Chemical Engineering Operations

Distillation solved problems

Dr. Anand V. Patwardhan
Professor of Chemical Engineering
Institute of Chemical Technology
Nathalal M. Parikh Road
Matunga (East), Mumbai-400019

av.patwardhan@ictmumbai.edu.in; avpuict@gmail.com; avpiitkgp@gmail.com

1
 Solved problem 1 (binary flash distillation)

ƒ A mixture of 40 mol% benzene and 60 mol% toluene is

being flash distilled at a rate of 10 kmol/h at 1 atm total
pressure. The liquid product should NOT contain
more than 30% benzene. Calculate the amounts and
the compositions of the top and the bottom products.
The relative volatility of benzene in the mixture is 2.5.

ƒ Algebraic solution: Refer to the schematic diagram on

the next slide.

2
 Vapour
FLASH
distillation
unit
Top product
Feed Baffles D, xD = yD , HD
F, zF , HF
Flash drum
+Q

Bottom product
W, xW , HW
3
ƒ Total material balance: F = D + W

ƒ Given: F = 10, zF = 0.4 ⇒ 10 = D + W

ƒ Benzene balance: F zF = D xD + W xW

ƒ Given: xW = mole fraction of benzene in the bottom

product = 0.3

ƒ ⇒ (10)(0.4) = DxD + WxW

ƒ ⇒ 4 = DxD + (0.3)W

4
ƒ In equilibrium flash distillation, the distillate
(vapour) and bottom products (liquid) are in
equilibrium, that is, xD (= yD) and xW are in
equilibrium, and related through the relative
volatility as follows:

relative volatility = α =
x
D ( 1 − xD ) = 2.5
x
W (1 − xW )
ƒ There are 3 unknowns: D, W, xD and 3 equations.
Solving, we get:

ƒ D = 4.61, W = 5.39, xD = 0.517

5
Graphical solution: draw an equilibrium curve with
αAB = 2.5, using the equation:
αx 2.5 x
y= =
1 + ( α − 1) x 1 + 1.5 x
ƒ The point F(zF, zF) = (0.4, 0.4) is located on the
DIAGONAL

ƒ Vertical line through xW = 0.3 meets equilibrium

curve at P(0.3, 0.52)

ƒ The slope of the line FP = – W/D

ƒ Calculate D, W, xD
6
 Solved problem 2 (calculation of energy requirement in
binary flash distillation)

ƒ 50 kmol of 35 mol% aqueous solution of acetone at 25

0C is heated and flashed in a drum at 1 atm pressure

when 35% of the liquid is vapourised.

Using the enthalpy concentration data (see next slide),

calculate (a) the amounts and concentration of the
vapour and liquid products, and (b) the heat supplied
to the feed.

7
Given:

ƒ Specific heat of liquid acetone = cPA = 0.57 kcal/(kg K)

ƒ Average specific heat of water = cPB = 1.0 kcal/(kg K)

ƒ Heat of vapourisation of acetone =

λA = 125.8 – 0.252(θ – 50) kcal/kg

ƒ Average heat of vapourisation of water =

λB = 550 kcal/kg

ƒ θ = temperature in 0C

8
θ, 0C x y* ∆HS, kcal/kmol cPS, kcal/(kg K)
56.5 1.0 1.0 0 0.54
57 0.95 0.963 0 0.56
57.5 0.90 0.935 −10.55 0.56
58.2 0.80 0.898 −23.88 0.61
58.9 0.70 0.874 −41.11 0.66
59.5 0.60 0.859 −60.3 0.7
60 0.50 0.849 −83.56 0.75
60.4 0.40 0.839 −121.5 0.8
61 0.30 0.83 −171.7 0.85
62.2 0.20 0.815 −187.7 0.9
66.6 0.1 0.755 −159.7 0.96
75.7 0.05 0.624 −106.8 0.98
91.7 0.01 0.253 −22.2 1
100 0.0 0.0 0 1
9
Given:

ƒ For a given T and concentration x of a liquid, the molar

enthalpy HL can be calculated using the equation:

