McCabe Thiele Part Two

Today we will discuss:

1) McCabe-Thiele graphical construction
2) Determination of N and XB
3) Minimum number of stages N
4) Minimum reflux
5) Example
6) Subcooled Reflux
7) Multiple Feeds
8) Side stream products
9) Open steam
10) Non-ideal distillation: Murphree efficiency

Lecture 13: McCabe-Theile 1

 Construction Lines for McCabe-Thiele Method

Rectifying Section: L D
Equilibrium y  x  x
Operating line V V D
curve Slope=L/V=R/(R+1)<1
q-line
yN  q   z F 
y   x   
q  1 q 1 
Stripping Section: L B
yB Operating line y x  xB
V V
45° line Slope=L/V=(VB+1) /VB

Distillation Total condenser

xB x=zF xD
Overhead vapor Reflux drum
q=1 q>1 1 Distillate
Reflux
Rectifying section stages
L* 2
0<q<1 L
L+V x=y Feed
f Feed Stage

V LL Stripping section stages Boilup

q=0 q N
F Partial reboiler
q<0 V*
Bottoms
x=zF
Lecture 13: McCabe-Theile 2
 Construction for the McCabe-Thiele Method
1. equilibrium 2. equilibrium
Step 1: Plot equilibrium curve and 45 degree line.
curve curve
45° line Step 2: Plot given compositions (F, B, and D)
y y Step 3: Draw q-line from LF and VF
Step 4: Determine Rmin from intersection of the
rectifying section OL and the equilibrium curve.
45° line Step 5: Determine R from R/Rmin
Step 6: Draw OL for Rectifying section
Step 7: Draw OL for Stripping section
xB x=zF xD
x

5. and 6. 7.
3. 4.
equilibrium equilibrium equilibrium
equilibrium
curve curve curve
curve

y y y y

xB xD xB x=zF xD xB x=zF xD xB x=zF xD

x=zF

Rmin/(Rmin+1) R/(R+1)

Lecture 13: McCabe-Theile 3

 Feed Location for the McCabe-Thiele Method

Equilibrium Equilibrium
curve curve

1 1

y 2 y 2

3
yN 3 yN
4

4 5
yB yB
6

xB xD xB x=zF
x=zF xD

Feed stage located one tray too low. Feed stage located one tray too high.

Lecture 13: McCabe-Theile 4

 Optimum Feed Location for McCabe-Thiele
Equilibrium
curve

y 2

yN
3

yB

xB xD
x=zF

Optimum feed stage location.

Lecture 13: McCabe-Theile 5

 Determination of N and xB for McCabe-Thiele
Equilibrium
curve
Construction:
1 Step 1: Plot equilibrium curve and 45 degree line.
Step 2: Plot given compositions (F, B, and D)
y 2 Step 3: Draw q-line from LF and VF
Step 4: Determine Rmin from intersection of the
Rectifying section OL and the equilibrium curve.
yN Step 5: Determine R from R/Rmin
3 Step 6: Draw OL for Rectifying section
Step 7: Draw OL for Stripping section

4 Solution:
Step 1: From xD locate x1 and y1 drawing a horizontal line
to the equilibrium condition for stage 1.
yB Step 2: Find y2 drawing a vertical line to the rectifying OL
locate the mass balance condition between x1 and y2.
xB xD Step 3: From y2 draw a horizontal line to the equilibrium
x=zF condition for stage 2 to locate x2.
Step 4: Return to step 2 and cycle through steps 2 and 3 until
xi <zF. Draw subsequent vertical lines to the stripping section OL.
Step 5: End after predetermined number of stages, or when x i is
less than xB.

Lecture 13: McCabe-Theile 6

 Minimum Number of Stages for McCabe-Thiele
Equilibrium
curve

y 2

yN
3

yB

xB x=zF xD

By returning all the exiting vapor as Although this is the minimum number
reflux and all the exiting liquid as boilup of stages, no product is produced (note
the operating lines have slope of one. the feed must then
go to zero).

Lecture 13: McCabe-Theile 7

 Minimum Reflux for McCabe-Thiele
Equilibrium
curve

yN

yB

xB x=zF xD

By returning no exiting vapor as reflux Although this is the minimum amount of

and no exiting liquid as boilup the reflux, it takes infinite stages (note the
operating line intersection is as far to the pinch point between the operating lines
left as equilibrium allows. and equilibrium).

