Given:

𝑘𝑔
𝑥𝐹 = 0.5 𝐹 = 453.6
ℎ

𝑃 = 101.3 𝑘𝑃𝑎 𝑅 = 1.5

𝑥𝐷 = 0.85
𝑥𝐵 = 0.03
Required:

(a) 𝐷 & 𝐵
(b) 𝑁
(c) 𝑄𝑅 & 𝑄𝐶
Solution:

(For a)

*Overall Mole Balance

𝐹 =𝐵+𝐷 (Eq. 1)

*Component Mole Balance over heptane:

𝐹𝑥𝐹 = 𝐵𝑥𝐵 + 𝐷𝑥𝐷 (Eq. 2)

From Eq.1, we can say that: 𝐵 =𝐹−𝐷 (Eq. 3)

Substituting Eq.3 into Eq.2, we get:

𝑥 −𝑥
𝐷 = 𝐹 (𝑥 𝐹 −𝑥𝐵 ) (Eq. 4)
𝐷 𝐵

Solving for D:
 𝑘𝑔 0.50 − 0.03 𝑘𝑔
𝐷 = (453.6 )( ) = 259.99
ℎ 0.85 − 0.03 ℎ
Solving for B:
𝑘𝑔 𝑘𝑔 𝑘𝑔
𝐵 = 453.6 − 259.99 = 193.61
ℎ ℎ ℎ
(For b)

Using the reflux ratio to solve for the enthalpy of ∆, ℎ∆ :

𝐿0 ℎ∆ − 𝐻𝑉
𝑅= =
𝐷 𝐻𝑉 − ℎ𝐷
Reading off values from the H-xy graph, the following values are determined:
𝑘𝐽
𝐻𝑉 = 1300
𝑘𝑔
𝑘𝐽
ℎ𝐷 = 250
𝑘𝑔
Solving for ℎ∆ :
𝑘𝐽
ℎ∆ − 1300
𝑘𝑔
1.5 =
𝑘𝐽 𝑘𝐽
1300 − 250
𝑘𝑔 𝑘𝑔
𝑘𝐽
ℎ∆ = 2875
𝑘𝑔
Now that we have ℎ∆ , we now have the coordinates for ∆, (𝑥𝐷 , ℎ∆ ). With that, we can plot the operating
line and start doing the step-off.
*Graphical Solution:

𝑁~6 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒𝑠 − 𝑟𝑒𝑏𝑜𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑟

(For c)

We should note that the coordinates for ∆ is (𝑥𝐷 , 𝐻𝐷′ ). Having plotted the coordinates already in the
graphical solution for Part b, we can obtain the value of 𝐻𝐷 ′, which is just equal to ℎ∆ . With 𝐻𝐷 ′ now
known, we can use the following equation to solve for 𝑄𝐶
𝑄𝐶
𝐻𝐷′ = 𝐻𝐷 +
𝐷
 𝑘𝐽 𝑘𝐽 𝑄𝐶
2875 = 250 +
𝑘𝑔 𝑘𝑔 259.99 𝑘𝑔
ℎ
𝑘𝐽
𝑄𝐶 = 6823473.75 = 189.58 𝑘𝑊
ℎ
The coordinates for ∆ , (𝑥𝐵 , 𝐻𝐵 ′) can also be used to solve for 𝑄𝐵 . To get 𝐻𝐵 ′, we will use the equation
of the line derived from the connection made between the coordinates for the feed and ∆.

𝐻𝑛 ′ = 7500𝑥 − 3500
𝑘𝐽
𝐻𝐵′ = −3275
𝑘𝑔
𝑄𝑅
𝐻𝐵′ = 𝐻𝐵 −
𝐵
𝑘𝐽 𝑘𝐽 𝑄𝑅
−3275 = 400 −
𝑘𝑔 𝑘𝑔 193.61 𝑘𝑔
ℎ
𝑘𝐽
𝑄𝑅 = 711129.53 = 197.536 𝑘𝑊
ℎ
Given:
𝑘𝑔
𝑥𝐹 = 0.60 𝐹 = 10000
ℎ
𝑘𝐽
𝑥𝐷 = 0.85 𝐻𝐹 = 116.3 𝑘𝑔

