Chemical Process Control An Introduction to Theory . and Practice GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS Departement of Chemical Engineering Massachusetis Institute of Technology PRENTICE-HALL. INC. Englewood Citfs, New Jersey 07632 Example 4.13: Mathematical Model of an Ideal Binary Distillation Column | Consider a binary mixture of componemts A and B, 10 be separated | inwo wo product streams using conventional distillation. The minture is fed in the ealumn ae a saturated liquid (.e, at its bubble point). onta the | feed teay (Figure 4.10), with a molar flow rate (mnol/min) Fy anda molar fraction of component A, ¢. The overhead vapor stream 1s cooted and | completely condensed, and then it flows into the reflux drum. The cooking. | of the overhead vapor is accomplished with cooling water. The liquid from the refluy drum is partly pumped back in the column (op tray, N) with a molar flow rate Fx (reflex stream) and is partly removed as the distillate product with 3 molar flow rate Fo. Let us eall Man the liquid holdup in the reflax drum and x the molar fraction of comporentt A in the liquid of the reflux drum, 11 is clear that xp is the composition for both the reflux and distillate sircams ‘AL the base of the distillation columa, a liquid product stream (the bottoms product) is removed with a flow rate Fy and a composition x» (molar fraction of A). A liquid stream with 2 molar low rate 1" 3s also. ¢ (Mnn) = ete Contzellar br bese =f (h) - Dshllate concestrobn T= $l) - Bets Concentration V- ft)Dual control of a distillation control