Unit Operations

Lecture 21 & 22

10 & 12 Nov 2010

Column Internals

Column Internals

Column Internals

Column Internals

Jaeger Product Bull. 400-09

Jaeger Product Bull. 400-09

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Jaeger Product Bull. 400-09

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Packed
Column
Internals

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Random and Structured Packing

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Packed Columns (Distillation)

Usuallyy for small diameter
columns
o Usually more
economical for
columns < ~75
75 cm (2.5
(2 5
ft)
o Lower pressure drop
than trayed columns
o Good for vacuum
operations
Wide choice of packing
materials (random or
structured)
Watch for safety in HC
service.

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Column Internals

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Packed Columns (Distillation)

Column diamter
o Dcol/Dpacking ~ 8 12 (rule of thumb)
o If Dcol/Dpacking > ~40, watch for channeling
o Sized based usually on approach to flooding or acceptable pressure drop
Packing height

HETP

H packing
N TH

packing height
number theoretica l stages

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Trayed Columns (Diameter)

Chap
p 10 (p 314,, Wankat))
Fairs Procedure
o Considers entrainment
flooding (most freq.)
o Downcomer flooding
(sometimes) need
different procedure
o Downcomer flooding
rare if (1- ) 10%
Used in AspenPlus

1 1

1
2
Dia function V , ,

frac
*
u

flood

James R. Fair (1920 -2010)

2010)

tray Acs fraction

f
i available
il bl for
f vapor flow
fl
ft
u flood flooding vapor velocity
s
frac fractional approach to flooding velocity
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Trayed Columns (Diameter)

Plate spacing
p
g ((selected for
maintenance, performance).
Typ:
o 12 16 for Dia < 5
o 24
24 larger columns
Calc Dia & round up to
nearest foot (USA)
o 2.5 minimum dia.
o If < 2.5 consider packed
tower

u flood

C sb , f
20

0.2

L V
V

surface tension

ddyne
cm

C sb , f capacity factor

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Overview
Questions from last week??
Review rigorous methods / RADFRAC
Multicomponent systems:
o Residue
R id curves
o DSTWU / RADFRAC
o Rules of thumb
Complex (Enhanced) distillation
Column internals
Batch distillation

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Batch (Rayleigh) Distillation

Usually for small capacity
systems
1 column handle multicampaigns
Produce sample new products
Batch upstream processes
Feed contains solids/foulants
Seader & Henley (2006)

W x dx

ln
Wo xo y x

where:

Material Balance:
leads to Rayleigh Equation

xo xF mole fraction of initial charge

Wo F initial charge [moles ]

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Batch (Rayleigh) Distillation

W x dx

l
ln
Wo xo y x
a) P = constant; K = f(T) only

W
x
1

ln
ln
Wo K 1 xo

b) Binary with = constant

1 x
1 xo
Wo

ln

ln ln
W 1 x
1 xo

c) y = K x ; but K = f(T,x)

Solve graphically or numerically

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Multistage Batch Distillation

Seader & Henley (2006)

Modes of operation:
p
Constant reflux rate or ratio
xD varies with time
easily implemented (flow sensors)
Relatively simple and cost effective
Constant distillate composition
R or D varies with time
Requires fast response composition sensors
Sensors might not be available or only
justified for larger batch systems
Optimal control mode
xD and R varied with time
Designed to:
Minimize operation time
Maximize amount of distillate
Maximize profit
More complex control scheme

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Multistage Batch Distillation

Removing volatile impurities.

Flexible multi-purpose
Flexible,
multi purpose system
Seader & Henley (2006)

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Questions?

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