𝑥𝐵 = 0.02
Required:

(a) 𝐷, 𝐵
(b) 𝑅𝑚
(c) 𝑁, when 𝑅 = 2𝑅𝑚
(d) 𝑄𝐶 , 𝑄𝑅
(e) 𝑁, when 𝑅 = ∞

Solution:

(For a)

*Overall Mole Balance

𝐹 =𝐵+𝐷 (Eq. 1)

*Component Mole Balance over heptane:

𝐹𝑥𝐹 = 𝐵𝑥𝐵 + 𝐷𝑥𝐷 (Eq. 2)

From Eq.1, we can say that: 𝐵 =𝐹−𝐷 (Eq. 3)

Substituting Eq.3 into Eq.2, we get:

 𝑥𝐹 −𝑥𝐵
𝐷 = 𝐹( ) (Eq. 4)
𝑥𝐷 −𝑥𝐵

Solving for D:
𝑘𝑔 0.60 − 0.02 𝑘𝑔
𝐷 = (10000 )( ) = 6987.95
ℎ 0.85 − 0.02 ℎ
Solving for B:
𝑘𝑔 𝑘𝑔 𝑘𝑔
𝐵 = 10000 − 6987.95 = 3012.05
ℎ ℎ ℎ
(For b)

*Graphical Solution:

𝑅𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 0.4
(For c)

𝑅 = 2(𝑅𝑚𝑖𝑛 ) = 2(0.4) = 0.8

Using the reflux ratio to solve for the enthalpy of ∆, ℎ∆ :
𝐿0 ℎ∆ − 𝐻𝑉
𝑅= =
𝐷 𝐻𝑉 − ℎ𝐷
Reading off values from the H-xy graph, the following values are determined:
𝑘𝐽
𝐻𝑉 = 1400
𝑘𝑔
𝑘𝐽
ℎ𝐷 = 250
𝑘𝑔
Solving for ℎ∆ :
𝑘𝐽
ℎ∆ − 1400
𝑘𝑔
0.8 =
𝑘𝐽 𝑘𝐽
1400 − 250
𝑘𝑔 𝑘𝑔
𝑘𝐽
ℎ∆ = 2320
𝑘𝑔
*Graphical Solution

𝑁 ~6 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒𝑠 − 𝑟𝑒𝑏𝑜𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑟

(For d)

We should note that the coordinates for ∆ is (𝑥𝐷 , 𝐻𝐷′ ). Having plotted the coordinates already in the
graphical solution for Part C, we can obtain the value of 𝐻𝐷 ′, which is just equal to ℎ∆ . With 𝐻𝐷 ′ now
known, we can use the following equation to solve for 𝑄𝐶
𝑄𝐶
𝐻𝐷′ = 𝐻𝐷 +
𝐷
𝑘𝐽 𝑘𝐽 𝑄𝐶
2320 = 250 +
𝑘𝑔 𝑘𝑔 6987.95 𝑘𝑔
ℎ
 𝑘𝐽
𝑄𝐶 = 14465056.5 = 4018.07 𝑘𝑊
ℎ
The coordinates for ∆ , (𝑥𝐵 , 𝐻𝐵 ′) can also be used to solve for 𝑄𝐵 . To get 𝐻𝐵 ′, we will use the equation
of the line derived from the connection made between the coordinates for the feed and ∆.

𝐻𝑛 ′ = 8814.8𝑥 − 5172.6
𝐻𝐵′ = −4996.304
𝑄𝑅
𝐻𝐵′ = 𝐻𝐵 −
𝐵
𝑘𝐽 𝑄𝑅
−4996.304 = 400 −
𝑘𝑔 6987.95 𝑘𝑔
ℎ
𝑘𝐽
𝑄𝑅 = 37709102.54 = 10474.7507 𝑘𝑊
ℎ
(For e)

*Graphical Solution

𝑁 ~4 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒𝑠 − 𝑟𝑒𝑏𝑜𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑟

