Separation Processes (CHEG 485)

Dr. Mohammad Abu Zahra

(Associate Professor, Chemical Engineering)

Lecture 7: Multistage distillation

1
 Example 2 – In Class Groups

• Separation of compound A (most volatile) and

compound B (least volatile) from a saturated liquid
feed:
• Relative volatility: α = 3
• Feed is boiling liquid: xF = 0.35
• Bottom product: xB = 0.05
• Top product: xD = 0.98
• Reflux ratio: R = 2
• What is the number of equilibrium stages and the
number of theoretical trays for this separation?
• What is the minimum number of equilibrium stages
(Nmin at R = ∞)?
• What is the minimum reflux ratio (Rmin at N = ∞)?
2
 Example 2

• Construct McCabe-Thiele diagram:

12 x
• Equilibrium line: y 
12  1 x  1
𝑞 1
• Feed line: 𝑦 = − 𝑥+ 𝑥𝐹 with q = 1
1−𝑞 1−𝑞 (saturated liquid)

• Operating line 𝑅 1
rectifying section: 𝑦= 𝑥+ 𝑥𝐷
𝑅+1 𝑅+1

• Operating line stripping section: straight line

through (xB, xB) and the intersection between the feed
line and the operating line of the rectifying section
3
 Example 2

• Construct McCabe-Thiele diagram:

4
 Example 2

• Number of equilibrium stages (N) and theoretical trays:

N = 12
Trays = 11

5
 Example 2

• Minimum number of equilibrium stages (Nmin):

Nmin = 6

6
 Example 2

• Minimum reflux ratio (Rmin):

Intersection between equilibrium line

and feed line: (0.35; 0.618)

Operating line of the rectifying section

goes through (xD;xD) and (0.35; 0.618):

𝑅 1
𝑦= 𝑥+ 𝑥𝐷
𝑅+1 𝑅+1

Slope of this operating line

is: Rmin/(Rmin+1), so:

Rmin = 1.354