Sample Problem #7:

A rectification column is fed 100kg mol/h of a mixture of 50 mol % benzene and 50 mol % toluene at 101.32 kPa abs ressure. !he feed is li"uid at the boiling oint. !he distillate is to contain #0 mol % benzene and the bottoms 10 mol % benzene. !he reflux ratio is $.52%1. &alculate the kg mol/h distillate' kg mol/h bottoms' and the number of theoretical tra(s needed using the )c&abe*!hiele method. +sing gra hical methods' calculate the minimum reflux ratio ,m and the minimum number of theoretical lates at total reflux.

Equilibrium data at column pressure, mole fraction benzene x 0.10 0.20 0.30 0.$0 0.50 ( 0.21 0.3. 0.51 0.-$ 0..2 x 0.-0 0..0 0./0 0.#0 0.#5 ( 0..# 0./0.#1 0.#0.#/

Solution:
Step 1: Draw diagram
total condenser 70 70 ,3 $.52 6istilling 6 &olumn
101.32 kPa

100 kgmols/h 0eed 1li"uid at boiling oint2 x0 3 0.5

6istillate 3 5 x6 3 0.#

,m 35 in 4ottoms 3 5 x4 3 0.1

n35 nmin 3 5 artial reboiler

Step 2: Plot equilibrium data on diagram

c!abe"#$iele

489:898 !;7+898 <=<!8)

1 0./ 0.&

0.$ 0.2 0 0 0.2 0.$

%

0.-

0./

Step ': Plot %D, %(, and %D on

4enzene*!oluene <(stem
1 0./ 0.&

0.$ 0.2 0

x430.1

0.2

0.$

x030.5
%

0.-

0./

x630.#

)ote: x6' x0' and x4 on the diagonal are a oint of u o erating line' feed line' and lo>er o erating line

er

Step *: Plot rectif&ing operating line

8"uation of u er o erating line%

( n+1

x6 , = xn + , +1 , +1

x6 0.# = = 0.1-3 (*interce t 3 , + 1 $.52 + 1

4enzene*!oluene <(stem
1 0./ 0.&
,ectif(ing ; erating 7ine

0.$
(*int. 30.1-3

0.2 0 0 0.2 0.$

%

0.-

0./

Step +: Plot feed line

<ince feed is saturated li"uid 1li"uid at the boiling oint2' "ualit( " 3 1 and feed line is ?ertical 4enzene*!oluene <(stem
1 0./ 0.&

0eed 7ine

0.$ 0.2 0 0 0.2 0.$

%

0.-

0./

Step ,: Plot stripping operating line

9ote% !he lo>er o erating line >ill also intersect at the intersection of feed line and u er o erating line. 4enzene*!oluene <(stem
1 0./ 0.&

<tri ing ; erating line

0.$ 0.2 0 0 0.2 0.$

%

0.-

0./

Step 7: Step off stages

4enzene*!oluene <(stem
1 0./ 0.-

2 3 $ 5 935.#
0 0.2 0.$
%

&

0.$ 0.2 0

0.-

0./

9 3 5.# 3 theoretical tra(s @ reboiler 3 n @ 1 n 3 $.# theoretical tra(s

Step -: #o get D and ., set up material balances

!otal balance 36@4 )ore ?olatile com onent balance

0

0 3 x66 @ x44

.511002 3 0.#6 @ 0.14 <ol?ing these t>o e"uations

Step /: #o determine )m , step off stages using in diagonal as o0erall operating line
At total reflux' , 3 and (*interce t of the u er o erating line 30A o?erall o erating line coincides >ith the diagonal 4enzene*!oluene <(stem
1 0./ 0.&

0.$ 0.2 0 0 0.2 0.$

%

9min 3 $.#
0.0./ 1

Step 11: #o determine 2m , locate pinc$ point in

4enzene*!oluene <(stem 1 0./ 0.&

Pinch oint

(*int for ,m 3 0.$#5

0.$ 0.2 0 0 0.2 0.$
%

0.-

0./

(*int of rectif(ing line 3

x6 , +1

0.#0 0.$#5 = ,m + 1 ,m 3 0./2

3nswers:
6 3 50 kmols/h and 4 3 50 kmols/h n 3 $.# theoretical tra(s nm 3 3.# in ,m 3 0./2