Mass and Energy Balances

Stripping Section and Partial Reboiler

The previous mass and energy balances apply only to the enriching
section.

At some point down the column, we will have a feed to one of the
equilibrium stages the feed stage. At this feed stage, the enriching
section of the column ends.

At the feed stage we have the introduction of additional liquid and/or

vapor depending upon the nature of the feed stream.

Liquid from the feed stream will flow down the column and vapor from
the feed stream will rise up the column.

Consequently, the ratio of vapor to liquid in the enriching section above

the feed stage is generally different than that in the stripping section
below the feed stage because of the feed between these two sections.

Enriching or
Rectifying Section
Feed Stage
Stripping Section

Mass and Energy Balances

Stripping Section and Partial Reboiler
While we have designated the vapor and liquid streams
in the enriching section as L and V, we will designate the
vapor and liquid streams in the stripping section using
an underline or V and L (and overbar in the text) to
delineate them from those in the enriching section.
L/V < 1 in the enriching section.
Conversely, L/V > 1 in the stripping section.
Lets look at the mass and energy balances for the
stripping section of the column with a partial reboiler.
3

L N n

L N n

Stage N- n

V N n 1
L N 3

V N 2

V N 1

L N 2

L N 1

V N n 1
L N 3

Stage N-3
V N 2
Stage N-2
V N 1
Stage N-1

VN

L N 2

L N 1

Stage N-3

Stage N-2

Stage N-1

Stage N

LN

LN

V N 1

Stage N+1
Partial Reboiler
QR

VN
Stage N

V N 1

Stage N- n

Stage N+1
Partial Reboiler
QR

Mass and Energy Balances

Stripping Section and Partial Reboiler

Constant Molar Overflow (CMO)

Assumption Stripping Section

Just as we did for the enriching section, we will assume that for
every mole of liquid that vaporizes at an equilibrium stage, an
equivalent amount of vapor condenses, then the LN-ns are constant
and the VN-n+1s are constant in the column the CMO assumption.

We can then rewrite the component mass balance as:

Indices
Lets do an indices substitution. If we let
k = N-n-1; then k = N+1, N, N-1, N-2,
then the previous equation can be rewritten as:

Note that this allows us to arrive at the indices used by

Wankat, e.g., Eq. (5-14), which we can derive from this
equation.
7

Stripping Section Operating Line

Just as we did for the enriching section, we can also drop

the indices from the CMO equation for the stripping section
noting that the vapor and liquid compositions, yk and xk-1,
represent the vapor and liquid compositions at equilibrium
at stage k.

Just as we derived the enriching section operating line (OL)

from the mass balances and assuming CMO, this equation is
the OL for the stripping section.
8

Stripping Section Operating Line

The stripping section operating line (OL) for a distillation

column (assuming CMO) is a linear equation with:
slope
y-intercept

L/V and
(B/V)xB

Note that the L/V ratio for the stripping section of a

distillation column will always be greater than one, L/V > 1,
since there will be a greater amount of liquid than vapor in
the stripping section below the feed stream.
9

Alternative Stripping Section OL

Liquid to Vapor Ratio

10

Stripping Section OL and

y = x Intersection

11

Distillation Column
Stripping Section Operating Line

12

Feed Stage

At some point down the column, we introduce the feed at the feed
stage.

The phase and temperature of the feed affects the vapor and liquid
flow rates in the column.

If the feed is a liquid, then L > L.

If the feed is a vapor, then V > V.

The feed may also be flashed into the column yielding both vapor and
liquid remember flash distillation!

Remember, however, L/V < 1 and L/V >1.

Lets look at the feed stream and how we handle it

13

L f 1

Stage f-1, j

Lf

Stage f, j+1, k-1

L f 1

Stage f+1, k

Vf
F

V f 1

V f 2
14

Mass and Energy Balances

Feed Stage

15

Constant Molar Overflow (CMO)

Assumption Feed Stage
Just as we did for the enriching and stripping sections,
we will assume CMO for the feed stage and drop the
indices. We also add the liquid and vapor designations
for our enthalpies in the energy balance.

16

Handling Feed Stream Conditions

Since the nature (both phase and temperature) of the
feed affects the columns liquid and vapor flows, we need
to derive a method for handling these various types of
possible feeds.
It would be useful to derive such a method that allows
us to readily incorporate a parameter that accounts for
the condition of the feed stream.
We will start with the total mass and energy balances
around the feed stage

17

Some Manipulations
Fh F Lh L VH V Lh L VH V

FLV LV

18

Quality q

FLV LV

19

OL Intersection

20

Another Mass Balance

OL Intersection

21

Some Further Manipulations

General Feed Line
y(V V) (L L)x Dx D Bx B

22

Some Further Manipulations

Another Feed Line

(L L)
F
x
zF
(V V)
(V V)

LL
F

23

Feed Line

The previous equation is the feed line for the column in terms of
quality q.

