Multi-component distillation

objectives
1. Understand why multicomponent
distillation is a trial-and-error
process
2. Make appropriate assumptions and
solve the external mass balances
3. Perform a stage-by-stage
calculations for distillation with no
HNKs or no LNKs

How many distillation columns are

required?
One distillation column cannot separate more
than 1-comp in a reasonably pure form from a
multicomponent mixture.

D, xD,1

F
zF,1
zF,2

if the feed contains more than two volatile

components, we cannot specify the recoveries
of the additional components.
If we have C-components, then in principle, we
must have C-1 number of columns to separate
all of the components in the feed

B, xB,1

A complete statement of the problem

associated with multicomponent distillation is
associated with the analysis of DOF---read
section 5.1 of the text for complete treatment

Distillation of multicomponent
mixtures
1
1,
2

Alternative?
1
F

II

2
2,3,4

F
zF,1
zF,2
zF,3
zF,4

3
3,4
4

3, 4

III

Separation of C components
requires (C-1) distillation columns.
4

Difficulties and
restrictions
An added component to a binary feed adds a DOF to the
system (e.g., 9 for ternary; 10 for quaternary; etc..)
The added DOF is used to completely and unambiguously
specify the feed composition
External material and energy balances around the column
ALWAYS result with ONE equation short (# of variables > #
of eqns by 1)
Cannot perform stage-by-stage calculations at one end of
the column to the other end. In order to do so, we need to
know ALL composition at one end, which we dont?

What can be done?

GUESS!
trial-and-error process
in many cases, it is easy to make an excellent 1 st
guess
Further simplified if stated in terms of Fractional
Recoveries (FR)? of the Key Components?

Key Components: components that do have

their distillate and bottoms FR or
Compositions specified.

What is Fractional Recovery.?

Lets consider the following example:
A feed stream contains 30 mol% ethane
(C2), 40% propane (C3), and the
remaining n-butane (C4). If 99% of C3 is
to be recovered in the distillate,
write the equation expressing the
relationship between C3 in the feed and
that in the distillate.

What is Fractional
Recovery.?

Key Components
Most volatile specified component = Light key
Component (LK)
Least volatile specified component = Heavy key
Component (HK)
All other components are NON-KEYS (NK)
If more volatile that LK, they are called Light Non Keys
(LNK)
If less volatile than HK, they are called Heavy Non Keys
(HNK)

An excellent 1st guess: assume that all LNKs are all

Key Components
compone
nt
design for
separation

designation

1.5 Light non-key

(LNK)

1.4 Light key (LK)

1.3 Heavy key (HK)

1.2 Heavy non-key

(HNK)

assume exclusively in distillate

specify recovery in distillate
specify recovery in bottoms

assume exclusively in bottoms

Heavyand
non-key
Distributions5 in the1.0
distillate
bottoms streams are specified
(HNK)
for the two key components.
If we assume that the non-keys do not distribute, the overall
mass balance is easily solved.

Example
The 2,000 kmol/h saturated liquid feed with the
composition of 0.056 mole fraction propane, 0.321 nbutane, 0.482 n-pentane, and the remainder n-hexane is
to be distilled in an atmospheric distillation column. The
column has a total condenser and a partial re-boiler, with
the reflux ratio of 3.5, and the reflux is a saturated liquid.
A fractional recovery of 99.4% of n-butane is desired in
the distillate, and the required fractional recovery of npentane in the bottom is 99.7%.
If the optimal feed stage is used, estimate the distillate
and bottom compositions and flow rates.

Example

Example
component
i

zF,i

fi= FzF,i

di

xD,i= di/D

bi

xB,i= bi/B

LNK- C3

0.056

112

112

0.15

0.00

0.00

LK-C4

0.321

642

638.148

0.85

3.85

0.00

HK-C5

0.482

964

2.892

0.00

961.11

0.77

HNK-C6

0.197

282
2000

0
D =753

0.00
1

282.00
B =1247

0.23
1

Stage-by-stage calculations

For a specified R and feed quality q, and assuming CMO, first perform
the overall column balance to obtain B & D. Then,
VV = V + (1 q) F s
Algebraic solution, starting at top of column:
1. yi,j = xi,D
(total condenser), (component i, stage j)
2. xi,j = yi,j / Ki,j (VLE)
3. yi,j+1 = (R/R+1) xi,1 + (1/R+1) xD (mass balance, rectifying section)
4. Repeat steps (2) &(3) down to feed stage. Then, change mass
balance equation to
yi,k+1 = (s+1/s) xi,k - (1/s) xB
5. Stop when and
We just need to find Ki,j for each stage?