GIVEN
𝑘𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑙
𝐹 = 100
ℎ
𝑥𝐹 = 0.55
𝑃 = 101.32 𝑘𝑃𝑎
𝑥𝐷 = 0.98
𝑥𝐵 = 0.04
𝑅 = 1.3𝑅𝑚𝑖𝑛
REQUIRED:

a.) 𝑁𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜
b.) 𝑄𝐶 and 𝑄𝐵
c.) 𝑁𝑚𝑖𝑛 @ 𝑅 = ∞

SOLUTION:

a.) Number of theoretical trays

The equilibrium data for the benzene-toluene system can be ground in Table 26.1-1, and the H-x-y
diagram can be found in Table 26.7-2 in the textbook by Geankoplis (5th Edition). The compositions of
the bottoms, feed, and distillate are then marked, and the minimum reflux BFD line was drawn which is
the tie line with the feed as the liquid composition.

The line from 𝐻𝐷 to 𝐻𝑣,1 , and the line from 𝐻𝑣,1 to ∆𝐸,𝑚𝑖𝑛 to determine the minimum reflux
̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅
∆𝐸,𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝐻𝑣,1 4.5 𝑐𝑚
𝑅𝑚𝑖𝑛 = = = 1.1538
̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅
𝐻𝑣,1 𝐻𝐷 3.9 𝑐𝑚

We recall that, 𝑅 = 1.3𝑅𝑚𝑖𝑛 . Therefore,

𝑅 = 1.3(1.1538) = 1.49994
̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅
∆𝐸 𝐻𝑣,1 = 1.3(4.5 𝑐𝑚) = 5.85 𝑐𝑚

The BFD line starting from the ∆𝐸 point intersecting through the 𝑥𝐹 point is then drawn until the 𝑥𝐵
vertical line. This is then the BFD line for the actual reflux ratio.
Stepping off is then done from 𝑥𝐷 to 𝑥𝐵 , wherein we pivot at the ∆𝐸 point until the tie line crosses the
feed, and pivot tat the ∆𝑆 point until the tie line crosses the 𝑥𝐵 line.

The graphical solution is then the following,

We then count the tie lines wherein we get 19 trays. Subtracting the reboiler,
 𝑁𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜 = 18 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑦𝑠

b.) Condenser and reboiler duty

𝑄𝑐 𝑄𝑅
From the plot, we can determine 𝐷
and 𝐵
. We first solve for D and W first.

Establishing the overall mole balance,

𝐹 =𝐷+𝑊
𝑘𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑙
100 =𝐷+𝑊
ℎ

Establishing the component (benzene) mole balance,

𝐹𝑥𝐹 = 𝐷𝑥𝐷 + 𝐵𝑥𝐵

𝑘𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑙
(100 ) (0.55) = 𝐷(0.98) + 𝐵(0.04)
ℎ
Substituting,
𝑘𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑘𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑙
(100 ) (0.55) = 𝐷(0.98) + (100 − 𝐷) (0.04)
ℎ ℎ
Solving for D,
𝑘𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑙
𝐷 = 54.255
ℎ
𝑘𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑙
𝑊 = 45.745
ℎ
𝑄𝑐 𝑄𝑅
We then measure 𝐷
and 𝐵
in the plot,

̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅
∆ 𝐸 𝐻𝐷 = 9.75 𝑐𝑚

̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅
∆𝑆 𝐻𝐵 = 11.80 𝑐𝑚
Calculating for the condenser and reboiler duty,
𝑘𝐽
20000 𝑘𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑘𝐽
𝑘𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑙
𝑄𝐶 = (9.75 𝑐𝑚) ( ) (54.255 ) = 4.23 × 106
2.5 𝑐𝑚 ℎ ℎ

𝑘𝐽
20000 𝑘𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑘𝐽
𝑘𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑙
𝑄𝑅 = (11.80 𝑐𝑚) ( ) (45.745 ) = 4.32 × 106
2.5 𝑐𝑚 ℎ ℎ
 c.) Minimum number of trays

For the determination of 𝑁𝑚𝑖𝑛 , we step off from 𝑥𝐷 until the tie line crosses the 𝑥𝐵 point shown in the
graphical solution below.

We then count the number of tie lines which is 8 trays, and subtract the reboiler,

𝑁𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 7 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑦𝑠