Comparison of Actual and Theoretical

Performance of Binary Batch Distillation in

a Packed Column
Presented by:

Liu Wei
Ling
KEK
060025

Outline
1. Objective
2. Introduction
3. Theory
4. Methodology
5. Results
6. Discussion
7. Conclusion

OBJECTIVE
The

objective of this experiment is to

compare the actual and theoretical
performance of binary batch distillation for
ethanol-water solution in a packed column
operated under constant reflux ratio.

INTRODUCTION
Distillation

i.

A process which a mixture of two or

more substances are separated, by
the application of heat.

ii. Vapor of boiling mixture rich in in

light
components
while
liquid
remain in the still rich in heavy
components.

INTRODUCTION (cont)
Batch

Distillation
i. Feed is loaded into a still. On heating,
the vapor is passing through a
fractionating column and withdrawn
as distillate
ii. It is desirable when small amount of
high valued chemical need to be
separated
iii. Disadvantage: Cannot applied to
thermal unstable
components

INTRODUCTION (cont)
Packed

Column

i. Generally less expensive than plate

column with lower pressure drop
ii. Main disadvantage is difficult to keep good
liquid distribution especially for large and
tall column.
iii. Liquid tend to flow through the packing in
preferred channels

THEORY
McCabe-Thiele

i.Method
The rectification
operating
R line xD
yn
xn1
R 1
R 1
1

R=L/D

0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6

Mole fraction of
more volatile
component in
distillate ,xD

0.5

Vapor,y

0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

Liquid, x

0.7

0.8

0.9

THEORY (cont)
Rayleigh

Equation

i. Mass balances around the whole system

for entire operation time produced:

S2

ln

Where

=-

xs1

xs2

dx s
x d -x s

S1= Amount (mole) of feed loaded

S2= Amount (mole) of residue in still

xs= Mole fraction of more volatile

component in still
xD= Mole fraction of more volatile component in

THEORY (cont)
HETP (Height Equivalent

Theoretical
Plate)
Assume
that one
equilibrium stage is
represented by a certain height of packing
Packing Height = Number of equilibrium
stages HETP

By
HETP= 0.1m ; Height of packing=1m
assuming,
No. of equilibrium
stages= 10
Plate Efficiency

Plate efficiency = No. of theoretical

plates/No. of actual plates
Plate efficiency is between

METHODOLOGY
Preparation of the calibration curve

Refractomet
er

i. Six compositions of standard

ethanol
solution
(10-60%
volume fraction of ethanol)
were prepared.
ii. Refractive index of the 6
samples of solutions were
measured
by
using
the
refractometer.
iii. The calibration curve with
refractive index as a function
of ethanol composition was
plotted.

METHODOLOGY
(cont)
Distillation
water out
cooler
reflux valve
water in
thermometer
(condensation)

water out
condenser
water in

packed
column
distillate
thermometer (boiling)

boiler controller
boiler

still

Calibration
RESULTS

curve
Calibration Chart (Refractive Index vs % Volume of Ethanol)
1.35
f(x) = 0x + 1.33
R = 0.96

1.35
1.34
1.34
1.34
Refractive Index (R)

1.34
1.34
1.33
1.33
1.33
1.33
0

10

20

30

40

50

60

% Volume of Ethanol

Figure1: Calibration curve of refractive index versus

% volume of ethanol

70

RESULTS (cont)
Actual amount of ethanol in feed,

distillate and residue in still.

Table 1: Actual experimental value for
R=10 and R=5

Reflux
ratio, R

Feed
S1(mole
s)

Residue
xs1

S2(mole
s)

Distillate

xs2

D(moles
)

xD

10

119.19 0.073 114.74

3

0.0452

4.558

0.780

114.74 0.045 111.41

2

0.0286

3.333

0.601

RESULTS (cont)

Theoretical number stages for R=10 and

R=5 by using McCabe-Thiele Method

Table 2: Actual number of stages for
R=10 and R=5
Reflux ratio, R
10

Slope of operating
line,

0.909

0.833

Intersect of
operating line,

0.071

0.102

5.86

2.93

R
R 1

Number of stages
stepped
xD of

R 1

RESULTS (cont)
Theoretical amount of ethanol in feed,

distillate and residue in still by using

Rayleigh Equation
Reflux
ratio, R

Table 3:Theoretical experimental value for

R=10 and R=5

Feed

Residue

Distillate

S1(mol
es)

xs1

S2,cal
(moles
)

xs2

Dcal
(moles)

xD,cal

10

119.19

0.07
33

115.04

0.045
2

4.260

0.832

114.74

0.04
52

112.31

0.028
6

2.430

0.812

RESULTS
(cont)
Comparison of theoretical and actual

experimental values of xD, S2, and D.

Table 4: Comparison of theoretical and actual experiment
values of xD, S2, and D
Theoretical
Actual
Percentag
Result
Experimen
e of
(Rayleigh
tal Result
Deviation
Equation)
R = 10
XD

0.832

0.780

-6.25

S2

115.04

114.74

-0.26

4.260

4.558

7.00

XD

0.812

0.601

-25.98

S2

112.31

111.41

-0.80

2.43

3.333

37.16

R=5

RESULTS (cont)
Plate Efficiency,

Plate efficiency =No. of theoretical

plate/No. of actual plate
By using McCabe-Thiele
Method

i.

For distillation run at R=10,

R=10=0.6

ii. For distillation run at R=5,

R=5=0.3

10

DISCUSSION
The actual stages is higher than the

theoretical stages

i. In an ideal column, it was assumed

that equilibrium between the vapor
and liquid mass transfer was reached
at each stage.

ii. In reality the equilibrium is not

achieved. Hence, to achieve the
similar degree of distillation, more
stages are needed.

DISCUSSION(cont)
The plate efficiency is higher for the

higher reflux ratio

i. Under higher reflux ratio, more liquid
from the condenser is being recycled to
the column (L increase; D decrease).
ii. This enhance the mass transfer
between the liquid and vapor. Thus, the
vapor and liquid streams shall approach
closer to equilibrium before leaving
each stage

DISCUSSION(cont)
The amount of residue left in still after distillation, S2

i. Amount of residue remains in still after

distillation estimated by Rayleigh is
higher than the actual result.
ii. It is assumed that there is no hold up
in the column in Rayleigh equation.
iii. In reality, the packing are wetted with
liquid, hence there is accumulation of
material in the packing region.

CONCLUSION
There are deviations between the experimental

and theoretical values of distillate purity(xD),

amount of distillate(D) and amount of residue
of
(S2) remainingPercentage
in the still.
Deviation

R=10
XD

-6.25

S2

-0.26

7.00

R=5
XD

-25.98

S2

-0.80

37.16

The plate efficiencies are 0.6 for R=10