DESIGN OF PRESSURE SWING DISTILLATION COLUMN (T-103)

components Temperature ( C)
methanol 64.7
Methyl acetate 57.1
Methanol-methyl acetate (azeotrope) 53.8217

T-103, Methyl acetate and methanol form a homogeneous minimum-boiling

azeotrope with composition of 66.7 mol % methyl acetate at 15 psia and 52.17C
produces high purity of methanol in the bottoms, but only produce a distillate that has
a composition near the azeotrope condition
methyl acetate will be purifying at bottom of the stream while azeotrope of methanol-
methyl acetate will have left at top distillation column

Pressure swing distillation column composition as proposed by Bonet, J. et. al.

(2005).

Assumptions
No reaction occurs in the column
The liquid in the reboiler and in the base of the column are perfectly mixed
together
Any delay time (dead time) in the vapor line from the top of the column to the
reflux drum and in the reflux line back to the top tray is neglect
Through the system, the vapor holdup of the vapor is assumed to be
negligible.
Vapor and liquid rate through the stripping and rectifying section will be
constant under steady state condition (Equimolar flow)
The liquid on each trays is assumed to be perfectly mixed
Dynamic of the condenser and the reboiler will be neglected.

Summary of Chemical Design

Equipment Label T-101 Equipment Name Distillation Column
Column Diameter 2.1327 m Column Height 23.5 m
Process Data
Total feed flow 10,257 kg/h
Total vapor flow (distillate) 3727.62 kg/h
Total liquid flow (bottom) 6529.4 kg/h
Top Bottom
Operating temperature (C) 121.9 133.2
Pressure (bar) 7.5 8
Vapor density (kg/m3) 7.6988 17.7846 kg
Liquid density (kg/m3) 796.0522 932.0191
Minimum reflux ratio, Rmin 1.103276
Reflux ratio 1.28378
Plate Design
Tray type Sieve
Material of construction 304-Stainless Steel
No of tray 34
Tray spacing M 0.6
Tray thickness M 0.003
Flow arrangement Single flow
No of holes 13,827 units
Downcomer area, Ad m2 0.4287
Column area, Ac m2 3.5723
Net area, An m2 2.25044
Active area, Aa m2 2.7149
Hole area, Ah m2 0.27149
Weir Length, lw M 1.6209
Weir height, hw m 0.05

Summary of Mechanical Design

Pressure, Po 8 bar
Design Pressure, P1 0.88 N/mm2
Operating Temperature 385.15 K
Design Temperature 446.985 K
Column Material 304-Stainless Steel
Safety Factor 10%
Design Stress 130 N/mm2
Head and Closure
Types Ellipsoidal
Joint Factor, J 1
Minimum Thickness, e 9 mm
Column Weight
Dead weight of Vessel, Wv 134.1346 kN
Weight of Plates, Wp 145.7498 kN
Weight of Insulation, Wi 30,119.7803 kN
Weight for maintenance, Wm 13.7489 kN
Total Weight, Wt 308.6932 kN
Wind Speed, Uw 93 km/h
Wind pressure, Pw 432.45 N/m2
Loading (per linear meter), Fw 994.9377 N/m
Bending Moment, Mx 274.7272 kN/m
Insulation Material Mineral Wool
Insulation Thickness 75 mm
Skirt Support
Type of Support Straight Cylindrical Skirt
Material of Construction Stainless Steel
Youngs Modulus 200,000 N/mm2
Design Stress 135 N/mm2
Approximate Weight, Wapprox 767.5722 kN
Total Weight 901.7068 kN
Bending Moment, Ms 310.9063 kNm
Skirt Thickness, ts 11 mm
Skirt Height, Hs 1.5 m
Buckling Pressure for Ring, Pc 140 N/mm2
Bolt Diameter 19.1304 mm
Total compressive load, Fb 101.1963 kN/m
Maximum allowable bearing 5 N/mm2
pressure, Fc
No of Bolt 12
Actual Bearing Pressure 0.7127 N/mm2
Base Ring Thickness 20.2393 mm
Bolt Design Stress 125 N/mm2
Analysis of Stress at Vessel
Longitudinal Stress, L 52.1327 N/mm2
Horizontal Stress, h 104.2653 N/mm2
Dead Weight Stress, w 2.2151 N/mm2
Bending Stress, b 8.5086 x 10-3 N/mm2
Critical buckling stress, c 83.6937 N/mm2
Pipe Sizing
Feed (S9)
Optimum Duct Diameter, dopt 32 mm
Nozzle Thickness 0.009474 mm
Feed (S21)
Optimum Duct Diameter, dopt 32 mm
Nozzle Thickness 0.01049 mm
Distillate
Optimum Duct Diameter, dopt 32 mm
Nozzle Thickness 0.08797 mm
Bottom
Optimum Duct Diameter, dopt 40 mm
Nozzle Thickness 0.01184mm