Distillation Column

By Jesse Reeves
Outline

Where we are, where we want to be.

How to get there.
What we used and what we got.
The trouble.
The model.
What we have

12 tray bubble-cap distillation column

Isoproply alcohol water separation
What we want

Same distillation column

Ethanol water separation
How to get there

Operate column at total reflux

Determine stage efficiency
Model the column in Aspen
Compare Aspen model to real IPA separation
results
Apply the Aspen model to an Ethanol
separation
Theory to get there

Equilibrium curve Stripping operating line

1, 2 x1
y1 L B
1 x1 ( 1, 2 1) y m 1 x m xb
V V
Rectifying operating line Murphree-vapor efficiency

y n 1
Ln
xn
D
xD
y i , n 1 y i , n
Vn 1 Vn 1 E mv
y i , n 1 y i*, n
Theory in a graph
The Column
 The Data
Calibration

Stage State Method Mass%IPA Error y* Mass% Ave Error Emv eq Error

2 Liquid Pycnometer 83.2014 2.7145 85.0 2.5

3 Liquid Pycnometer 81.4879 2.9938 84.0 2.5 68.2106 192.6003

4 Liquid Pycnometer 78.4166 2.6494 83.0 2.5 67.0089 102.1962

5 Liquid Pycnometer 81.6113 2.7021 84.0 2.5 -133.7437 -259.9631

6 Liquid Pycnometer 77.0589 2.5954 82.0 2.5 92.1339 101.3146

7 Liquid Pycnometer 54.8630 2.1294 79.0 2.5 91.9579 18.7079

8 Liquid Pycnometer 53.5125 2.1461 79.0 2.5 5.2986 11.8814

9 Liquid Pycnometer 23.9760 1.6605 75.0 2.5 57.8874 6.3146

10 Liquid RI 4.8889 0.5748 55.0 2.5 38.0896 4.0122

11 Liquid RI 1.7778 0.5691 35.0 2.5 9.3645 2.5398

12 Liquid RI 5.5556 0.5752 60.0 2.5 -6.9388 -1.5218

The Trouble
The IPA separation
The ETOH separation
The model
The IPA Aspen model
-4.7% at the top
+8.4% at the bottom
The three important stages 7, 9, and 10 Murphree-
vapor efficiencies were 91.9+18.7%, 57.9+6.3%,
38.4+4.0%
Overall column efficiency 8.3%
Stage efficiency did not matter
The Aspen model for ETOH

Max flow rate: 2.13 GPM

Steam flow rate: 1.67 kg/min
Condenser heat duty: -1739 kJ/min
Feed composition: 2.5 wt% ETOH
Distillate composition: 40 wt% ETOH
ETOH recovery: 99.4%
Recomendations

Replace the automatic control valve for the

steam flow to the reboiler.
Replace the leaky manual steam valve.
Refine the ETOH model with steady state
data.
Special thanks to team-J

Jaron Stanley: Team Leader

James Gardner: Operator
Jesse Reeves: Team player
References

Seader, J. D., Henley, Ernest J., Separation

Process Principles, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
pp. 44, 301, 358-397 (1998).
Distillation Column Manual, unpublished
printed notes, Univ. of Utah, Salt Lake City,
Utah 1997.
Questions