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Multi-Component Separations H83MCS

Distillation is a method used to separate the


components of a liquid solution, which depends
upon the distribution of these various component
between a vapor and a liquid phase.



Multi-Component Separations H83MCS
INTRODUCTION
Simple distillation of binary system
Example: ammonia-water; ethanol-water
Multi-Component Separations H83MCS
Enriching Section
Stripping Section
Multi-Component Separations H83MCS
Multi-Component Separations H83MCS
Multicomponent distillation is used when the
distillation process involves the separation of more
than two components system (binary system).

Multicomponent mixture emerging from a reactor is
passed to a train of distillation columns, which
progressively removes the desired products in
either the top or bottom streams of the column.

Multicomponent Distillation Fractional Distillation.
Multi-Component Separations H83MCS
Crude Styrene
Benzene
Toluene
Ethyl Benzene
Styrene
Tar
Multi-Component Separations H83MCS
TYPES OF PROBLEM
Design
Designing a column or a number of columns to
achieve a given required separation.
e.g. we set recovery fractions of components, reflux
rate to calculate the number of trays.

Evaluation
Evaluating the performance of an existing column or a
number of assumed columns for a particular situation.
e.g. we set enriching and stripping stages to calculate
the top/bottom product and reflux amount.
Multi-Component Separations H83MCS
Distillation Sequencing
Three component mixture two sequences

Direct Sequence
A
B
C
B
C
A
B
C
Indirect Sequence
A
B
C
A
B
A
B
C
Multi-Component Separations H83MCS
Distillation Sequencing
Direct Sequence takes the lightest component as
the overhead product / distillate in each column.

Indirect Sequence takes the heaviest component
as the bottom product in each column.

There may be significant differences in the capital
and operating costs of these two sequences.
Multi-Component Separations H83MCS
Distillation Sequencing
Problem 1.1:
Each component for the mixture in the table below is to be
separated into relatively pure products. Determine all the
possible distillation sequences. (Hint: there are 5 possible
sequences)

Component Normal Boiling Point
Propane 231
i-Butane 261
n-Butane 273
i-Pentane 301
Multi-Component Separations H83MCS
Distillation Sequencing
Practical constraints that restrict options:
Safety considerations hazardous component be removed
first.
Reactive and heat sensitive components be removed first.
Corrosion problem.
Decomposition in the reboilers contaminants the product, no
finished bottom product.
Some compound tend to polymerize when distilled unless
chemical are added to inhibit polymerization.
Some components are difficult to condense.
Multi-Component Separations H83MCS
Key Components
Key components are the two components in the
feed mixture whose separation is specified.
Light key (LK) is the more volatile component.
Heavy Key (HK) is the less volatile component.
Other components are termed as nonkeys.
Light nonkeys are the components more volatile
than the LK.
Heavy nonkeys are the components less volatile
than the HK.
Multi-Component Separations H83MCS
Key Components
Intermediate keys or distributed keys are the
components whose relative volatilities are
intermediate between the light key and the heavy
key.
Non-distributed keys are the components not
present to any significant extent in one of the
product streams.
Adjacent keys are the adjacent components within a
listing written in order of increasing volatility.

Multi-Component Separations H83MCS
Key Components
1
2
3
4
5
Split the mixture here
Light Key (LK)
Heavy Key (HK)
Decreasing
Volatility
Light NonKey
Heavy NonKey
Multi-Component Separations H83MCS
Key Components
The key components appear to a significant extent
in both overhead and bottom products.
Light nonkeys end up almost exclusively in the
overhead product.
Heavy nonkeys end up almost exclusively in the
bottom product.
Intermediate keys are split between the top and
bottom products.
Multi-Component Separations H83MCS
Key Components
Problem 1.2:
The component A is the most volatile and E is the least
volatile. Based on the table given below, determine:
a) LK and HK
b) Light and Heavy nonkeys
Feed Top Product Bottom Product
A A
B B
C C C
D D D
E E
Multi-Component Separations H83MCS
Key Components
a) Identify LK, HK, Light and Heavy nonkeys
b) By taking the data as shown in the table as the first column,
propose all possible distillation sequences to separate each
component into relatively pure products
Component Feed
(kmol/h)
Distillate
(kmol/h)
Bottoms
(kmol/h)
Propane 4.76 4.76 0.00
Isobutane 10.84 10.82 0.02
Butane 18.10 17.68 0.42
Isopentane 11.65 0.80 10.85
Pentane 20.40 0.01 20.39
Problem 1.3:
The table below presents the feed, distillate and bottoms
composition for a five component feed.

