Summer 2001 ChE n363, Unique No.

76085
UNIT OPERATIONS II: SEPARATION PROCESSES
Solution to Homework 5

Assigned: Fri, June 29, 2001

Due: Fri, July 6, 2001

Exercise 7.13 A fractionation column operating at 101 kPa is to separate 30 kg/h of a

solution of benzene and toluene containing 0.6 mass fraction toluene into an overhead
product containing 0.97 mass fraction benzene and a bottoms product containing 0.98
mass fraction toluene. A reflux ratio of 3.5 is to be used. The feed is liquid at its boiling
point, feed is to the optimal tray, and the reflux is at saturation temperature.
(a) Determine the quantity of top and bottom products.
(b) Determine the number of stages required.

EQUILIBRIUM DATA IN MOLE FRACTION BENZENE, 101 kPa

y 0.21 0.37 0.51 0.64 0.72 0.79 0.86 0.91 0.96 0.98
x 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 0.95

Subject: Distillation of a mixture of benzene and toluene at 101 kPa for specified reflux
ratio and product compositions.

Given: Feed of 30 kg/h of saturated liquid feed containing 40 mass% benzene and 60
mass% toluene. Distillate to contain 97 mass% benzene and bottoms to contain 98 mass%
toluene. Reflux ratio = 3.5 and feed is to optimal stage. Table of vapor-liquid equilibrium
data in mole fractions at 101 kPa.

Assumptions: Total condenser and partial reboiler. Saturated liquid reflux. Constant
molar overflow.

Find: (a) Flow rates of distillate and bottoms.

(b) Number of equilibrium stages needed.

Analysis: First solve the material balance in mass units. Then convert to mole fractions
so that the McCabe-Thiele method can be used for part (b)
Overall mass balance: 30 = D + B (1)
Overall benzene mass balance: 0.4(30) = 12 = 0.97D + 0.02B (2)
Solving Eqs. (1) and (2): D = 12 kg/h B = 18 kg/h
Converting to moles with molecular weights of 78.11 for benzene and 92.13 for toluene,

Benzene Toluene
Product Mass fraction Mole fraction Mass fraction Mole fraction
Distillate 0.97 0.974 0.03 0.026
Bottoms 0.02 0.024 0.98 0.976

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Solution for (a): D = 12 kg/h, B = 18 kg/h with compositions given by the previous table
(b) Because benzene is the more volatile component of the feed the x and y coordinates
will be those of benzene in the diagram. In mole fraction, the feed concentration for
benzene is 0.44. For a saturated liquid feed, the q-line is vertical and passes through
x = 0.44. The slope of the rectifying operating line, L/V, is obtained from Eq. (7-7), using
the specified reflux ratio = 3.5
L R 3.5
= = = 0.778
V R + 1 4.5
For saturated liquid reflux, the rectifying line passes through the point (0.974, 0.974). See
the McCabe-Thiele construction below, where it is seen that slightly more than 10 stages
+ a partial reboiler acting as an equilibrium stage are required. The top 5 stages are in the
rectifying section.

1 1
2
3

4
0.8

5
Equilibrium Curve
y, benzene mole fraction in vapor

R. S. op. line
0.6 6

0.4 S. S. op. line

8

q-line
9
0.2
10

R
zF
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
x, benzene mole fraction in liquid

Figure 1. McCabe-Thiele Diagram for Exercise 7-13

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Exercise 7.15 A continuous distillation operation with a reflux ratio (L/D) of 3.5 yields a
distillate containing 97 wt% B (benzene) and bottoms containing 98 wt% T (toluene).
Due to weld failures, the 10 plates in the bottom section of the column are ruined, but the
14 upper plates are intact. It is suggested that the column still be used, with the feed (F)
as saturated vapor at the dew point, with F = 13,600 kg/h containing 40 wt% B and 60
wt% T. Assuming that the plate efficiency remains unchanged at 50%: (a) Can this
column still yield a distillate containing 97 wt% B, (b) How much distillate can we get,
and (c) What will the composition of the residue be in mole percent?
For vapor-liquid equilibrium data, see Exercise 7.13

Subject: Effect of loss of plates in a distillation column separating a benzene-toluene

mixture.