This should look familiar it is the same as the operating line

that we obtained from the mass balances for flash distillation!

We can use the conditions of the feed to determine q from its

enthalpy relationship:

24

Feed Line Equations

By inspection from the results of our flash distillation operating

lines, the feed line can also be expressed in terms of fraction of
feed vaporized, f = V/F. This, as well as the other feed line
equations, are summarized below:

25

Feed Line and OL Intersection

Remember that we derived these feed line
equations from the intersection of the
enriching section and stripping section OLs.
It can be shown that the feed line also
intersects the OLs at their intersection all
three lines intersect at the same point.
We will need to use this intersection point
in our solutions
26

OL and Feed Line Intersection

27

Possible Feed Stream Conditions

We assume that the incoming feed is adiabatically
flashed to the column pressure, Pcol.
We can have 5 possible feed stream conditions
for a given feed composition zF:

Subcooled liquid feed if TF < Tbp

Saturated liquid feed if TF = Tbp
Two-phase feed if Tbp <TF < Tdp
Saturated Vapor if TF = Tdp
Superheated Vapor if TF > Tdp
28

Saturated Liquid Feed Given TF = Tbp

29

Saturated Vapor Feed Given TF = Tdp

30

Two-Phase Feed Given f

31

Two-Phase Feed Given TF

32

Subcooled Liquid Feed Given c

33

Subcooled Liquid Feed Given TF < Tbp

34

Superheated Vapor Feed Given v

35

Superheated Vapor Feed Given TF > Tdp

36

Possible Feed Lines

37

Stage Compositions Total

Condenser
QC

Total
Condenser

Equilibrium Curve

y1

xD
Operating Line
(y1 , y1 )

y1
Stage 1

(x1 , y1 )

y2

(x1 , y 2 )

x1
Stage 2

(x 2 , y 2 )

y3

(x 2 , y 3 )

x2

Stage 3

(x 3 , y 3 )

y 31

x3

(x j , y j )

y j 1 x j

Stage j

(x 3 , y 4 )

(x j , y j 1 )

38

McCabe-Thiele Graphical Solution

Binary Distillation

One can graphically solve a binary distillation problem using the

McCabe-Thiele method on a y vs. x plot using the equilibrium
curve and the operating lines (mass balances).

If one starts at one end of the column, one can take advantage of
the fact that the mass balance, or operating line, provides a link,
or the relationship, between molar compositions of the vapor and
liquid streams passing each other between stages.

The equilibrium relationship provides the relationship between the

molar compositions of the vapor and liquid streams on the
stages.

One can use these relationships to sequentially solve for all of the
vapor and liquid molar compositions by stepping off along the
stages the McCabe-Thiele method is a sequential solution of all
of the internal stage compositions.
39

McCabe-Thiele Graphical Example

Total Condenser
If one has a total condenser, one will know
that xD = xo = y1 which serves as the
starting point for the solution.
This starting point lies on the intersection
of the enriching section operating line and
the y = x auxiliary line.
This is equivalent to starting the stepping
off on the operating line at xD.
40

McCabe-Thiele Graphical Example

Total Condenser
The vapor molar composition coming off the first
stage in the column is known since we have a total
condenser it is y1 = xD; however, one doesnt know
the liquid composition, x1, coming off stage 1 and
flowing down to stage 2.
However, one can obtain x1 from the equilibrium
relationship since y1 is known.
Once one has x1, one can determine y2 from the
operating line since these compositions represent
passing streams.
41

McCabe-Thiele Graphical Solution

One can continue on down the column by
stepping off between the operating line and
the equilibrium curve until one reaches a
desired composition coming off the last
stage.
The number of step offs obtained is the
number of stages that will be needed in the
column to obtain a given separation.
42

McCabe-Thiele Stage Solution

Total Reboiler and Condenser Stepping
Down
Equilibrium
Curve

y 2 y 2 ( x1 )
(x1 , y1 )

y1
y3 y3 (x 2 )

x1 x1 ( y1 )

(x 2 , y 2 )

y2

(y1 , y1 )

(x1 , y 2 )
x 2 x 2 (y2 )
y3

(x 3 , y 3 )

Operating
Line

(x 2 , y 3 )
x3 x3 (y2 )

(x B , x B )

x2

x2

x1

x D y1

43

Lecture 13

44

Complete McCabe-Thiele
Solution
Equilibrium
Curve

(y1 , y1 )

(x I , y I )
y
Top
Operating
Line
Feed Line

(x B , x B )
xB xN

Bottom
Operating
Line
x

x D y1
45