Multi-Component Separations H83MCS
Equilibrium Data
For relatively ideal mixtures, such as hydrocarbon mixture,
the equilibrium data are represented by:

i i i
x K y =
Where y
i
is the mole fraction of i in a vapour stream, in
equilibrium with a liquid stream with a mole fraction x
i
of i.
K
i
is the vapor-liquid equilibrium constant or distribution
coefficient or known as K-value for component i.

Multi-Component Separations H83MCS
Depriester Determination
of K-Values
Multi-Component Separations H83MCS
Equilibrium Data
The relative volatility,
ij
for each individual component can
be defined as below by taking component j as the base
component:
j
i
ij
K
K
= o
For an ideal system
ij
can be written as:
0
0
j
i
ij
P
P
= o
Where P
i
0
is the pure component vapour pressure of i.
Multi-Component Separations H83MCS
Bubble Points and Dew Points

Dew Point

Bubble Point
Mole Frac, x

Temp, T
xa
Saturated Vapor
Line
Saturated Liquid Line
Liquid Region
Vapor Region
Vapor-liquid
mixture region
Multi-Component Separations H83MCS
Bubble Points and Dew Points
Bubble Points:
A saturated liquid is at its bubble point, so that any
rise in temperature will cause a single bubble of vapor
to form.
The vapor in the bubble will be in equilibrium with the
liquid composition.


1 = = =
i ij j i i i
x K x K y o
( )

=
i ij
i ij
i
x
x
y
o
o
Multi-Component Separations H83MCS
Bubble Points and Dew Points
Dew Points:
A saturated vapour is at its dew point, so that any
drop in temperature will cause a drop of liquid to form.
The liquid in the drop will be at equilibrium with the
vapour composition.


1
1
=
|
|
.
|

\
|
= =

ij
i
j i
i
i
y
K K
y
x
o
( )

=
ij i
ij i
i
y
y
x
o
o
/
/
Multi-Component Separations H83MCS
Bubble Points and Dew Points
Problem 1.4:
A liquid feed to a distillation tower at 405.3 kPa abs is fed
to a distillation tower. The composition in mol fractions is
as follows: n-butane (x
A
= 0.40), n-pentane (x
B
= 0.25), n-
hexane (x
C
= 0.20), n-heptane (x
D
= 0.15). Calculate:
a) Bubble point and the vapor in equilibrium with the
liquid.
(Hint: assume a temperature of 65
o
C for first iteration)
b) Dew point and the liquid in equilibrium with the vapor.

Multi-Component Separations H83MCS
Equilibrium Flash Calculation

F, z
i
V, y
i
L, x
i
Material balance:
i i i
Lx Vy Fz
L V F
+ =
+ =
Based on the diagram, f = V/F where
f is the fraction of the feed vaporized
and the following is obtained:
|
|
.
|

\
|
= = =
+

=
f
f
V V
f
V
V F L
z
V
F
x
V
L
y
1
Multi-Component Separations H83MCS
Equilibrium Flash Calculation

f
z
x
f
f
x K y
i
i i ij j i
+

= =
1
o
( )
0 . 1
1 1
=
+
=

ij j
i
i
K f
z
x
o
F, z
i
V, y
i
L, x
i
Multi-Component Separations H83MCS
Equilibrium Flash Calculation
Problem 1.5:
By using the data of Problem 1.4, calculate the temperature
and composition of both phases when 40% of the feed is
vaporized in a flash distillation.

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