Obtaining Ki(T) for each stage

Consider a ternary system with components A, B, C

Assume constant relative volatility
Choose B as the reference component

AB

xA,j

K A yA / xA

K B yB / xB

yA,j
K A,j

yA,j

ABK B,j

BB 1

xA,j xB,j xC,j

CB
yA,j

ABK B,j

KC
KB

yB,j

BBK B,j

yC,j

CBK B,j

Obtaining Ki(T) for each

stage
K B,j

yA,j

AB

yB,j

BB

yC,j

CB

yi,j

iB

yA,j
xA,j

AB

yi,j

iB

IF relative volatility is not constant, use geometric average,

(1N). Or, find Tj from dew point calculation (starting with xD,i),
then find Ki(Tj) using VLE.

Trial-and-error solution
Perform stage-by-stage analysis, from top to bottom of column.
xHK,N+1 xHK,B
xLK,N+1 xLK,B

must be satisfied simultaneously

if not true, choose different starting concentrations at the top of the

column, and repeat
cannot assume xD,HNK = 0, but no way to guess
works best if there are no HNKs. If there is no LNK, can start at bottom of
column and work to the top
not obvious where the optimum feed stage is
very tedious, convergence is difficult

Example
column with a total condenser and
A distillation

a partial reboiler is being used to separate a

1000 kmol/h saturated liquid feed mixture of
40 mol% benzene, 30 mol% toluene, and 30
mol% cumene. We desire 95% recovery of
toluene in the distillate and 95% recovery of
cumene in the bottoms. The column is
operated at 1 atm and reflux ratio of 2.0.
Assume 1.
Find NF and N?

1000
kmol/h

0.4 B
0.3 T
0.3 C

1 atm
R=
2.0
95%
FR of T
in D
95%
FR of
C in B
B

1. yi,j = xi,j(D)
2. xi,j =
3. yi,j+1 = (R/R+1) xi,j + (1/R+1) xDi
4. Repeat steps (2) &(3) down to feed stage. Then, change mass
balance equation to
yi,k+1 = (s+1/s) xi,k - (1/s) xB
5. Stop when and

Pinch points in binary distillation

Recall for binary distillation:

Rmin

0.9
0.8

xD

pinch
point

0.7

Binary composition profile

x z F

y(MeOH)

0.6
0.5

0.4

0.3
0.2
0.1
0

xB

0.1

0.2

0.3

Using Rmin
generates a
pinch point at
the
feed
stage
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
x(MeOH)

plateau of
constant

composition

xB

0.9

feed
condens
er
stage
number

reboiler

near the pinch point, composition changes little from

stage to stage
- passing streams are very close to equilibrium
- no change in temperature between stages

Behavior in ternary systems

in the presence of a third
component whose composition does
change through the
feed stage,
the pinch point moves

Consider LK

Ternary composition profile

LK-HK-HNK
rectifyin
g

strippin
g

LK is the most volatile component

xi
in the system on every stage
there is almost no LK at the reboiler
stage

Consider HNK
HNK is the least volatile component in
0
the system on every stage
C
almost all HNK is found at the reboiler
stage
finite HNK at feed stage, drops off

F
stage
number

Behavior of HK
1

HK behavior is most complex

pinch
point

above feed stage, distillation is

~bina
ry

almost binary (HK-LK), with HK the less

xi
volatile component

~bina

Consider HK:

Ternary composition profile

LK-HK-HNK

near reboiler, distillation is almost

binary (HNK-HK), but HK is the more
volatile component
HK goes through a maximum in the
stripping
point there

section, creating a pinch

0
C

F
stage
number

Pinch points in multicomponent

distillation
pinch
F
LK, HK,
HNK

pinch

F
LNK, LK,
HK

pinch
F
LNK, LK,
HK, HNK

pinch

LK-HK-HNK

LNK-LK-HK

LNK-LK-HK-

system has a

system has a

HNK has pinch

pinch point in the

pinch point in the

points in both

stripping section

rectifying section

sections

Graphical methods are not helpful in finding these

pinch points.