Separation Process I

CDB2013

Dr. Khairiraihanna Johari (KJ),

B5-03-31
05 368 7684
(khairiraihana.j@utp.edu.my)

1
 Vapour-Liquid
Equilibrium
CLO2: Be able to identify and analyze stagewise
and differential separation process principles and
techniques
 Example: Vapour-Liquid Equilibrium

1. For the system NH3-water mixture and only a vapor phase

present, calculate the number of degrees of freedom. What
variables can be fixed?

Solution

Using Phase

F=C–P+2
where: C = 2 (NH3 and water);
P = 1 (only vapor phase)

F=2–1+2=3

Thus, Three variables need to be fixed, that is, P, T and yA

 Example: Vapour-Liquid Equilibrium

The normal boiling points of the pure, n-heptane and n-octane are 98.4 oC
and 125.6 oC, respectively. The vapor pressure data are given below.

a) Estimate the mole fraction of n-heptane in both liquid and vapor phase.
b) Construct the boiling point phase diagram and x-y diagram at constant
pressure of 1 atm

Temperature (0C ) Vapor Pressure (mm Hg)

n- heptane Octane
98.4 760 333
105 940 417
110 1050 484
115 1200 561
120 1350 650
125.6 1540 760
Binary Distillation -
Flash
CLO2: Be able to identify and analyze stagewise
and differential separation process principles and
techniques
 Example 1: Flash Distillation

A flash drum is used to separate benzene from a mixture of

benzene and toluene. The feed contains 100 moles of this
mixture, where 70 mole percent of this mixture is
benzene. The equilibrium data are given below:
i) If one third of the feed is to be vaporized, estimate
the compositions of the vapour and liquid, using graphical
method.
ii) Calculate the amount of feed to be vaporized to obtain a
vapour composition of 75 mole percent of benzene.
XA YA
0.0 0.0
0.13 0.26
0.26 0.46
0.41 0.63
0.58 0.78
0.78 0.90
1.0 1.0
 Example 2: Flash Distillation

It is desired to separate n-pentane from a mixture of n-pentane

and n-heptane using a flash drum. The feed contains 250
moles of this mixture, where 75 mole percent is n-pentane
and its relative volatility is 2.5. It is desired to produce 0.83
mole percent of n-pentane vapors.

i) Estimate the amount of feed mixture to be vaporized.

ii) Estimate the amount of n-pentane in the liquid leaving
the flash drum.
 Example 3: Differential Distillation

100 moles of benzene (A) and toluene (B) mixture

containing 50 mol% of benzene is subjected to a
differential distillation at atmospheric pressure till the
composition of the benzene in the residue is 33 mol%.
Calculate the total moles of the mixture distilled. Assume
a relative volatility of 2.25.
 Example 4: Differential Distillation

A mixture of n-heptane (A) and n-octane (B) containing

50 mol% of n-heptane is subjected to a differential
distillation at atmospheric pressure till the
composition of the n-heptane in the residue is 30
mol%. Calculate the total moles of the mixture
distilled, if the initial feed is 100 moles. Use a relative
volatility of 2.3
 Example 5: Differential Distillation

A mixture of 100 mole containing 50 mol % n-pentane

and 50 mole % n-heptane is distilled under differential
condition at 101.32kpa until 40 mole distilled. What is the
average composition of the total vapor distilled and the
compositions of the liquid left? The equilibrium data are
as follows, where x and y are mole fractions n-pentane.

x 1.0 0.867 0.594 0.398 0.254 0.145 0.059 0

y 1.0 0.984 0.925 0.836 0.701 0.521 0.271 0
 McCabe-Thiele
Method
CLO2: Be able to identify and analyze stagewise
and differential separation process principles and
techniques
 Example: McCabe – Thiele Method

Problem - 1

A continous fractionating column is used to separate 500 kg

moles /min of a binary mixture containing 40 mole % of benzene
and the rest toluene. The top product must contain 98 mol % of
benzene and the bottom product contains 98 mole % of toluene.
A reflux ratio of 2.5 moles to 1 mole of product is to be used. The
feed enters the column at its boiling point.

i. Calculate the moles of overhead product and bottom product.

ii. Calculate the minimum reflux ratio.

iii. Calculate the number of ideal stages. Assume the relative

volatility is 2.25
 Example: McCabe – Thiele Method

Problem - 2

A continuous fractionating column is to be designed to separate

15,000 Kg moles/h of a mixture of 40 wt% benzene and the rest
toluene into an over head product containing 97 wt% benzene and
the bottom product containing 98 wt% toluene. A reflux ratio of 2.5
times the minimum reflux is to be used. Benzene and toluene form a
nearly ideal system with a relative volatility of 2.25. Molecular
weight of benzene and toluene are 78 and 92 respectively. Calculate
the following
i) Amount of benzene in the overhead and the bottom products

ii) Number of theoretical stages, if the feed is a mixture of two third

of vapor and one third of liquid.

iii) Estimate the number of stages if, the column has an overall
efficiency of 60%
 Example: McCabe – Thiele Method

Problem - 3

A feed of 50 mol% hexane and 50mol% octane is fed into a pipe still
through a pressure reducing valve and then into a flash disengaging
chamber. The vapor and liquid leaving the chamber are assumed to
be in equilibrium. If the fraction of the feed converted to the vapor is
0.5, find the compositions of the top and bottoms products. Table 1
below shows equilibrium data for this system.

Table 1: Liquid and vapor mole fractions of hexane

Liquid mole fraction of 1.0 0.6 0.4 0.1 0.0 0.0
hexane, x 0 9 0 9 5 0
Vapor mole fraction of 1.0 0.9 0.7 0.5 0.1 0.0
hexane, y 0 3 8 4 8 0
 Example: McCabe – Thiele Method

Problem - 4

A feed to a packed distillation tower has an overall composition

of 42 mol% heptane and the rest as ethyl benzene is to be distilled
at atmospheric pressure to produce a distillate containing 97 mol%
of heptane and the bottoms containing 1.1 mol% of heptane. A
partially vaporized feed containing 40 mol% of liquid is fed into the
tower at a rate of 225 mol/h. The equilibrium data are given in
TABLE Q3.

Calculate the following:

i. Moles per hour of distillate and bottoms.
ii. Minimum reflux ratio.
iii. Number of theoretical stages, if the tower is operated under
total reflux conditions.
iv. Number of theoretical stages, if the tower is operated at a
reflux ratio of 2.5 : 1
v. Location of feed tray from the top of the tower.
 Example: McCabe – Thiele Method

TABLE Q3: Equilibirum data for heptane and ethylbenzene system

Mole fraction of Mole fraction of

heptane in the liquid heptane in the gas
phase, x phase, y
0.000 0.000
0.080 0.23
0.250 0.514
0.485 0.730
0.790 0.904
1.000 1.000
 Example: McCabe – Thiele Method

Problem - 5
A feed to a distillation unit is 10,000 kg moles /h of a solution of
alcohol and water containing 45 mol% of alcohol is to be
separated to give an overhead product of 95mol% alcohol and the
bottom product containing 5 mol% of alcohol. The feed is at its
boiling point and a total condenser is used. The equilibrium
relation is given below.
X 0.017 0.13 0.258 0.411 0.581 0.78
Y 0.039 0.261 0.486 0.632 0.777 0.9

1. calculate the amount of the alcohol produced per hour.

2. Estimate the total number of theoretical stages required
under total reflux conditions.
3. Estimate the minimum reflux ratio.
4. If 2 times of the minimum reflux is used estimate the number
of theoretical stages required for the desired separation.