SAMPLE PROBLEM #10:

Two graphical methods:

McCabe-Thiele and Ponchon-Savarit
A distillation column with a total condenser
and partial reboiler is separating an ethanol-
water mixture. The feed is 20 mol% ethanol and
a bottoms composition of 2 mol % ethanol are
desired. The external reflux ratio is 5/3. The
reflux is returned as a saturated liquid. Find the
optimum feed plate location and the total
number of equilibrium stages required. Pressure
is 101.325 kPa. Solve this problem by two
graphical methods :
McCabe-Thiele and Ponchon-Savarit.
Equilibrium Data for ethanol-water system at 1 atm
(mole fraction ethanol)
X Y
0 0
0.00792 0.08507
0.02018 0.19146
0.04167 0.30361 Liquid Vapor
0.08911 0.42733 X Enthalpy Enthalpy
0.14362 0.49293   (Btu/mol mixture) (Btu/mol mixture)

0.2069 0.53472 0 3241.8 20700

0.28125 0.56849 0.04167 3062.83 20738.3
0.36986 0.60131 0.14362 2972.87 20766.1
0.47727 0.64375 0.28125 3180.04 20803.5
0.61017 0.69935
0.47727 3484.5 20825.5
0.77885 0.80219
0.77885 3845.42 20938.8
0.85976 0.86404
1 4094 21045
0.90377 0.9015
0.95043 0.94564
1 1
 C

D XD = 80% mol.

Lo 5
R= =
1 atm D 3
XF= 20% mol. F
F = 1000 kmols / h
T = 26.7oC

B XB = 2% mol.
R
Ponchon-Savarit Graphical Method

ΔD
Lo 5 ΔD - H
R= = =
D 3 H-h
Lo
5 ΔD - 21,000
= =
H 3 21,000 - 2000
V

D ΔD = 52,666.67 Btu/ lbmol

h
Lo
Feed plate location = 12.7

Total no of equilibrium stages = 14.1

 ΔD

V Saturated Vapor Curve (H)

8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
10
No. of Tie line14.1
14
13
12
9
11
=

L Saturated Liquid Curve (h)

F
0

ΔB

XB XF XD
 McCabe-Thiele Graphical Method
Solution:
Assume value of Y2 =0.4
XD 0.8
Yn+1 = = 0.4 - 0.2
R +1 5/3 + 1 = 0.625
X2 - 0.2

Yn+1 = 0.3
X2 = 0.52
5/3
q = = 0.625
5/3 + 1
In the graph: Feed plate location = 11.7
Y2-Y1 Y2 - 0.2
= = 0.625
X2-X1 X2 - 0.2
Total no of equilibrium stages = 12.9
 1
1
2
3
0.8 6
5
4
7
8
9
10
11
Rectifying operating line
0.6 12

0.4 q line

12.9

0.2
Striping line

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
XB XF XD