Distillation: Enthalpy Concentration Methods (Hx) Diagram or Ponchon Savarit Method

● more general, because it takes direct account of the thermal effects and does not require an
assumption of equimolar overflow.
Equimolar Overflow
● can be assumed if the dew point and bubble point lines are more or less straight and
roughly parallel
● it indicates that the latent heat of vaporization is basically constant with respect to
composition
Note: If the saturation curves show significant changes in the curvature or separation, it
suggests that to assume equimolal overflow will introduce error.
(11.6-2) for YA=0
H = 0 + (1 – 0 )(34,224 + 138.2(110.6 – 80.1)
H = 38,439 kJ/kgmol
For pure benzene, XA=1.0 and YA=1.0
h=0
H = 1.0 [30,820 + 96.3(110.6 – 80.1)] + 0 = 30,820
If XA=0.5; Tb=92 °C
T for saturated vapor at YA=0.5 = 98.8
h = 0.5(138.2)(92 – 80.1) + (1 – 0.5)(167.5)(92 – 80.1)
h = 1,820
for YA=0.5, T=98.8 °C
H = 0.5 [30,820 + 96.3(98.8 – 80.1)] + (1 – 0.5)[34,224(98.8 – 80.1)]
= 34,716
If XA=0.3; h = 2,920
YA=0.3; H = 36,268
Enthalpy balance:
Vn+1Hn+1 = LnHn + DHD + qc (11.6-9)
Where: qc = condenser duty (kJ/h or kW or BTU/h)

Enthalpy balance around condenser

qc = V1H1 - LHD – DhD (11.6-10)

By combining (11.6-9) and (11.6-10) to eliminate q c

Vn+1Hn+1 = LnHn + DHD + V1H1 – LhD (11.6-11)
from 11.6-6, Ln = Vn+1 – D (11.6-11)
Vn+1Hn+1 = (Vn+1 – D)hD + V1H1 – LhD (11.6-12)
Distillation in Stripping Section of Tower (from figure 11.4-5)

F
XF

Vm+1
Ym+1
Lm
Xm m

Lm+1 m+1
Xm+1

Ln
hn
B
hB

qr

Lm = B + Vm+1 (11.6-13)
LmXm = BXB + Vm+1Ym+1 (11.6-14)
Lm BX B
Y m +1= X m− (11.6−15)
V m+1 V m+ 1
Vm+1Hm+1 = Lmhm + qr – BhB subs in (11.6-13)
Vm+1Hm+1 = qr – BhB (11.6-16)
Overall enthalpy balance in 11.4-3

qC

Distillate, D
hD

Feed, F
hF

Bottoms, B
hB

qr

FhF + qr = qc + DhD + BhB

Summary of Procedure:
1. Obtain enthalpy-composition diagram
2. Fix feed point F1 and product points D and B using x and H.
3. Use the overhead product enthalpy and the reflux ratio to find the adjusted enthalpy
of the overhead. Plot it as point D’ on a vertical line with point D.
4. Construct the overall enthalpy line from point D’ through the feed point. It intersects a
vertical line drawn through point B at point B’
5. Plot point V1. For a total condenser, the composition entering the condenser is the
same as the overhead product, so this point will be vertically above point D on the
saturated vapor curve.
6. Follow the line from point V1 to the saturated liquid curve. This intersection will be
point L1 .

7. Construct an OL connecting points D’ and L1. The intersection of the OL with the
saturated vapor curve will be pt. V 2.
 8. Repeat the two preceding steps until one of the V or L points is to the left of the
overall enthalpy line. Once it is crossed, construct OL using pts. Li and B’.
9. When X i is less than X B, construction is finished.

Reflux ratio:
H D p−H v
R D=
H v −h L
'
Where: H D p=enthalpy of the overhead product ( h ∆ , D )
H v =enthalpy of the v apor entering the condenser

h L =enthalpy of the liquid

Limiting Conditions:
1. Total reflux – operating lines are vertical (infinite slope)
- this can be used to determine N min. Not that operating curves are not
required to do this - - only the endpoint composition.
2. Minimum reflux
“Pinch point” – results in a single line where the operating and tie lines (through
the feed point) overlap
Q ' −H V
Rmin =
H V −h L

D’=HD’=Q

HV

HL

OEL –
overall
 Note: in H-x diagram, there isn’t an equilibrium curve- it has expanded to a region
Example:

A feed containing 40% mole n-hexane and 60% mole n-octane is fed to a distillation column. A
reflux ratio of 1.2 is maintained. The overhead product is 95% hexane and the bottoms, 10%
hexane. Find the number of theoretical stages and the optimum feed stage. Assume that a total
condenser is used. The column is to operate at 1 atm.

Equilibrium data:

x (liquid) 0.0 0.1 0.3 0.5 0.55 0.7 1.0

y (vapour) 0.0 0.36 0.7 0.85 0.90 0.95 1.0

H-x data

nf Enthalphy (cal/gmol)
hexane Sat. Liquid Sat. Vapor
0.0 7 000 15 700
0.1 6 300 15 400
0.3 5 000 14 700
0.5 4 100 13 900
0.7 3 400 12 900
0.9 3 100 11 600
1.0 3 000 10 000

Solution: Basis: 100 moles feed

V1 qC
H1

D
0.95A
L hD
Feed
hD
hF
0.40 A

RD=1.2

qr

B
0.10A
hB
 100= D+ B
40=0.95 D+0.10 B
D=35.29 moles
B=64.71 moles
h∆ −10 800
R D=
10 800−3 050
h A =20 100

Heat balance around the condenser:

q c =V 1 H 1 −L H D−D H D

L Q' −H V
R D= Rmin =
D H V −H L
L=1.2 ( 35.29 ) 20100−12 900
¿
¿ 42.348 12 900−4 550
V 1=L+ D Rmin =0.8623
¿ 77.638 moles

q c =77.638 ( 10800 )−42.348 ( 3 050 ) −35.29(3 050)

¿ 601710 cal

q r=Dh D +B hB +q c −F h f
¿ 35.29 ( 3 050 ) +64.71 ( 6 300 )+ 601710−100(4 550)
¿ 662 017.50 cal

¿ :q SB =6300−(−3900 )=10 200

q R =10 200 ( 64.71 ) =660 042

Q CD =3 100−20100=−17 000
q C =17 000(35.29)
¿ 599 930 cal