CENG

CENG221
221
Lecture
Lecture4.4.Multi-component
Multi-componentDistillation
Distillation(4.5
(4.5h)
h)
Learning
LearningObjectives:
Objectives:
(1)
(1)Multi-component
Multi-componentflash
flashdistillation
distillationcalculation
calculation
(2)
(2)Multi-component
Multi-componentcolumn
columndistillation
distillation
Fenske
Equation
Fenske Equation
Underwood
UnderwoodEquation
Equation
Gilliland
Correlation
Gilliland Correlation
(3)
(3)Column
Columnsizing
sizing
Column
Columndiameter
diameter
Column
Columnheight
height
(4)
(4)Introduction
Introductiontotopacked
packedcolumn
column
Learning
LearningGuides:
Guides:
(1)
(1)Lecture
Lecturehandouts
handouts
(2)
(2)Chapters
Chapters3.3,
3.3,7.1,
7.1,9.1-9.3,
9.1-9.3,12.1,
12.1,12.3,
12.3,13.3
13.3ofofTextbook:
Textbook:
Equilibrium-Staged
Equilibrium-StagedSeparations
Separations

Multi-component Column Distillation

QC

Total Condenser

D, xDi
R

Q=0

F, hf
zi
(n)
Partial
Reboiler

QR

B, xBi

A 2000 kmole/h feed containing benzene (0.2), toluene (0.3) and

xylene (0.5) are to be separated using the distillation column shown
above. 90 percent of the toluene is to be recovered at the distillate and
98 percent of xylenes is produced at the bottom.
(a) label the key and non-key components
(b) what is the value of D and B?
(b) what is the distillate and bottom composition?

Column Distillation

QC

Total Condenser

D, xDi
R

Q=0

F, hf
zi
(n)
Partial
Reboiler

QR

B, xBi

A 100 kmole/h feed containing methanol (0.3) and water (0.7) is to be

separated using the distillation column shown above. 90 percent of the
methanol is to be recovered at the distillate and 90 percent of water is
produced at the bottom.
(a) label the key and non-key components
(b) what is the value of D and B?
(c) what is the distillate and bottom composition?

Fenske Equation (Total Reflux)

Calculates for Nmin

Nmin = Ln [(xA/xB)d/(xA/xB)b]
Ln AB
where xA is concentration of key component A (usually LKC)
xB is concentration of key component B (usually HKC
For binary components

Nmin = Ln [(xA/1-xA)d/(xA/1-xA)b]
Ln AB

Underwood Equation (Minimum Reflux)

Calculates for Rmin

Vfeed = F(1-q) =

iFzi
i -

iDxi
i -

Calculates for Vmin

Vmin =

Column Distillation

QC

Total Condenser

D, xDi
R

Q=0

F, hf
zi
(n)
Partial
Reboiler

QR

B, xBi

Given that the methanol/water = 3.5, determine the minimum number

of equilibrium stages (Nmin) needed for the separation.
- Use McCabe-Thiele method
- Use Fenske Equation

McCabe-Thiele Method

y (mole frac. methanol)

=3.5

0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

x (mole frac. methanol)

y (mole frac. methanol)

=3.5

0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0

0.2

0.4

0.6

x (mole frac. methanol)

0.8

Column Distillation

QC

Total Condenser

D, xDi
R

Q=0

F, hf
zi
(n)
Partial
Reboiler

QR

B, xBi

Given that feed is saturated liquid, determine the minimum

reflux (Rmin)
- Use McCabe-Thiele method
- Use Underwood Equation

McCabe-Thiele Method

y (mole frac. methanol)

=3.5

0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

x (mole frac. methanol)

y (mole frac. methanol)

=3.5

0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0

0.2

0.4

0.6

x (mole frac. methanol)

0.8

Column Distillation

QC

Total Condenser

D, xDi
R

Q=0

F, hf
zi
(n)
Partial
Reboiler

QR

B, xBi

Given that the reflux is 2 Rmin find the number of trays needed for
the separation (N)
- Use McCabe-Thiele method
- Use Gillaland Correlation

McCabe-Thiele Method

y (mole frac. methanol)

=3.5

0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

x (mole frac. methanol)

y (mole frac. methanol)

=3.5

0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0

0.2

0.4

0.6

x (mole frac. methanol)

0.8

Example 25: The distillation column shown in the figure below was
used for the separation of 0.5 mole fraction methanol-water solution.
The desired distillate and bottom products are 0.20 and 0.9,
respectively. The feed enters the column as a subcooled liquid that
condenses 2 moles of vapor per mole of feed.