Lecture 13: McCabe-Theile 8

 Minimum Reflux for Non-ideal McCabe-Thiele

Equilibrium
curve

yN

yB

xB x=zF xD

Although this is the minimum amount of

reflux, it takes infinite stages (note the
pinch point between the operating lines
and equilibrium).

Lecture 13: McCabe-Theile 9

 Example: Determination of N and xB for McCabe-Thiele

Given:
100 Kmol/hr of a feed of 60% benzene and 40% heptane is to be separated by distillation. The distillate is to be 90% benzene and
The bottoms 10% benzene. The feed enters the column as 30mol% vapor. Use R 1.5 times the minimum. Assume a constant relative
Volatility of  of 4 and that the pressure is constant throughout the column at 1atm.

Construction:
Step 1: Plot equilibrium curve and 45 degree line.
1 The equilibrium curve is found using:
0.9 x
y
0.8 1  x   1
0.7 Step 2: Plot given compositions (F, B, and D)
Step 3: Draw q-line from LF and VF. Use
0.6
L  L L  LF  L LF
y 0.5 q    0.7
F F F
0.4
to find q. Then plot the q-line using:
0.3
 q   z F 
0.2 y   x     2.333x  2
0.1
q  1 q 1

0 Step 4: Determine Rmin from intersection of the

0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1 rectifying section OL and the equilibrium curve.
This happens at a slope of about .25
x
Rmin
0.25   Rmin  0.333
Rmin  1
Lecture 13: McCabe-Theile 10
 Example: Determination of N and xB for McCabe-Thiele
Given:
100 Kmol/hr of a feed of 60% benzene and 40% heptane is to be separated by distillation. The distillate is to be 90% benzene and
The bottoms 10% benzene. The feed enters the column as 30mol% vapor. Use R 3 times the minimum. Assume a constant relative
Volatility of  of 4 and that the pressure is constant throughout the column at 1atm.

Construction:
Step 5: From Rmin=0.333 and R=3Rmin we have R=1
And the slope of rectifying section OL is 0.5
1
Step 6: Draw the line with slope 0.5 which is the rectifying
0.9 section OL.
Step 7. Draw the stripping section operating line from the
0.8
Bottoms composition to the intersection of the rectifying section
0.7 OL and the q-line.
0.6
Solution:
y 0.5 Step 1: From xD locate x1 and y1 drawing a horizontal line
to the equilibrium condition for stage 1.
0.4
Step 2: Find y2 drawing a vertical line to the rectifying OL
0.3 locate the mass balance condition between x1 and y2.
Step 3: From y2 draw a horizontal line to the equilibrium
0.2
condition for stage 2 to locate x2.
0.1 Step 4: Return to step 2 and cycle through steps 2 and 3 until
xi <zF.
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
Results:
x Feed at stage between 2 and 3.
5 stages (minimum stages = 3.2)
xB=0.05% benzene
Lecture 13: McCabe-Theile 11
 Example: Determination of N and xB for McCabe-Thiele
Given:
100 Kmol/hr of a feed of 60% benzene and 40% heptane is to be separated by distillation. The distillate is to be 90% benzene and
The bottoms 10% benzene. The feed enters the column as 30mol% vapor. Use R 3 times the minimum. Assume a constant relative
Volatility of  of 4 and that the pressure is constant throughout the column at 1atm.

1
Minimum number of stages is determined by stepping off
0.9 between the equilibrium curve and the 45 degree line.The
0.8 result is 3.2 stages.

0.7

0.6

y 0.5
0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1

Lecture 13: McCabe-Theile 12

 McCabe-Thiele Method: Subcooled Reflux

Distillation Column
Total condenser
(subcooled reflux)

Overhead vapor Reflux drum

Reflux Distillate

Feed
Boilup

Partial reboiler

Bottoms

If the liquid reflux is colder than the bubble-point temperature, then

it will condense some vapor in the top stage. This changes the reflux
ratio to the internal reflux ratio.

