepted: August 14, 2013)

Abstract Fractionation of multicomponent mixtures into top
and side stream products depends on the relative volatility of the
cut. As the cut consists of more than one component with specific
true boiling point (TBP), its relative volatility can be calculated.
In this method the component with the lowest relative volatility at
the top above the feed tray is designated as a light key component
(lk), all non-light keys,(nlk) are more volatile with volatilities
greater than that of the light key. On the other hand the
components with highest volatility at the bottom below the feed
plate is designated as the heavy key component (hk), all non-
heavy keys (nhk), are less volatile with relative volatilities less
than that of the heavy key. Based on these facts, the designated
light and heavy components will be taken as binary and the
column will be designed accordingly. In this study a
multicomponent fractionation column is designed by both the
rigorous multicomponent design method and that of a simple
binary Mc cabe Thiele method for the system C2 to C7 feed
mixture. The results of the design parameters are considered to
be good and in agreement.
Index Terms Design, Multicomponent, Binary systems.
I. INTRODUCTION
M ulticomponent hydrocarbons need to be separated into
top and side streams products in a fractionation column
[1]. These streams are separated in cuts depending on their
true boiling point temperature and their relative volatilities.
The design of such columns is tedious and requires
compositions, and physical properties of the top and bottom
products [2]. The important parameter in the design is the
number of theoretical stages which requires the application of
Underwood and Gilly land correlations, the data therefore
require on-line sampling on pilot scale with subsequent scale-
up.
A new technique is developed taking into consideration the
more volatile component or cut as the (lk) component and the
less volatile component or cut as the heavy key (hk). The (nlk)
are those which are more volatile than the (lk), while the non-
heavy keys (nhk) are those which are less volatile than heavy
keys [2]. The light and heavy are taken to be a binary system
of the two components and the number of theoretical plates are
determined by Mc cabe Thiele graphical method, and so are the
other design parameters. The design parameters determined by
both methods are to be compared and analyzed.
II. MATERIALS AND METHODS
A mixture of hydrocarbons C2 to C7 is taken as a
multicomponent feed entering the fractionators as saturated
liquid at a temperature of 120oC and a pressure of 13 bars. The
equilibrium data are obtained using Antoine equation. The
minimum number of theoretical stages is calculated by Fenske
equation [3]. Compositions of the feed, distillate, bottom, and
relative volatilities are specified and tabulated.
The minimum reflux ratio is determined by Underwood
equation [4] taking q-value equal to one as the feed is
saturated liquid. The flow factor is calculated as well as the
tray space and the column is operated at 85% of the flooding
capacity, the number of theoretical trays is then calculated by
Gilly land equation [6], the overall efficiency is calculated by
Onell equation[5], and hence the number of actual stages and
the column height. The column down-comer, net, and active
areas are specified as well as the diameter of the column at
85% of the flooding velocity. But as for the new technique, the
equilibrium data are determined for the binary consisting of lk
and hk, and Mc cabe Thiele plot is used to determine the
number of the theoretical plates, other design parameters are
calculated normally [6].
 Journal of Applied and Industrial Sciences, 2013, 1 (3): 44-48, ISSN: 2328-4595 (PRINT), ISSN: 2328-4609 (ONLINE) 45

