Sieve Tray Distillation at Total Reflux Condition and

Batch Distillation with Constant Reflux and Variable Distillate Composition

Chai Wei Yi 180405, Putri Saidatina Assyifa bt Ahmad Faudzi 180689, Karthiga A/P Elang Kovan 177819
S1G6, ECH 3904, Department of Chemical and Environment Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia

Introduction
Batch distillation refers to the use of distillation in batches,
meaning that a mixture is distilled to separate it into its
component fractions before the distillation still is again
charged with more mixture and the process is
repeated. This is in contrast with continuous
distillation where the feedstock is added and the distillate
drawn off without interruption. Batch distillation is used
for purifying solvents, when the bottom product formed
salt or heavy organic component. The solvent is purified to
distillate. Purity of the fractions depends on the number of
ideal stages, reflux ratio and thermodynamic nature of the
mixture.
The first experiment is performed at total reflux to obtain
overall tray efficiency. At this total reflux, the effect of liquid
and vapor loading on overall tray efficiency is also studied.
One of the most common multi-stage batch distillation
modes is the operation in which the reflux ratio (L/D) is kept
constant throughout the distillation. In this kind of operation
(second experiment), the concentration of the distillate (xD )
is varied (changed), while the values of L and V are kept
constant (by fixing the reflux ratio)

Objectives
In the experiment of Sieve Tray Distillation at Total Reflux
Condition, the objectives are:
1.To determine the overall tray efficiency at total reflux
condition
2.To study effect of liquid and vapor loading on overall tray
efficiency at total reflux condition.
In the experiment of Batch Distillation with Constant Reflux
and Variable Distillate Composition, the objectives are:
1. To study the operation of a batch distillation with constant
reflux and variable distillate composition.

TEMPLATE DESIGN 2008

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Methodology
Sieve Tray Distillation at Total Reflux Condition
1.An x-y (equilibrat ion) diagram is prepared for the methanol-water
system. This can be done through literature.
2.A refractive index (RI) vs. composition plot is prepared as follows:
Prepare a set of mixtures containing methanol and water
within a specified range of composition between pure
water and pure methanol. For each mixture, obtain their
refractive index (RI) readings. Prepare a plot of RI vs.
composition for the whole range of mixtures
3.Once the distillation column operation has achieved stable
condition, some liquid samples are taken (10ml) from the top tray of
the distillation column and from the bottom still.
4.The refractive index of both samples are measured and the
valueis recorded.
5.The composition of the two samples are determined using the
refractive index vs. composition plot.
6.After taking the samples, valve (V3) is opened to drain the
sample line to get rid off any liquid trapped in the line.
7.Step 6 is repeated different heater power settings.
Note: Each time after decreasing the heater power, wait for
approximately 20min before taking samples.

Batch Distillation With Constant Reflux and Variable Distillate

Composition
1.Once the distillation column operation has achieved stable
condition under total reflux, the samples from the top tray of the
column and the bottom still are taken.
2.The refractive index of both samples are measured and recorded.
The composition of the two samples are determined using the
refractive index vs. composition plot. This will constitute the
composition at the beginning of the experiment.
3.The reflux divider controller knob is set to position 0 in order to
produce some top product. The reflux ratiois set as 5 and allowed
to settle for 10min.
4.The two samples are taken again and determine its composition.
5.After taking the samples, open valve (V3) to drain the sample line
to get rid off any liquid trapped in the line.
6.Step 4 and 5 are repeated for few more times until the liquid level
in the bottom still reached the lowest level and the heat is switched
off automatically

Results and Discussion

The graph below represents relationship between the
overall tray efficiency verses power settings when the
sieve tray distillation at total reflux condition.
Figure 1: Overall sieve tray efficiency versus power setting

Results and Discussion

The overall sieve tray efficiency fluctuated accordingly to
its number of theoretical number of trays as time increased.
Theoretically, the number of theoretical stages and
overall sieve tray efficiency should have increased with
time. For constant reflux ratio, the R is kept constant and
distillation is continued until the distillate composition
dropped below a certain pre-specified level.
The reason result obtained is different from theoretical
result is that the distillate is not cleared off completely each
time we collect the sample. This might cause accumulation of
methanol in the distillate

Conclusion and Recommendations

The theoretical number of trays remained almost the
same at average 5 stages when the heater power
setting was decreased.
Hence, the overall sieve tray efficiency also
remained almost constant when the ratio of number
of theoretical stages to the actual number of sieve
trays in the column should have remain same at all
power settings.
This constant trend was due to the total reflux condition
where the composition did not vary when the
temperature was lowered or changed.

The graph below represents relationship between the

overall tray efficiency against time with constant reflux
and variable distillate composition

From the data collection, the theoretical tray is determined

through McCabe-Thiele method by using equilibrium curve
methanol-water (x-y plot).
The overall tray efficiency at total reflux does not achieved
100%. The maximum efficiency of tray is 30.5% at heater
power of 80% and the minimum overall efficiency of tray
is 30.3% which at 90% of heater power.
Based on refractive index for bottom and distillate at
constant reflux ratio of 5, the number of moles of methanol
for each sample are determined using the refractive index
against composition plot. Those values are used to find
the number of theoretical trays.
There are some recommendations to improve the
experiment. High performance trays can be used in sieve
tray distillation column to improve the purity of the product.
The next suggestion is to clean the impurities in the sieve
tray distillation column.

Figure 2 Graph of Overall Efficiency against Time

Applications in Industry
-Batch distillation is to produce high-purity chemicals.
-It is a very frequent separation process in the
pharmaceutical industry and in wastewater treatment
units.
-In the fossil fuel industry, distillation is a major class of
operation in obtaining materials from crude oil for fuels.
-Distillation permits separation of air into its components,
which are oxygen, nitrogen, and argon, for industrial use.
-Distillation of fermented products produces distilled
beverages with a high alcohol content.