BENG0015: Heat and Mass Transfer in Bioprocesses

Distillation: How to perform the calculation, use the plots and determine number of
stages

Flash distillation

xF (1-f) xR
Equation: yD = f
- f

1) Determine xf, f
x (1-f)
2) Calculate the intercept ( fF ) and slope ( - f ) of the operating line
3) Mark on the plot the value of the intercept
4) Draw the operating line. The intercept of the operating line and the equilibrium line
will give you xR and yD
Continuous distillation

Condenser
V
L
D, xD
Reflux
Tops product
Rectifying section or distillate
“enriches MVC”

F, xF
Feed zone
“vaporises the feed stream” P
Feed
stream
Stripping section
“enriches LVC”
Reboiler

Bottom
product
B, xB

Rectifying Operating Line (ROL)

R 1
Equation: yn+1 = 𝑥 + 𝑥
R+1 ! R+1 "

1) Determine R (R = L/D)
1 R
2) Calculate the intercept ( R+1 𝑥" ) and slope ( R+1 ) of the operating line
3) Mark on the plot the value of the intercept and draw the ROL. The ROL has to
intercept the xD on the equilibrium line

Feed Section Operating Line

! # q
Equation: y = 1-q 𝑥! - 1-q 𝑥

With

q = 0 if saturated vapour

q = 1 if saturated liquid

1) Determine xf
2) Intercept the 45° equilibrium line and trace the q-line (up if q = 1, left perpendicular if
q = 0)
#! q
3) If other value of q, calculate the intercept ( 1-q 𝑥! ) and slope ( - 1-q ) of the operating
line
4) Mark on the plot the value of the intercept and trace the q-line
Stripping Operating Line (SOL)

L' &'
Equation: yM+1 = V' 𝑥$ - V'
𝑥&

1) Determine xB
L
2) Calculate the slope ( L-B ) of the operating line
3) Trace the SOL, starting at the xB intercept of the 45° equilibrium line until it intercepts
the q-line

Determination of the number of stages

1) Draw in the stages starting at the distillate point, going across to the equilibrium line
and then down to the Rectifying Section operating line (remember to switch to the
Stripping Section operating line once the feed plate is passed)
2) Continue stepping down until xB is exceeded

ine 1
iuml
br
uili
q-line Eq
y
0<q<1 2

3
Slope =
R/R+1

xD/ R + 1
5 Slope =
L/L-B

xB xF xD
x