Procedure Table 3
Vapor -liquid equilibrium is calculated by Antoine equation: Composition of components C2 C7
Component Feed D ,mole fraction W, mole fraction
name mole
..1 fraction
Ethane 0.0093 0.0475 0
Where: Pvap= vapor pressure of the component Propane 0.1709 0.4196 0
A, B, C = Antoine constants Iso butane 0.1406 0.3462 0
T = absolute temperature in Kelvin Cis butane 0.085 0.1967 0.00105
For saturation feed at 120C and 13 bar i-pentane 0.1439 0.0004 0.2530
Iso prene 0.0162 0 0.28
Table1 Cyclo hexane 0.1229 0 0.2695
Antoine constants for the system C2 C7 Toluene 0.3 0 0.5107
Component name Symbol A B C Where: D= distillate product, W= bottom product
Ethane C2H6 15.9 1580 -13.8 C2= Ethane; C3 = Propane; C4 = Iso butane, Cis butane; C5 =
Propane C3H8 15.7 1870 -25.1 i-pentane, Iso prene;
Iso butane C4H10 15.9 2200 -29.9
Cis butane C4H8 15.8 2210 -36.2 C6 = CYCLO HEXANE; C7 = TOLUENE
i-pentane C5H12 15.6 2350 -40.2
Iso prene C5H8 15.9 2470 -39.6 Table 4
Cyclo hexane C6H12 15.8 2660 -47.2 Calculation of Relative volatility of C2 C7
Toluene C7H8 16.3 3240 -47.2 Component Name i = Pi/Pj
Ethane 16.48
Propane 5.38
III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Iso butane 1.95
The following data are obtained: Cis butane 2.74
i-pentane 1
Table 2 Iso prene 0.97
Equilibrium relationship Cyclo hexane 0.43
Component Symbol Vapor Distribution Component Toluene 0.13
Name Pressure Coefficient Ki Feed Rate Pvi = vapour pressure of component i Pj = vapour pressure of
Pvi Kmol/h component j
Ethane C2H6 123292.7 12.64 0.93 lk = 2.74 , where lk is the relative volatility of the light
Propane C3H8 40256.2 4.13 17.09 key
Iso butane C4H10 18477.9 1.89 14.06 Table 5
Cis butane C4H8 14598.1 1.5 18.05 Composition of light (cis-butane) and heavy (i-pentane) keys
i-pentane C5H12 7480.6 0.767 14.93 in top and bottom:
Iso prene C5H8 7265.7 0.745 1.62 Lk Hk
Cyclo hexane C6H12 3246.7 0.333 12.29 xD,mole fraction 0.1967 0.0004
Toluene C7H8 995.5 0.102 30 xB, mole fraction 0.0015 0.253
The mole fraction of XD and XB are experimental data
Calculate from equilibrium relationship: Ki= Pvi/Pt Determination of minimum number of stages (Nm):
Where: Nm = 12.8 = 13 stages
Pvi = vapour pressure of component i Minimum Reflux Ratio Rm
Pt = total pressure Using Underwood equation:
Minimum number of stages
Fenske equation 3

.2

For saturation feed condition, q=1, = 1.3 by trial and error

Where: Where: i = relative volatility of component (i), XiF =
Nm = minimum number of stages, xD =composition of the top product composition of component ( i) in feed.
= relative volatility, xw=composition of the bottom product
Journal of Applied and Industrial Sciences, 2013, 1 (3): 44-48, ISSN: 2328-4595 (PRINT), ISSN: 2328-4609 (ONLINE) 46

Table 6
Calculation of Rm for separation of C2 C7
Component name Component name

Ethane 0.052 i-pentane -0.0013

Propane 0.553 Iso prene 0
Iso butane 1.03 Cyclo hexane 0
Cis butane 0.37 Toluene 0
TOTAL 1.78

