SEPARATION PROCESSES

WORKSHEET #3: MULTICOMPONENT DISTILLATION

Name:
David, Patricia Laine L.

Present clean and clear solutions to the following problems. Highlight your final answer by enclosing it within a box.

1. The feed to a distillation column operating at 270 psia contains 10% ethane, 45% propane, 30% i-butane and 15% n-
butane. Calculate the bubble point of the feed and the fraction vaporized if the feed is heated 20 C above the bubble
point.

Given:
P = 270 psia
Component Mole fraction
C2 0.10
C3 0.45
i-C4 0.30
n-C4 0.15

Solution:

Using Depriester chart

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 SEPARATION PROCESSES

y i=K i x i
For bubble point calculations:

∑ K i x i=∑ y i=1
Assume Bubble Points

Trial 1 : Tb = 120 F Trial 2 : Tb = 130 F Trial 3 : Tb = 134 F

Component xi Ki yi Ki yi Ki yi
C2 0.10 2.65 0.265 2.81 0.281 2.9 0.29
C3 0.45 0.98 0.441 1.09 0.4905 1.11 0.4995
i-C4 0.30 0.479 0.1437 0.52 0.156 0.53 0.159
n-C4 0.15 0.34 0.051 0.38 0.057 0.39 0.0585
Total: 0.9007 Total: 0.9845 Total: 1.007
Increase Increase
Bubble
assumed assumed
∑ yi <1 Bubble ∑ yi <1 Bubble ∑ yi ≈ 1 point =
134F
Point Point

T b=134 ℉

T feed =134 ℉ +(1.8 ( 20 ℃ ) +32)℉ =202℉

Component zi yi Cp, Btu/lb mol-F ∆ H v , Btu/lb

C2 0.10 0.29 14.81 210.15
C3 0.45 0.4995 21.09 184
i-C4 0.30 0.159 27.77 157.52
n-C4 0.15 0.0585 28.02 164.92

Heat capacity of the feed

Btu
C´ p=( 0.10 ) ( 14. 81 )+ ( 0.45 )( 2 1.09 ) + ( 0.30 ) ( 27.77 )+ ( 0.15 ) (2 8.02 )=23.5055
℉
∆ H =Ć p ∆ T
Enthalpy of Feed

Btu
(
∆ H = 2 3.5055
℉ )
( 202−134 ) ℉ =1,598.37 Btu

Enthalpy of the vapor

V lb Btu lb Btu lb
1,598.37 Btu=
F [ (
( 0.29 ) 30.07
lb mol )(
210.15
lb )
+ ( 0.4995 ) 44.09
lb mol(184
lb )(
+ ( 0.159 ) 58.12
lb mol )
157 ( )(
V
=0.2023=20.23 %
F

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 SEPARATION PROCESSES

2. The feed to a conventional distillation column and the relative volatilities are shown in the following table. The recovery
of component 2 in the distillate is 99% and 98% of component 3 is to leave in the bottoms. Calculate the minimum
number of plates.

Component Mole fraction Relative volatility

1 0.05 2.10
2 0.42 1.70
3 0.46 1.00
4 0.07 0.65

Basis: 1 mol of Feed

D
Given:
C1
99% recovery of C2
C3

C1 0.05
C2 0.42
C3 0.46
C4 0.07
B
C2
98% C3
C4
Solution:

Distillate:

No C1 in bottom due to high relative volatility therefore

C 1∈ D=0.05 mol
C 2∈ D
99 % recovery of C 2= × 100
C 2∈ F
C 2∈ D
0.99=
0.42(1 mol)
C 2∈ D=0.4158 mol
Overall C3 Balance:
C 3∈ F=C 3∈ D+C 3∈B
0.46(1mol)=C 3∈D+0.98(0.46 mol )
C 3∈ D=0.0092mol

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 SEPARATION PROCESSES

No C4 in distillate due to low relative volatility therefore

C 4∈ D=0
Bottom:
No C1 in bottom due to high relative volatility therefore
C 1∈B=0
Overall C2 balance
C 2∈ F=C 2∈D+ C 2∈B
0.42 ( 1mol )=0.4158 mol +C 2∈B
C 2∈B=0.0042 mol
C 3∈ B=0.98 ( 0.46 )=0.4508 mol
No C4 in distillate due to low relative volatility therefore
C 4∈B=0.07 mol
F D B
mol frac mol frac mol frac
C1 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.10526 0 0
C2 0.42 0.42 0.4158 0.87537 0.0042 0.008
C3 0.46 0.46 0.0092 0.01937 0.4508 0.85867
C4 0.07 0.07 0 0 0.07 0.13333
0.475 1 0.525 1
Total

x DA

N min =
x
ln BA
()
x DB
x BB
ln ( α ave )

0.87537

N min =
ln
( )
0.008
0.01937
0.85867

ln ( 1.71 )
N min =16 stages

3. For the conditions in Problem #2, estimate the minimum reflux ratio if the feed is liquid at the boiling point. About how
many plates would be required at a reflux ratio 1.3 times the minimum?

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 SEPARATION PROCESSES

Dx DA Dx DB
Lmin
=
( ) ( )
Fz FA
−α AB
Fz FB
F α AB−1

Lmin
=
( 0.4158
0.42 )
−1.7 (
0.0092
0.46 )
F 1.7−1
Lmin
=1.3657
F
Lmin F
Rmin = ×
F D
1
Rmin =1.3657 ×
0.475
Rmin =2.875

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