BINARY

DISTILLATION
Separation Process Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Universitas Pertamina
2018
 OUTLINE OBJECTIVES

▪ Basic Principles ▪ To apply the McCabe-Thiele method for

▪ Equipment & Design Specifications
▪ Design of distillation column:
McCabe-Thiele Graphical Method
▪ Estimation of stage efficiency
▪ Distillation Column Sizing: Tray &
Packed Columnh Distillation
determining minimum reflux ratio,
minimum equilibrium stages, number of
trays at various operating conditions.
▪ To estimate overall stage efficiency
▪ To determine the diameter of a trayed
tower and the size of the reflux drum.
▪ To determine packed height and
diameter of a packed column.

• Chapter 7: Seader, Henley and Roper, “Separation Process Principles”,

MAIN 3rd Edition, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 2011
REFERENCES • Chapter 4: Wankat, "Separation Process Engineering Includes Mass
Transfer Analysis", 3rd Ed., Prentice Hall, 2011
ABOUT DISTILLATION

 Goals: to produce distillate rich in light key (more

volatile) and bottoms product rich in heavy key (less
volatile) by exploiting their relative volatility (α≠1)
 Dates back to 1st century A.D
 Most common (90%-95%) separation technique in
chemical process industry.
 Very energy intensive
 In the US alone, ~40,000 distillation columns were in
use, accounting for 40% energy consumption by
chemical process industry (Humphrey & Keller, 1997)
 Schematic of 5 stage separators (countercurrent cascade) &
distillation column with T1<T2<T3<T4<T5

DISTILLATION
CASCADE

Distillation column is
basically a cascade
(combination/
arrangement) of multiple
flash separators which
operate at different
temperatures in order
to achieve higher degree
of separation.
DISTILLATION EQUIPMENT

Process at each stage/tray/plate

SELECTION OF COLUMN INTERNALS
COMMERCIAL
BINARY
DISTILLATION
OPERATIONS
BINARY DISTILLATION • RECTIFYING SECTION OPERATING LINE

COLUM DESIGN WITH • STRIPPING SECTION OPERATING LINE

• FEED LINE
MCCABE-THIELE
METHOD
  Specified Variables

DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS

(above feed line)

(below feed line)

Results
(Calculated)
 RECTIFYING SECTION OPERATING LINE
Assumptions: Total Mass Balance:
• The two components have V= L + D
equal & constant latent Component Mass Balance:
heat of vaporization.
• Sensible enthalphy changes
(Cp.dT) and heat of mixing
is negligible compared to
latent heat changes. Since R=L/D and molar flow is constant:
• Insulated column
(adiabatic).
• Column pressure is
Operating line equation:
uniform (no pressure
drop)
RECTIFYING SECTION OPERATING LINE
STRIPPING SECTION OPERATING LINE

Total Mass Balance:

Component Mass Balance:

Since boilup ratio 𝑉𝐵 = 𝑉ഥΤ𝐵 and molar flow is constant:

Operating line equation:

STRIPPING SECTION OPERATING LINE
FEED LINE
(q line)

▪ Rectifying and Stripping

operating line will intersect
at one point.
▪ The intersection if
connected to feed
composition (x=y=z) will
form another operating line
(feed line / q line)
 q → ratio of the increase in molar reflux rate across the feed stage
FEED LINE to the molar feed rate
(q line)
or
Feed conditions
For subcooled liquid & superheated vapor:
consideration
FEED LINE
(q line)
Feed conditions
consideration
FEED LINE Component Mass Balance Rectifying:

(q line)
Component Mass Balance Stripping:
Using q-line equation to
find intersection of Combine both equations to give:
rectifying & stripping line
Since:
Column overall mass balance:

Mass balance around the feed stage:

Thus, q-line equation becomes:

 • Optimal number of total equilibrium stages (N)
Complete McCabe- • Optimal feed stage location
Thiele Method • Compositions at each stage Stage ≈ Tray

Rectifying line

Feed/ q-line
No. of stages = 5
(4 + 1partial
reboiler)
Stripping line
LIMITING CASES: Minimum reflux
(Rmin=Lmin/D)
Reflux Ratio (R=L/D)
• N=

Total reflux (L/V=1)

• No product
• F=0
• y=x is the operating line
• N = N min
Total Reflux Minimum Reflux