Where:
Rm= 0.78 v = density of the vapor phase
R actual = 1.5 * Rm = 1.18 l= density of the liquid phase
Where R actual = R Densities at the top of the distillation column
X = (R-Rm) /(R+ 1) ..4 [7] v= 3.67 Kg/m3 l= 738 Kg/m3
Y = 1- X0.33 5 Densities at the bottom of distillation column
v= 2.16 Kg/m3 l= 578 Kg/m3
N = (Nmin + Y)/(1-Y) = 21.5 = 22 stages Taking tray spacing = 0.6 m
Column Efficiency Flow factor at the top = 0.03
EO= 51 32.1 log (i* i) .6 Flow factor at the bottom = 0.02
KT = 0.18 KB = 0.16
i = average viscosity= i xi,
i = relative volatility of light key Where: KT and KB are constants at the top and bottom
E0= 65.4 Na = 22/0.654= 34 stages respectively
Height of the column Velocity at the top = 2.8 m/s
Ht = (Na 1 ) *C + (Na /10) * C + 0.1 Ht .7 Velocity at the bottom = 2.3 m/s
Operation at 85% flooding rate
Where: Ht = Height of the column. Velocity at the top = 2.38m/s
C = tray Space = 0.6 [8] Velocity at the bottom = 1.9 m/s
Calculation of volumetric flow rates
Ht = 24 m At the top =41900/3.67/3600 = 3.17 m3/s
Flow Rates: Feed = 160 Ton/h. At the bottom 41900 /2.17 / 3600= 3.7 m3/s
Top Product = 20.94 T/h. Area of the column
Bottom Product = 139.06 T/h Top = 3.17/ 2.38= 1.33 m2
Vapor rate = D (1+R) = 41.9 T/h Bottom = 3.7/1.98 = 1.8 m2
LT = DR = 21.06 T/h Column cross sectional area
LB = F + LT TOP = 1.33 / 0.88 = 1.5 m2
L / V (top) = 0.5 L / V (bottom) = 2.5 Bottom 1.8/0.88 =2.04 m2
Diameter of column:
Column diameter: The column diameter must be selected so ..10
that flooding does not occur, however at the same time vapor
velocities that are high for greater plate are needed. In these DT = 1.38m, DB = 1.61 m
calculations, operation at 85% of flooding velocity is taken, Where: DT = column diameter at the top, DB = column
this velocity determined from equation diameter at the bottom
Column diameter = 1.61 m
Column area = 2 m2
. (8) Down comer area (12 % Ac) = 0.24 m2
Net Area = 2.5 0.3 = 1.8 m2
Flow Factor Active area = Ac 2Ad = 1.56 m2
Hole area (10% Aa) = 0.156 m2
Hole diameter = 5 mm Plate thickness = 5 mm
Area of one hole = 1.96*10-5
Number of holes = 7945 holes
.9 Binary Design Method: this is Mc.Thiele Method
Journal of Applied and Industrial Sciences, 2013, 1 (3): 44-48, ISSN: 2328-4595 (PRINT), ISSN: 2328-4609 (ONLINE) 47

Table 7
Identification of Light and Heavy component
Component name xf xD xW
LK Cis- butane 0.085 0.1967 0.00105
HK I-pentane 0.1493 0.0004 0.2530

Where: xf = composition in feed

Data for vapor-liquid equilibrium curve in term of relative volatility

..................11

Relative volatility for light component = 2.74

x 0 0.05 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0
Y 0 0.123 0.23 0.4 0.53 0.64 0.73 0.8 0.86 0.92 0.96 1

Figure 1: Mccabe Thiele graphical method

Where y axis is the composition of light key in vapor phase and x axis is the composition of light key in liquid phase

Table 8
Comparison of multicomponent and binary design methods
Design parameter Multi component method Mc Thiele method Percent deviation
N 22stages 19 stages -15.7
Eo 65.4% 62.3% -4.9
Na 34 stages 31 stages -9.7
Ht 24m 22 m -9.0
D 1.5 m2 1.7 m2 11.7
2
At 2m 2.3 m2 13
2
Ad 0.24 m 0.27 m2 11.1
2
An 1.8 m 2.02 m2 10.8
2
Aa 1.56m 1.76 m2 11.3
Ah 0.156 0.176 m2 11.3
Plate thickness 0.5mm 0.5mm 0
Hole diameter 0.5 mm 0.5 mm 0
Number of holes 7945 8963 11.3
Journal of Applied and Industrial Sciences, 2013, 1 (3): 44-48, ISSN: 2328-4595 (PRINT), ISSN: 2328-4609 (ONLINE) 48

