University of Witwatersrand Course: Process Design Principles B

School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering Course Code: CHMT3045A

Johannesburg, 18.September.2023, Prof Jean Mulopo Year: 2023

Tutorial: 4 Topic: “Chapter 3: Synthesis of separation trains -non-ideal mixtures

9.17 Design a process for the separation of 1,000 kgmol∕hr of a mixture

composed of 50 mol% acetone (A) and 50 mol% heptane (C) to highly
pure product streams (at least 99 mol% each), noting that acetone and
heptane form a minimum-boiling azeotrope. Consider using benzene (B)
as an entrainer. Your design should consist of as few distillation
columns as possible, with each column having only two product streams
(distillate and bottoms), operating at 1 bar. Boiling temperature data for
the system is given as follows.
Data for P = 1 bar

Component Azeo-I
A 100% 0% 0% 95%
B 0% 100% 0% 0%
C 0% 0% 100% 5%
Temperature 56∘ C 80∘ C 98∘ C 55∘ C

9.18 Design a process for the separation of 1,000 kgmol∕hr of a mixture

9.13 Prepare residue-curve maps using a process simulation program for
the following mixtures at 1 atm. Identify any distillation boundaries.
(a) Acetone, n-heptane, toluene
(b) Methanol, ethanol, water
(c) Acetone, chloroform, ethanol
9.14 For a mixture of 70 mol% chloroform, 15 mol% acetone, and
15 mol% ethanol at 1 atm, show on a residue curve map the feasible
compositions of the distillate and bottoms product.
comprising 50 mol% A and 50 mol% B to highly pure product streams (at
least 99 mol% each). Your design should consist of at most two columns,
with each column having only two product streams (distillate and bot-
toms), operating at either 2 or 5 bar. You may consider the usage of
entrainer C. Boiling temperature data for the system A-B-C is provided
in Table 9.8 for the two possible operating pressures.
(a) Design a separation process for the production of highly pure A and
B (each at least 99 mol%). Sketch the operating lines for your process on
a ternary phase diagram and provide a PFD indicating key compositions
and temperatures.
(b) If your solution includes the usage of entrainer C, estimate the
required feed rate of C in kgmol/hr.

A A
0 1 0 1
P = 2 Bar P = 10 Bar

0.2 0.8 0.2 0.8

0.4 0.6 0.4 0.6

0.6 0.4 0.6 0.4

0.8 0.2 0.8 0.2

1 0C 1 0C
B B
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1

Figure 9.54 Ternary phase diagrams for Exercise 9.19 at two operating pressures.
286 Chapter 9 Synthesis of Separation Trains

Table 9.8 Boiling Temperature Data for the System A-B-C in Table 9.10 Effect of Reactor Operating Temperature on Effluent
Exercise 9.18 Composition
Data for P = 2 bar CSTR Effluent
Operating Composition
Component Azeo-I Azeo-II Azeo-III Azeo-IV (mol%)
Operating Temperature
(∘ C)
A 100% 0% 0% 50% 0% 40% 40% A B C
Point
B 0% 100% 0% 50% 30% 0% 25%
C 0% 0% 100% 0% 70% 60% 35% 1 180 60 10 30
Temperature 120∘ C 90∘ C 80∘ C 80∘ C 70∘ C 75∘ C 65∘ C 2 160 45 25 30
3 120 30 40 30
Data for P = 5 bar
4 100 15 55 30
Component Azeo-I Azeo-II Azeo-III Azeo-IV
A 100% 0% 0% 50% 0% 25% 15%
B 0% 100% 0% 50% 70% 0% 70%
C 0% 0% 100% 0% 30% 75% 15% Table 9.11 Boiling Temperature Data for the System A-B-C in
Temperature 150∘ C 120∘ C 110∘ C 105∘ C 95∘ C 90∘ C 80∘ C Exercise 9.20
(a) Data for P = 5 bar

Component Azeo-I Azeo-II

9.19 Design a process for the separation of 1,000 kgmol∕hr of a mixture
composed of 50 mol% A and 50 mol% B (water) to product streams: a A 100% 0% 0% 40% 15%
highly pure stream of A (at least 99 mol%) and a purified water stream (at B 0% 100% 0% 60% 0%
least 90 mol%). Your design should consist of as few distillation columns
C 0% 0% 100% 0% 85%
as possible, with each column having only two product streams (distillate
Temperature 50∘ C 80∘ C 120∘ C 40∘ C 45∘ C
and bottoms), with each column operating either at 2 or 10 bar. You may
consider the usage of entrainer C. Boiling temperature data for the system (b) Data for P = 15 bar
A-B-C are provided in Table 9.9 for the two possible operating pressures.
Ternary diagrams at the two pressures are provided in Figure 9.54 noting Component Azeo-I Azeo-II
that the system exhibits regions of liquid–liquid equilibrium at both of A 100% 0% 0% 65% 45%
the operating pressures.
B 0% 100% 0% 35% 0%
C 0% 0% 100% 0% 55%
Table 9.9 Boiling Temperature Data for the System A-B-C in Temperature 60∘ C 100∘ C 150∘ C 50∘ C 55∘ C
Exercise 9.19

(a) P = 2 bar

Pure Pure Pure diagram(s) provided in Figure 9.54, and provide a PFD indicating key
A B C Azeo-I Azeo-II Azeo-III Azeo-IV compositions and temperatures.
(b) If your solution includes the usage of entrainer C estimate the
A 1.00 0.00 0.00 0.70 0.40 0.00 0.15 required feed rate of C at steady state in kgmol/hr.
B 0.00 1.00 0.00 0.30 0.00 0.30 0.30
C 0.00 0.00 1.00 0.00 0.60 0.70 0.55
Temperature (∘ C) 100 120 130 95 90 110 85
(b) P = 10 bar

Pure Pure Pure

A B C Azeo-I Azeo-II Azeo-III Azeo-IV

A 1.00 0.00 0.00 0.70 0.25 0.00 0.10

B 0.00 1.00 0.00 0.30 0.00 0.20 0.15
C 0.00 0.00 1.00 0.00 0.75 0.80 0.75
Temperature (∘ C) 150 170 180 135 145 160 130

(a) Design a separation process for the production of A and B as speci-

fied above. Draw the operating lines for your process on the ternary phase