Given: Saturated vapor feed of 13,600 kg/h of 40 wt% benzene and 60 wt% toluene.
Column with 14 plates above the feed location. Plate efficiency is 50%. Reflux ratio is
3.5. Previously, with 10 plates in the stripping section, column could achieve a distillate
of 97 wt% benzene and a bottoms of 98 wt% toluene. Vapor-liquid equilibrium data in
Exercise 7.13.

Assumptions: Total condenser and partial reboiler. Constant molar overflow.

Find: (a) If column with 10 inoperable plates can yield a distillate of 97 wt% benzene,
assuming that we no longer can achieve the 98 wt% bottoms product.
(b) The distillate flow rate.
(c) The composition of the bottoms

Analysis: (a) First convert the mass fraction of benzene to mole fraction, using molecular
weights of 78.11 for benzene and 92.13 for toluene. zF = 0.44. For a distillate of 97 wt%
benzene, the mole fraction is 0.974
With a reflux ratio of 3.5, from Eq. (7-7), the slope of the rectifying section operating line
is 0.778
The q-line is a horizontal line at y = 0.44. For 14 plates with 50% efficiency, the column
has the equivalent of 7equilibrium stages + 1 for the partial reboiler,
The McCabe-Thiele construction is shown on the next page, where it is seen that it is
possible to obtain the desired distillate composition.

(b) and (c) From the McCabe-Thiele diagram, the mole fraction of benzene in the
bottoms is x B = 0.25. As a weight fraction this corresponds to
0.25( 78.11)
= 0.22 weight fraction or 22 wt% benzene
0.25( 78.11) + 0.75(92.13)
Compute the distillate rate by overall mass balances.
Overall total mass balance: 13,600 = D + B (1)
Overall benzene mass balance: 5,440 = 0.97D + 0.22B (2)
Solving Eqs. (1) and (2): D = 3,264 kg/h, B = 10,336 kg/h

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 1 1
2
3

4
0.8

5
Equilibrium Curve
y, benzene mole fraction in vapor

0.6 6

R. S. op. line
7
q-line
R
0.4

0.2

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
x, benzene mole fraction in liquid

Figure 1. McCabe-Thiele Diagram for Exercise 7-15

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Exercise 10.25 Use the Chao-Seader or Grayson-Streed correlation for thermodynamic
properties to calculate product compositions, stage temperatures, interstage flow rates and
compositions, reboiler duty, and condenser duty for the distillation specifications in
Figure 10.32
Compare your results with those given in the Chemical Engineers’ Handbook, Sixth
Edition, pp. 13-42 to 13-45. Why do the two solutions differ?

Vapor distillate
48.9 lbmol/h

1
126.1 lbmol/h
Feed bubble-point
liquid at 120 psia 5 120 psia
lbmol/h throughout
C3 5
iC4 15
nC4 25 9
iC5 20
nC5 35

Bottoms

Figure 10-32 Data for Exercise 10.25

Subject: Distillation of a hydrocarbon mixture and comparison with solution in Perry’s

Handbook.

Given: Bubble-point liquid feed of composition given below. Column has partial
condenser, partial reboiler, and 9 equilibrium stages in the column, with operation at 120
psia. Refluz rate = 126.1 lbmol/h and vapor distillate rate = 48.9 lbmol/h. Grayson-Streed
correlation for K-values and the Lee-Kesler model for enthalpies.

Find: Product compositions, stage temperatures, insterstage flow rates and compositions,
reboiler duty, and condenser duty.

