Preparation distillation practical

Group 8: Ramon Kroes, Halym Lee, Shreya Madheswaran, Nathasha

Mncube, Wessel Schipstra, Jelte van der Zwaag

1 - Explain the shape of the x,y-curve and the T-curve.

The black curved line represents the distillation curve of the volatile component in a
ethanol-n-butanol distillation. The volatile component in this distillation can be determined by
looking at the boiling point of both substances. Since the boiling point of ethanol and butanol is
respectively 78 °C and 117°C, ethanol will be the more volatile component. Hence, the black
curved line represents ethanol. With n-butanol and ethanol having a relatively high relative
volatility,the equilibrium curve is far separated from the xy line.

The red curved line represents the temperature in Kelvin against the state of the volatile
component. As the temperature goes up from 350 K, the graph steadily rises, which means
more of the ethanol will convert to the gas phase. As 350 K is the boiling point of ethanol, this
graph aligns with the expected behavior.

As 350 K is the boiling point of ethanol, the graph aligns with the expected behaviour.
2 - Explain what you expect concerning the profile of the temperature inside the column.

At the top of the column, a lower temperature is expected as the substance that is there is more
volatile so it evaporates at lower temperatures. At the bottom is where the heat is givet, and it
would have a higher temperature because the substance that is there is less volatile and would
require more heat to become vapour.

3 - Using the VLE behavior, for

zF=0.6

xD=0.95

xB=0.05

3 - a) Determine the minimum required number of equilibrium stages.

The distillation fraction is 0.95 and boiling fraction is 0.05 so we can draw 5 stages. This means
the minimum required number of equilibrium stages is 5.

3 - b) Determine the minimum reflux ratio for a liquid feed at bubble point.
At liquid bubble point q is equal to 1. If q is 1 the slope is infinite. Therefore we can draw the line
using 0.6(zF) and 0.95(xD). Which is Y is equal to 0.72.

The equation Y = Xd/(Rmin +1)

Therefore Rmin = Xd/Y -1

Rmin = 0.95/0.72 -1 = 0.32.