From figure 1 Column cross sectional area

AT=1.76 / 0.88=2 m AB =2.04 /0.88 =2.3m2
Diameter of the column
= 0.29
DT = 1.59 m DB = 1.7m
Column area = 2.3 m2
Number of theoretical stages = 19 stages
Down comer area (12 % Ac) = 0.27 m2
Column Efficiency
Net Area = 2.02 m2
EO= 51 32.1 log (i* i)
Active area = Ac 2Ad = 1.76 m2
i = average viscosity
Hole area (10% Aa) = 0.176 m2
E0= 62.3%
Hole diameter = 5m Plate thickness = 5mm
N = 19/0.623 = 29 stages
Number of holes = 9677 holes
Height of the column
Ht = (Na I ) *C + (Na /10) * C + 0.1 Ht
IV. CONCLUSIONS
Where: Na= Actual number of stages Ht = Height of
the column
The multicomponent method using the (lk) and (hk) as binaries
C = tray Space = 0.6 Ht = 22 m
is comparatively similar to the method of Mccabe Thiele for
Flow Rates- Feed = 160 Ton/h
binary graphical method. It is observed that the maximum
Top Product = 20.94 T/h Bottom Product = 139.06 T/h
deviations is 15% in the number of theoretical stages, other
Vapor rate = D (12+2.2) = 67 T/h.
deviations fall between 11.7% and 0.0% which is acceptable
LT = DR=46T/h, LB = F + LT = 206 T/h
for the design. The new method is simple, saves time and
L / VT = 0.69, L / VB= 2.8
accurate.
Where: LT, LB = liquid rate at the top and bottom
VT, VB = vapor rate at the top and bottom
It is recommended that more case studies have to be designed
Column diameter
and compared to confirm and verify the new design technique.

Acknowledgement

The authors wish to thank the University of Karary, Faculty of

Flow Factor
graduate studies for supporting this work for Ph.D Thesis in
chemical engineering.

REFERENCES

Densities at the top of distillation column [1]. Treybal, R.E. (1984). Mass Transfer Operation, MCGraw Hill,
New York.
v= 2.54Kg/m3 l= 641Kg/m3
Densities at the bottom distillation
[2]. Fair, J.R, Bells, W.L. (1968).,Multicomponent Distillation,
v= 2.44 Kg/m3 l= 626 Kg/m3 J.Chem.Eng., 951,165.
Taking tray spacing = 0.6 m
Flow factor at the top = 0.04. [3]. Fenske, M.R. (1931). Distillation Design, J. of Ind. Eng. Chem,
Flow factor at the bottom = 0.17 24,482.
KT = 0.19 KB = 0.17
[4]. Underwood, A.J. (1948). Distillation, J.of chem.Eng.progress,
Velocity at the top = 3.0 m/s 44,603.
Velocity at the bottom = 2.7 m/s
For 85% flooding [5]. O Connel, H.E. (1946). Separation Efficiency, Trans Am Inst
Velocity at the top = 3.0 * 0.85 = 2.55 m/s Chem.Eng.42,741
Velocity at the bottom=2.7* 0.85 = 2.3 m/s
[6]. Gilliland, ER. (1990). Separation Processes, J of Ind. Chem, 32,
Volumetric flow metric rates 1220.
At the top =41900/2.54 /3600 = 4.5 m3/s
At the bottom 41900/2.441/ 3600= 4.7 m3/s [7]. Luyben, W.L. (2007). Process Modeling and Simulation and
Control, MCGrow Hill, New York.
Area of the column
Top = 4.5/2.55 = 1.76 m2
[8]. Dale, E, Edger, T.F. and Duncan, A.M.(1998).Process
Bottom = 4.7 / 2.3 = 2.04 m2 Dynamics and Control, John Willy and Sons, New York.

The author has requested enhancement of the downloaded file. All in-text references underlined in blue are linked to publications on ResearchGate.