Analysis: The calculations were made with the RADFRAC model of the Aspen Plus
v10.1simulator, with the following specifications:
Number of stages: 11 (includes partial condenser and partial reboiler)
Partial condenser
Distillate rate: 48.9 lbmol/h
Reflux rate: 126.1 lbmol/h

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Feed stage: 6 from the top
Stage 1/Condenser pressure: 120 psi (no pressure drop)

The feed is given as a bubble-point liquid (vapor fraction = 0) at 120 psia. Using the
Grayson-Streed correlation, the temperature is computed to be 180.3o F. Based on the feed
composition, the distillate rate of 48.9 lbmol/h corresponds to a desired split between
n-butane and isopentane. The calculations converged rapidly in 2 outer-loop iterations
with results given below and on the following pages.

Condenser duty = 1,047,318 Btu/h

Reboiler duty = 1,495,715 Btu/h

Top temperature = 161.3o F

Bottom temperature = 231.3o F

Stream 1 2 3
Temperature F 180.3 161.3 231.3
Pressure PSI 120.00 120.00 120.00
Vapor Frac 0.000 1.000 0.000
Mole Flow LBMOL/HR 100.000 48.900 51.100
Mass Flow LB/HR 6513.684 2850.829 3662.855
Volume Flow CUFT/HR 198.821 2313.789 113.891
Enthalpy MMBTU/HR -6.584 -2.650 -3.486
Mole Flow LBMOL/HR
C3 5.000 4.998 0.002
IC4 15.000 14.798 0.202
NC4 25.000 23.493 1.507
IC5 20.000 3.482 16.518
NC5 35.000 2.129 32.871

Temp Pressure Liquid Vapor Liquid Vapor Mixed Liquid Vapor

flow flow feed feed feed product product
Stage F psi lbmol/hr lbmol/hr lbmol/hr lbmol/hr lbmol/hr lbmol/hr lbmol/hr
1 161.3 120 126.10 48.90 0 0 0 0 48.9
2 174.4 120 122.59 175.00 0 0 0 0 0
3 184.8 120 120.35 171.49 0 0 0 0 0
4 192.7 120 119.18 169.25 0 0 0 0 0
5 198.0 120 118.62 168.08 0 0 0 0 0
6 201.5 120 220.08 167.52 100 0 0 0 0
7 210.9 120 221.78 168.98 0 0 0 0 0
8 218.4 120 223.38 170.68 0 0 0 0 0
9 224.0 120 224.78 172.28 0 0 0 0 0
10 228.2 120 225.85 173.68 0 0 0 0 0
11 231.3 120 51.10 174.75 0 0 0 51.1 0

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 X (mole frac) Y (mole frac)
0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45 0.5 0.55 0.6 0.65 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45 0.5 0.55 0.6

1
1

2
2

3
3

4
4

5
5

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6
6

Stage
Stage

7
7

Liquid Composition Profiles

Vapor Composition Profiles

8
8

9
9

10
10

C3

IC5
IC4
C3

NC5
NC4
IC5
IC4

NC5
NC4

11
11
The above results for the product compositions are compared to the results in Perry’s
Handbook as follows:

Perry’s Handbook This exercise

Component Feed, Distillate, Bottoms, Distillate, Bottoms,
lbmol/h lbmol/h lbmol/h lbmol/h lbmol/h
Propane 5.00 5.00 0.00 5.00 0.00
Isobutane 15.00 14.82 0.18 14.80 0.20
n-Butane 25.00 23.60 1.40 23.49 1.51
Isopentane 20.00 3.21 16.79 3.48 16.52
n-Pentane 35.00 2.30 32.70 2.13 32.87
Total 100.00 48.93 51.07 48.90 51.10

The example in Perry’s Handbook is for a column with a total condenser, while this
exercise calls for a partial condenser. Thus, this exercise has 11 instead of 10 equilibrium
stages. Nevertheless, the solution from Perry’s Handbook shows a slightly sharper
separation. This is probably due to the differences in K-values. For example at a mid-
column temperature of 210o F, the Grayson-Streed correlation predicts a relative volatility
between n-butane and isopentane of 1.84, while the graphical correlation used in Perry’s
Handbook predicts a higher value of 1.94

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