HL = cPS Mav (T − T0) + ΔHS

ƒ Molar enthalpy of the saturated vapour HV at a given T

and y:

HV = y MA {cPA(T−T0) + λA} + (1 − y) MB {cPB(T−T0) + λB}

10
Solution:

ƒ Let F (= 50 kmol; zF = 0.35) be the moles of feed, and W

and D be the moles of liquid and vapour products.
Fraction of liquid vapourised = 0.35. Therefore,
D D W
= = 0.35 ⇒ = 1.86
F W+D D
ƒ Locate the point F′(zF, zF) on the x-y* diagram below
the enthalpy-concentration diagram, and draw a line of
slope = – W/D = – 1.86 through the point F′. This line
meets equilibrium curve at P.

ƒ Point P: concentration of acetone in liquid product (xW

= 0.105) and vapour product (xD = 0.765). 11
ƒ W + D = 50

ƒ W(0.105) + D(0.765) = (50)(0.35)

ƒ ⇒ W = 31.44 kmol; D = 18.56 kmol

ƒ Draw a line WD on the enthalpy-concentration

diagram corresponding to the point P.

ƒ A vertical line through F′ meets WD at the point F.

The coordinates of the point F are (zF, HF+Q/F).

ƒ From the figure: HF + (Q/F) = 4000 kcal/kmol

12
 Flash Vaporisation of a Binary Mixture
12000

y-HV

Enthalpy (HL, HV),

D

kcal/kmol
4000
F (zF, HF + Q/F)

x-HL (a)
W
F1
0 xW xD = yD
x, y →
1

↑
y F′ (zF, zF) (b)
x − z
Slope = − W = D F
D x − z
W F

xW xD = yD 13
(0, 0) x→ 1
ƒ Average molecular weight of feed = 32

ƒ The heat of solution of feed ∆HS (at 35 mol% acetone)

= – 146.5 kcal/kmol (interpolated from the data)

ƒ The specific heat of feed cPS (at 35 mol% acetone)

= 0.825 kcal/(kg K) (interpolated from the data)

ƒ Taking a reference temperature of 15 0C, the enthalpy

of the feed (xA = 0.35; temp T = 25 0C)
= HF = (0.825)(32)(25 – 15) – 146.5 = 117.5 kcal/kmol

14
ƒ ⇒ 117.5 + (Q/50) = 4000

ƒ ⇒ Q = 194125 kcal = required heat input

15
 Solved problem 3 (simple batch distillation)

ƒ A charge of 50 kmol of a mixture of benzene and

chlorobenzene having 55 mol% of the less volatile is to
be batch-distilled.

a) If 25 kmol of the solution is vapourised and

condensed as the distillate, calculate the
concentration of the accumulated distillate.

b) If the concentration of the accumulated product is

found to be 72 mol% benzene, calculate its
amount. The average relative volatility of benzene
in the mixture is 4.15.
16
BATCH DISTILLATION of a Binary Mixture
(Differential Distillation / Rayleigh Distillation)

y Cooling
water
L, LA, x
Kettle yD,ave
(still)
Steam

17
Solution:
ln
Fx
F = α ln F (
F 1− x )
Wx
W
W 1− x
W ( )
Given:

ƒ F = moles of feed = 50 kmol

ƒ Feed concentration = xF = 1 – 0.55 = 0.45

a) D = 25 kmol; W = 25 kmol; yD,ave = (= xD) = ?

( 50 )( 0.45 ) ( 50 )( 1 − 0.45 )
ln = ( 4.15 ) ln
(
( 25 ) x
W ) (
( 25 ) 1 − x
W )
18
Solving, we get: xW = 0.218

ƒ Benzene material balance: F xF = + W xW + D yD,Ave

ƒ ⇒ (50) (0.45) = (25) (0.218) + (25) yD,Ave

ƒ ⇒ yD,Ave = 0.682 = composition of the distillate collected

b) Given: yD,ave = 0.72; D = ?

