CCB 3024 Process Plant Design

Tutorial 3

Problems for distillation column sequencing

1. TABLE 1 shows the composition of a four-component mixture to be separated by
distillation. The K-values for each component at the bubble point of this mixture
are given. The liquid and vapour-phase mixtures of these components may be
assumed to behave ideally. The feed and all distillation products may be
assumed to be liquids at their bubble point temperatures. Select the best
sequence for the separation of four- components into a pure liquid distillate by
applying the heuristics involved for distillation sequencing.
TABLE 1: Data for four-component mixture to be separated








2. The vapour flow rate in kmol/h for each distillation column for the separation of a
four-component mixture is given below.
A/BCD 100 B/CD 90 A/B 70
AB/CD 120 BC/D 250 B/C 100
ABC/D 240 A/BC 130 C/D 220
AB/C 140
Analyze the data given and determine the minimum total vapour flow rate for all
possible distillation sequences. Select the best sequence for the separation of
four-component mixture into a pure component.

Component Normal
boiling point (
o
C)
Mole fraction
in the feed
K-value
n-Pentane
n-Hexane
n-Heptane
n-Octane
36.3
69.0
98.47
125.7
0.05
0.30
0.45
0.20
3.736
1.5373
0.6571
0.284

3. TABLE 2 shows the data for the separation of a three component paraffinic
mixture. It is desired to achieve pure product (~99% purity). The mixture is fed at
saturated liquid and assumes ideal behaviour.
TABLE 2: Flow Rate and Relative volatility.
Component Feed Flowrate
(kmol/hr)
Vapor Pressure
(mmHg)
Benzene
Toluene
Ethylbenzene
269
282
57
76
22
7

a. For the separation of the mixture in TABLE 2 at 2 bar, determine the
relative volatilities o
i,j
for each component with respect to ethylbenzene.
b. Supposed the liquid mixture in TABLE 2 is to be separated using a
sequence of two distillation columns to produce products at 99% purity.
i List the 4 guidelines used for Heuristic method in determining the
best sequence for distillation columns.
ii. Using the Heuristic Guidelines above, determine whether the direct
or indirect sequence would be preferable. Explain your argument for
selecting the best sequence using each of the guidelines.
iii. Suppose the vapour flow rate in the distillation column can be
estimated using the following correlation:
( )
|
|
.
|

\
|
o
+ =
D
F
V
1
1
j , i
F
R

where,
V = vapour flow rate,
R
F
= R/R
min
,
o
i,j
= relative volatility between key components,
F = feed flow rate, and
D = distillate flow rate.

For a ratio of actual to minimum reflux of 1.1, determine the
sequence with minimum vapour flow rate. Assume sharp separation
between the key components.
iv. Comment between the solutions achieved using the heuristic
method and the minimum vapour flow rate method.

4. A simple distillation is defined as a distillation process having a single feed and
two products with heat provided in a reboiler and rejected in a condenser. The
key components of the separation are assumed to be adjacent in its relative
volatility.
a. List the FOUR heuristics guidelines that can be used to design the
distillation columns sequencing for separating multicomponent mixtures.
b. TABLE 3 shows the composition of a multicomponent mixture to be
separated into its pure components.

TABLE 3: Multicomponent mixture for separation
Component Normal
boiling point (
o
C)
Feed Flowrate
(kmol/h)
Relative
volatility
Benzene (A)
Toluene (B)
Ethyl benzene (C)
Styrene (D)
80
110
136
146
75
65
40
20
5.45
2.52
1.29
1.00

i. Use the heuristics guidelines to argue and select a preferred
distillation sequence to address the separation.
ii. Using the Underwood equation for minimum reflux ratio, calculate
the minimum vapour flow for the column arrangement that follows
the direct sequence.
Given the feed to the column is saturated liquid (q = 1) and the
separation specification is 99% recovery of the light and heavy key
in the top and bottom products, respectively. Assume that
components lighter than the light key will not appear in the bottoms
and the components heavier than the heavy key will not appear in
the distillate.

The Underwood Equations are

=

=
i
i
i
i F i
x
q
1
,
1
u o
o

=

= +
i
i i
i D i
x
R
1
,
min
1
u o
o


where, q is the feed quality, o is the relative volatility, R
min
is the
minimum reflux ratio and x
D,i
and x
F,i
are the distillate and feed
compositions, respectively.

Hint: The u value, that is, the roots for the Underwood equation, has
been calculated and for the first column it is 3.463, for the second
column it is 1.63 and for the third column it is 1.081.

iii. A separate calculation conducted on the mixed sequence and the
indirect sequence reveals the minimum vapour flow values as
mixed sequence = 695.2 kmol/h
indirect sequence = 858.7 kmol/h
Compare the results for minimum vapour flow calculation obtained
for the direct sequence and the two sequences above. Give your
comments on the applicability of the heuristic guidelines with
respect to the minimum vapour flow calculation for the multi-
component mixture separation specified.