MULTICOMPONENT

DISTILLATION:
APPROXIMATE
SHORTCUT METHOD

Separation Process Engineering

Chemical Engineering
Universitas Pertamina
2018
 OUTLINE OBJECTIVES
▪ To estimate minimum number of
▪ Introduction equilibrium stages and distribution of
▪ Approximate shortcut nonkey components by the Fenske eq.
methodllation ▪ To estimate minimum reflux ratio by
Underwood method.
▪ To estimate number of equilibrium
stages for R>Rmin by Gilliand
correlation.
▪ To estimate feed stage location with
Kirkbride equation.
• Chapter 9: Seader, Henley and Roper, “Separation Process Principles”,
MAIN 3rd Edition, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 2011
REFERENCES • Chapter 7: Wankat, "Separation Process Engineering Includes Mass
Transfer Analysis", 3rd Ed., Prentice Hall, 2011
INTRODUCTION
Distillation Column
Operating Parameters

• Distillate and bottom products

composition
• Number of theoretical stages (N)
• Minimum number of theoretical
stages (Nmin)
• Feed stage location
• Reflux Ratio (R)
• Minimum Reflux Ratio (Rmin)
• Column pressure and temperature
INTRODUCTION • Main design parameter for distillation is the number of
theoretical/equilibrium stages (N).
Approximate Method
• Multicomponent distillation calculation is more complex
because of the number of components.

• All multicomponents calculation methods (Exact &

Approximation) require trial and error procedure to some
degree. [Exact procedure is explained in Seader Ch.10 &
Wankat Ch.6]

• Although more rigorous, exact method is available,

approximate shortcut method is often preferred for
preliminary design of multicomponent distillation because of
its relatively rapid calculation.
INTRODUCTION
Exact Method

Source: Seader Ch.10

APPROXIMATE START
Fenske Equation
Determine Light Key (i)
SHORTCUT and Heavy Key (j) ▪ Estimate Nmin
Distribution in Products ▪ Estimate Non Keys Distribution
METHOD
Algorithm
Underwood Equation
This shortcut method ▪ Estimate Rmin
approaches the solution by
determining imaginary
limiting conditions (total & Gilliand Equation
minimum reflux) then use ▪ Calculate number of theoretical
stages (N) at actual reflux ratio
correlation to calculate
(R)
actual operating condition.

Kirkbride Equation
▪ Estimate Feed stage location
Light Key?
Heavy Key?
Non Key?
Review
 FENSKE EQUATION Estimation of Nmin at total reflux
Assumption: constant molar flow rates, steady state
Distillate Stage 1 at equilibrium:

From the material balance:

Similarly at stage 2 :

i = LK Thus at stage N for

j = HK both component i (LK)
and j (HK):

Divide both and redefine

or
Bottom
Change y into x and bring both side together Sum of multiplication products
 FENSKE EQUATION Estimation of Nmin at total reflux
If column average relative volatity is used:
Distillate

Fenske equation (in molar flow rate form):

i = LK
j = HK

with mean relative volatity:

Bottom
FENSKE EQUATION
Example: Nmin

T top = 123oF
T bottom = 340oF
FENSKE EQUATION
Example : Nmin
FENSKE EQUATION Distribution of Nonkey Components

Fenske Eq. is not only applicable for LK & HK

components, but also nonkey components.

Once Nmin is known, the equation can be rearranged;

with i as any nonkey components & j as HK or reference components (r)

and

Once the calculated distribution of all components in known, we have to check with previous estimation.
If result is similar → OK. If not → assume different column pressure & repeat calculation
FENSKE EQUATION
Example: Nonkey
distribution Use HK as reference component.

Calculated results are similar with estimated → OK

REVIEW

 Approximate Shortcut
Method?
 Steps?
 Light Key, Heavy Key, Nonkey?
HOMEWORK
APPROXIMATE START
Fenske Equation
Determine Light Key (i)
SHORTCUT and Heavy Key (j) ▪ Estimate Nmin
Distribution in Products ▪ Estimate Non Keys Distribution
METHOD
Algorithm
Underwood Equation
This shortcut method ▪ Estimate Rmin
approaches the solution by
determining imaginary
limiting conditions (total & Gilliand Equation
minimum reflux) then use ▪ Calculate number of theoretical
stages (N) at actual reflux ratio
correlation to calculate
(R)
actual operating condition.

Kirkbride Equation
▪ Estimate Feed stage location
UNDERWOOD
EQUATION
Estimation of Rmin (with
 number of stages)
Analysis of Underwood
equation is conducted at the
pinch point zone(s).
Pinch Point Zone(s):
Stage(s) where all vapor &
liquid streams have
compositions similar to
those of the flash feed.
Location of Pinch Point Zones
Binary distillation Multicomponents distillation
Not all components
distributing, pinch point
locations can be in
either rectifying or
stripping section.
𝐿𝑚𝑖𝑛
𝑅𝑚𝑖𝑛 =
𝐷
at the feed stage
UNDERWOOD Material balances: Rectifying section
EQUATION
Estimation of Rmin (with Equilibrium relation:
 number of stages)
Substitute into previous equation:

Since ; with HK as reference component:

UNDERWOOD Total vapor flow rate in rectifying section:

EQUATION
Estimation of Rmin (with
 number of stages) With similar manner, total vapor flow rate in stripping section:

Grouping the parameters:

Rectifying section Stripping section

2nd
Underwood
equation
UNDERWOOD If we use average volatility, both equations can be combined as :

EQUATION
Estimation of Rmin (with
 number of stages)
Column material balance:
The equation becomes:
1st
Underwood
equation

Where ∆Vfeed is the change of vapor flow rate at the feed stage, which depends on the feed phase.
1st Underwood eq. is used to calculate ; while 2nd Underwood eq. is used to calculate Vmin.

Using material balance: For partially vaporized feed (Sat.

Mixture), q can be obtained by
𝐿𝑚𝑖𝑛 multicomponent flash calculation
𝑅𝑚𝑖𝑛 =
𝐷
 q → ratio of the increase in molar reflux rate across the feed stage
REMINDER: FEED to the molar feed rate
LINE (q line)
or
Feed conditions
For subcooled liquid & superheated vapor:
consideration
GILLIAND
CORRELATION
Calculation of
theoretical stage (N) at
specified reflux ratio

How to:
1. Choose actual reflux ratio (R)
2. Calculate the abscissa
3. Calculate N
 Kirkbride empirical equation:
KIRKBRIDE
EQUATION
Estimation of Feed Stage
Location
Where:
NR = rectifying stage
Ns = stripping stage
When using partial reboiler → Ns column = Ns -1

Kirkbride result is not

very satisfactory, but still
better than Fenske ratio
N min = 6.7
R min = 1.22

Compare the result with those

from approximate shortcut
method!
 Light key & Heavy Key
APPROXIMATE
SHORTCUT
METHOD
Algorithm

Source: Seader Ch.9

END