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Modeling
Activity coeficients
Vapor pressures
Vapor pressures
Fugacity coeficients
Fugacity coeficients
Densities
Densities
Enthalpies
Enthalpies
Diffusivities
Viscosities
Surface tensions
Thermal
conductivities
Mass-transfer
coeficients
Equilibrium models
The longest-used (over a century) method
for modeling a full distillation column is
the equilibrium method, where the vapor
and liquid phases are assumed to be in
a state of thermodynamic equilibrium.
Models based on ideal equilibrium
stages are widely used to help determine
the configuration of proposed columns.
The approach is to divide the column
into discrete stages and use computer
programs to solve so-called MESH equations. The acronym MESH stands for material balances, equilibrium relationships,
summation equations and heat (enthalpy)
balances (Table 1). Since the 1950s,
many algorithms have been developed to
solve the MESH equations.
The equilibrium-stage approach offers
a practical and efficient method for
simulating an existing column for which
data exist. The main disadvantage of
the equilibrium-stage is that ideal stages
are used to model real trays and packing depths. Determining what packing
height corresponds to an equilibrium
stage, for example, is not necessarily
simple and straightforward.
Engineers have been aware for
decades that vapor and liquid streams
leaving a real column tray or section of
Non-equilibrium
models
Heat-transfer
coeficients
Interfacial areas
Efficiencies
Equilibrium
models
Non-equilibrium
models
Mass balances
Energy balances
Phase energy
balances
Non-equilibrium models
Equilibrium
equations
Equilibrium equations
Summation
equations:
Summation equations
Mass-transfer in vapor
phase
Mass transfer in liquid
phase
Energy transfer
References
1. Luyben, W.L., Distillation Design and Control
Using Aspen Simulation, 2nd ed., John Wiley
& Sons, Inc., Hoboken, N.J., 2013.
2. Petlyuk, F.B., Distillation Theory and its Application to Optimal Design of Separation Units,
Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, U.K.,
2004.
3. Strigle, R.F., Random Packings and Packed
Towers: Design and Applications, Gulf Publishing Co., Houston, 1987.
4. Taylor, R. and others, Real-World Modeling of
Distillation, Chemical Engineering Progress,
July 2003, pp. 2839.
5. Graf, K., Determining Packing Height With
Accuracy, Chem. Eng., October 2011, pp.
5563.
6. Skowlund, C. and others, Comparison of ideal
stage and mass-transfer models for separation
processes with and without chemical reactions,
Bryan Research & Engineering Inc., Technical papers, www.bre.com, accessed Nov. 1,
2014.
Editor's note: Tables 1 and 2 are adapted from
graphics in Ref. 4.