ƒ Total material balance: 50 = D + W

ƒ Benzene balance: (50)(0.45) = W xW + D (0.72) 19

ƒ From the above two equations: 13.5
W=
0.72 − x
W
ƒ Substituting in the equation:

ln
Fx
F = α ln
F 1− x
F( )
Wx
W
W 1− x
W( )
( 50 )( 0.45 ) ( 50 )( 1 − 0.45 )
ln = ( 4.15 ) ln
⎛ 13.5 ⎞ ⎛ 13.5 ⎞
(
⎜ 0.72 − x ⎟ x W ) ⎜ 0.72 − x ⎟ 1 − x W ( )
⎝ W⎠ ⎝ W⎠
ƒ Solving: xW = 0.309; W = 32.85 kmol

ƒ D = F – W = 50 – 32.85 = 17.15 kmol

20
 Solved problem 4 (drawing the operating lines)

ƒ A mixture of benzene and toluene containing 40 mol%

benzene is to be separated continuously in a tray tower
at a rate of 200 kmol/h. The top product should have
95 mol% of benzene and the bottom must not contain
more than 4 mol% of it. The reflux is a saturated
liquid and a reflux ratio of 2.0 is maintained. The feed
is a saturated liquid.

ƒ Obtain and plot the operating lines for the rectifying

and the stripping section on the x-y plane. What is the
boil-up ratio? The VLE data at the operating pressure
of 101.3 kPa are given.
21
x-y* data for benzene-toluene at 101.3 kPa
x y*
0.0 0
0.1 0.21
0.2 0.38
0.3 0.511
0.4 0.627
0.5 0.719
0.6 0.79
0.7 0.853
0.8 0.91
0.9 0.961
1.0 1.0
22
 Vapour

Rectifying
Envelope 1

section
−QC
Envelope 2
1
n
Feed Ln Vn+1 Top product
F, zF , HF xn yn+1 D, xD, HD
HL,n HV,n+1
f
m L′m V′m+1
Envelope 3
xm ym+1
HL,m HV,m+1 Envelope 4
Stripping
section

N Vapour

+QB
Bottom product
W, xW , HW
23
 Material and Energy Balance Equations

ƒ The determination of number of stages is based on

steady state M & E B equations over the ENVELOPES
as shown in the Figure.

ƒ L & V: liquid and vapour flows ABOVE the feed

location.

ƒ L′ & V′: liquid and vapour flows BELOW the feed

location.

ƒ Ln & Vn = molar liquid and vapour flow rate

LEAVING nth stage.
24
ƒ HL,n & HV,n = molar liquid and vapour enthalpy
LEAVING nth stage.

ƒ L0 = flow rate of reflux to the top stage (suffix ‘0’

signifies that the stream is ‘as if’ coming from a
hypothetical 0th stage above top stage.

ƒ QC = heat removal rate from overhead condenser.

ƒ QB = heat supply rate to reboiler (to vaporise a part of

the liquid leaving the bottom stage).

ƒ F = feed rate to the column.

25
ƒ zF = mole fraction of MVC in feed.

ƒ D = rate of distillate removal from reflux drum.

ƒ xD = mole fraction of MVC in distillate.

ƒ W = rate of bottom product removal from reboiler.

ƒ xW = mole fraction of MVC in bottom product.

ƒ L0/D = R = reflux ratio.

26
 Vapour: V1, y1, HV1

Envelope 1
−QC
Stage 1

Reflux: L0, x0, HL0

Top product:
D, xD, HD

27
 ENVELOPE 1
(condenser + reflux drum)

Overall balance:
V1 = L0 + D = R D + D = D (R + 1)

Component “A” balance:

V1 y1 = L0 x0 + D xD

Enthalpy balance:
V1 HV1 = L0 HL0 + D HD + QC
⇒ QC = D { (R + 1) HV1 − R HL0 − HD }

Please note: y1 = xD = x0 (for total condenser)

28
 Vapour
−QC Envelope 2
Rectifying
section
Stage n
Top product
D, xD, HD
Ln Vn+1
xn yn+1
HL,n HV,n+1

29
 ENVELOPE 2
(part of rectifying section + condenser)

Overall balance:
Vn+1 = Ln + D

Component “A” balance:

Vn+1 yn+1 = Ln xn + D xD

Enthalpy balance:
Vn+1 HV,n+1 = Ln HL,n + D HD + QC
If you put n = 0, equations for Envelope 1 are obtained !