Condenser

QC

D, xD= 0.9, hD
Reflux ratio = L0/D
= 2 Rmin

Q=0 (a) What is q-value of the feed? Plot the

F, z, hf
10 Kmole/min,
0.5
Subcooled liquid

(n)

feed line.
(b) What is the number of equilibrium
stages?
(c) What is the actual number of stages if
the EMV = 0.5?
(d) Solve the problem using Fenske,
Gilliland and Underwood methods.

Reboiler

QR

B, xB= 0.2, hB
Boilup ratio = Vn+1/B

Multi-component Column Distillation

Example 26. A mixture containing 0.2 mole frac. Benzene (BT =
2.25), 0.3 toluene (TT = 1.0), 0.1 xylene (XT = 0.33) and 0.4 cumene
(CT = 0.21) is to be separated by a distillation column equipped with
partial reboiler and total condenser. The 2-phase feed contains 30 %
vapor. 99.8 % of the cumene is to be recovered at the bottom and
99.5% of the toluene is to be recovered at the distillate. If the reflux
ratio is fixed at 3Rmin determine the number of stages needed for the
separation.

QC

Total Condenser

D, xDi
R

Q=0

F, hf
zi
(n)
Partial
Reboiler

QR

B, xBi

Sizing of Distillation Column

Number of separation trays (N)
Height of column (hC = N*tray spacing)
Column diameter (dc)

QC

Total Condenser

D, xDi
R

Q=0

F, hf
zi
(n)
Partial
Reboiler

QR

B, xBi

Sizing of Distillation Column Diameter

(1) decide on the tray spacing
values using increases by increment of 6 inches from 6-36
(2) use the graphical correlation that relates the constant Csb for
different tray spacing to Flv

Flv = WL/Wv [L/V]0.5

note: W is mass flow rates
(3) calculate the flooding velocity. This is the maximum flowrates
allowable that will prevent excessive entrainment of liquid.

uflood = K [(L - V)/V]0.5

ft/s

(4) actual operation velocity is usually lower than flooding velocity

where 0.65 < (fraction) < 0.9

uop = (fraction) uflood

ft/s

(5) finally, uop is related to the column diameter by:

uop = V(MWav)/3600VAnet

ft/s

Sizing of Distillation Column

Example 27a. Ethanol-water solution was to be separated using a
tray distillation column equipped with a total condenser and a partial
reboiler. 50 Kmole/h of saturated liquid feed (0.4 mole frac. ethanol)
was to be separated to obtain a distillate containing 0.6 mole frac.
Ethanol and a bottom of 0.1 mole frac. The reflux ratio is 1.8 Rmin.
The distillation company suggested a tray spacing of 24 for
optimum operation. Please calculate the diameter and height of the
distillation column if sieve trays were used as separation stage.

QC

Total Condenser

D, xDi
R

Q=0

F, hf
zi
(n)
Partial
Reboiler

QR

B, xBi

VLE Data
1

Y (ethanol)

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

0.8

X (ethanol)
1

Y (ethanol)

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
0

0.2

0.4

0.6

X (ethanol)

Multi-component Flash Distillation

Vapor product
V, yi, Hv
TF, PF, hF

Feed
F, zi,
T1, P1

Ta

<

Tb

Tc

Td

heater
Pa

>

Pb

>

Pc >> Pd

throttle
valve

pump

Tdrum
Pdrum

Liquid product
L, xi, hL

Rachford-Rice Equation
c

f(V/F) =

(Ki-1)zi

i=1 1 + (K -1)(V/F)
i

=0

Solution Methods for Rachford-Rice Equation

c

f(V/F) =

(Ki-1)zi
i=1 1 + (K -1)(V/F)
i

=0

(1) Secant method

(a) choose (V/F)1 such that f(V/F)1 < 0
(V/F)2 such that f(V/F)2 > 0
(b) use linear interpolation to determine V/F at f(V/F) = 0
(c) repeat (a) using new V/F value from (b) until f(V/F) =0
(2) Newtonian convergence
read page 55 of Textbook for details

Multi-component Flash Distillation

Example 26: Determine the amount and composition of the products
leaving the flash distillation shown below.

V, yi
T = 50C
P = 200 kPa
F = 1000 kmole/h
zc3 = 0.3
znC4 = 0.1
znc5 = 0.15
znc6 = 0.45

L, xi

VLE Data

Multi-component Flash Distillation

Example 27: Determine the operating temperature for the flash drum if
the composition of propane in the vapor is 0.7.

V, yc3 = 0.7

T=?
P = 200 kPa
F = 1000 kmole/h
zc3 = 0.25
znC4 = 0.15
znc5 = 0.15
znc6 = 0.45

L, xi

VLE Data