30
 Stage m
Stripping
section

L′m V′m+1 Envelope 3

xm ym+1
HL,m HV,m+1
Vapour

+QB
Bottom product
W, xW, HW

31
 ENVELOPE 3
(part of stripping section + reboiler)

Overall balance:
L′m = V′m+1 + W

Component “A” balance:

L′m xm = V′m+1 ym+1 + W xW

Enthalpy balance:
L′m HL,m + QB = V′m+1 HV,m+1 + W HW

32
 Vapour
−QC

Rectifying
section
Top product:
D, xD, HD
Feed: Feed
F, zF, HF stage
Stripping
section
Envelope 4
Vapour
+QB Bottom product
W, xW, HW
33
ƒ Assume: constant molal overflow; total condenser

Given:

ƒ Feed rate = F = 200 kmol/h (zF = 0.4)

ƒ Top product composition = xD = yD = 0.95

ƒ Bottom product composition = xW = 0.04

ƒ Reflux ratio = 2.0

ƒ Total material balance: F = D + W ⇒ 200 = D + W

ƒ Benzene balance: F zF = D xD + W xW 34
ƒ Benzene balance: (200) (0.4) = D (0.95) + W (0.04)

ƒ Solving: D = 79.1 kmol/h; W = 120.9 kmol/h

ƒ R = L0/D = 2.0 ⇒ L0/79.1 = 2.0 ⇒ L0 = 158.2

ƒ ⇒ V1 = D(R + 1) = 237.3

ƒ Since the feed is a liquid, the vapour rate remains

constant at V = V1 = 237.3 kmol/h in the rectifying
section.

35
Flow rates in the stripping section:

ƒ Since the feed is a saturated liquid, the liquid rate

INCREASES by 200 kmol/h below the feed plate.
However, the vapour flow rate remains constant all
through.

ƒ Liquid rate = L′ = L + 200 = 158.2 + 200 = 358.2

ƒ Vapour rate = V′ = V = 237.3

Operating line ( rectifying section )

R x
y = x + D
n+1 R+1 n R+1
36
 2 0.95
y = x +
n+1 2+1 n 2+1
⇒ y = 0.667 x + 0.317 ... rectifying section
n+1 n

Operating line ( stripping section )

L′ W
y = x − x
m + 1 L′ − W m L′ − W W
358.2 120.9
y = x − ( 0.04 )
m + 1 358.2 − 120.9 m 358.2 − 120.9
⇒ y = 1.509 x − 0.0204
m+1 m

37
ƒ The equilibrium line is plotted on the x-y plane.

ƒ The operating line for the rectifying section passes

through the point D(xD, xD) = D(0.95, 0.95), and its Y-
intercept = 0.317.

ƒ The operating line for the stripping section passes

through the point W(xW, xW) = W(0.04, 0.04), and its
slope = 1.509.

ƒ The boil-up ratio =

RV = V′N+1/W = V′/W = 237.3/120.9 = 1.963

38
Solved problem 5 (drawing the feed line for different feed
conditions)

ƒ A mixture of benzene and toluene containing 58 mol%

benzene is to be separated in a continuous column
operating at 1 atm total pressure. Draw the feed line
for the following feed conditions: (a) saturated liquid,
(b) saturated vapour, (c) 65 mol% vapour, (d) vapour
at 120 0C, and (e) liquid at 50 0C. Given:

Benzene:
ƒ Average specific heat of liquid = 146.5 kJ/(kmol K)
ƒ Average specific heat of vapour = 97.6 kJ/(kmol K)
ƒ Heat of vapourisation = 30770 kJ/kmol
39
Toluene:
ƒ Average specific heat of liquid = 170 kJ/(kmol K)
ƒ Average specific heat of vapour = 124.3 kJ/(kmol K)
ƒ Heat of vapourisation = 32120 kJ/kmol

Solution:

ƒ The feed line is given by:

q z
y=
q−1 q−1 (
x − F , passing through F z , z
F F )
ƒ We need to know the value of q. The feed line passes
through F(zF, zF) = F(0.58, 0.58)., which lies on the
DIAGONAL of the x-y plane.
40
(a) FEED = saturated liquid. Hence, q = fraction of liquid
in the feed = 1.

Therefore, the slope of the feed line = q/(q–1) = ∞.

The feed line is a vertical line through the point F.

(b) FEED = saturated vapour. Hence, q = fraction of

liquid in the feed = 0.

Therefore, the slope of the feed line = q/(q–1) = 0.

The feed line is a horizontal line through the point F.

41
(c) FEED = 65 mol% vapour. Hence, the feed contains 35
mol% liquid. Hence, q = 0.35.

Therefore, the slope of the feed line =

0.35/(0.35–1) = –0.538.

And, Y-intercept of the feed line = –zF/(q–1)

= –0.58/(0.35–1) = +0.892.

The line is drawn through the point (0.58, 0.58) on

the x-y plane.

42
(d) FEED = superheated vapour at 120 0C. The value of
‘q’ needs to be calculated using the equation,
L′ − L H V − H F
q= =
F H −H
V L
ƒ The values of the enthalpy terms HF, HV, and HL are
required. In order to calculate enthalpies, a
REFERENCE STATE is selected.

ƒ Using the vapour pressure data (Antoine constants),

calculate the BUBBLE POINT of a solution having
58% benzene (assuming ideal solution) = 90 0C.

43
ƒ Therefore, we take pure liquids at 90 0C as the
reference state for convenience. The heat of solution
(heat of mixing) is assumed to be zero (in this case).

ƒ HL = cPS Mav (T − T0) + ΔHS = 0 + 0 = 0

ƒ The mole fraction of benzene in the saturated vapour in

equilibrium with a liquid (x = 0.58) is y* = 0.78.

ƒ Putting y* = 0.78, T (vapour temperature) = 90 0C, T0

(reference temperature) = 90 0C, , MAλA = 30770
kJ/kmol, MBλB = 32120 kJ/kmol.

ƒ HV = y MA{cPA(T−T0) + λA} + (1−y) MB{cPB(T−T0) + λB}

44
ƒ HV = (0.78) (30770) + (1−0.78) (32120) = 31067 kJ/kmol

ƒ To calculate the enthalpy of feed, we need to imagine

that 0.58 kmol of benzene and 0.42 kmol of toluene are
vapourised SEPARATELY at 90 0C. Then the vapours
are heated to 120 0C, and then mixed to get one kmol of
the feed.

ƒ HF = (0.58)(30770) + (0.58)(97.6)(120–90)
+ (0.42)(32120) + (0.42)(124.3) (120–90)

ƒ HF = 34601 kJ/kmol

45
 H −H
31067 − 34601
q= V
F = = −0.114
H −H 31067 − 0
V L
ƒ The Y-intercept using this ‘q’ value = 0.521

ƒ Knowing the Y-intercept, and the point (F), the feed

line can be drawn.

46
(e) FEED = subcooled liquid at 50 0C.

ƒ We have to imagine that 0.58 kmol of benzene and 0.42

kmol of toluene are separately cooled from the
reference temperature (T0 = 90 0C) to T = 50 0C, and
then mixed to get one mole of the SUBCOOLED feed.

ƒ HF = (0.58)(146.5)(50–90) + (0.42)(170)(50–90)
= – 6240 kJ/kmol (the heat of mixing is neglected in this
case).
H −H 31067 − ( −6240 )
q= V F = = +1.2
H −H 31067 − 0
V L
ƒ Knowing ‘q’ and ‘zF’, the feed line can be drawn.
47