Lecture 13: McCabe-Theile 13

 McCabe-Thiele Method: Subcooled Reflux

The amount of extra reflux that is produced depends on Total condenser

the heat capacity of the liquid, and the heat of vaporization
of the vapor.
Overhead vapor Reflux drum
vap
R' H  RCPL Tsub Distillate
Reflux
The total amount of reflux, called the internal reflux is
the sum of the reflux ratio and the vapor condensed by Feed
the subcooled reflux:
Boilup
Rint  R  R'
Partial reboiler
CPL Tsub
Rin t  R(1  )
H vap Bottoms

H
P1
T V
P2
Pcr Bubble point line
HV

L V
L
T
Tm Tb X1(V) XD(L)
0
dH  C P dT  V 1  T dP
XB 1

Lecture 13: McCabe-Theile 14

 McCabe-Thiele Method: Partial Condenser

Distillation Column
(partial condenser)
Partial condenser
Vapor
Distillate
Overhead vapor

Reflux

Feed
Boilup

Partial reboiler

Bottoms

If the liquid reflux is obtained from a partial condenser, then

the reflux is produced as the liquid in equilibrium with the
vapor distillate in the condenser.

Lecture 13: McCabe-Theile 15

 McCabe-Thiele Method: Partial Condenser
Vapor
Partial condenser
The vapor distillate composition then determines Distillate
the yD and stages are stepped off from the intersection
Overhead vapor
of yD and the equilibrium curve.

Reflux

Feed
Boilup

yD Partial reboiler

Bottoms
Equilibrium
curve
q-line
yN
 q   z F 
y   x   
q  1 q 1

45° line

yB

xB x=zF

Lecture 13: McCabe-Theile 16

 McCabe-Thiele Method: Multiple Feeds

Distillation Column Total condenser

(multiple feeds)

Overhead vapor Reflux drum

Reflux Distillate

Feed 1

Feed 2
Boilup

Partial reboiler

Bottoms

The McCabe-Thiele method for cascades can be applied to systems with more than
two sections. Here, we show a cascade with 2 feeds: A 3 section cascade.

How do you make the McCabe-Thiele graphical

construction for such a cascade?

Lecture 13: McCabe-Theile 17

 McCabe-Thiele Method: Multiple Feeds

First, note that each feed stream changes the slope

of the operating line from section to section.

The feed stream changes the flow rates in the stages

above and below it. Consequently, it changes the
mass balances and the slopes of the operating lines.

Reflux Distillate Distillate

Reflux
Feed 1 Feed 1

Feed 2 Feed 2

Boilup Boilup

Bottoms Bottoms

Lecture 13: McCabe-Theile 18

 McCabe-Thiele Method: Multiple Feeds
The flow rates above Feed 1 are constant due to constant molar Total condenser
overflow (CMO). The feed changes the slope depending on the
feed condition. Flow rates in the intermediate section are constant,
but change when Feed 2 is introduced. Overhead vapor Reflux drum

Reflux Distillate
Feed 1

Feed 2
Boilup

Partial reboiler
y
Rectifying Section: Bottoms
Operating Line
Equilibrium
Constant Slope (CMO)
curve
yN Feed 1 introduced
Intermediate section:
Operating Line
Constant Slope (CMO)
yB Feed 2 introduced
Stripping Section:
Operating Line
Constant Slope (CMO)

xB xD
Lecture 13: McCabe-Theile 19
 McCabe-Thiele Method: Multiple Feeds

Example: Feed 1 a saturated vapor of composition zF1, q=1 q>1

and Feed 2 a saturated liquid of composition zF2
0<q<1 L L*
L+V x=y

V LL
q=0 q
F
q<0 V*
x=zF

y Saturated vapor
Rectifying Section:
Operating line
Equilibrium
Slope=L/V=R/(R+1)<1
curve
yN
Intermediate section:
Operating line
Slope=L’/V’
yB Saturated liquid
Stripping Section:
Operating line
Slope=L/V=(VB+1) /VB

xB x=zF2 x=zF1 xD
Lecture 13: McCabe-Theile 20
 McCabe-Thiele Method: Side Stream

Occasionally a cascade is configured such that an

intermediate side stream of intermediate composition
is removed from the column.
Reflux Distillate
How do we analyze this configuration?
Ls
Use the multiple mass balance envelopes and
assume a constant molar overflow condition. Feed
Boilup

If we perform a material balance in the light key

Bottoms
around the stages above the side stream
including the condenser:

Vn1y n1  Ln x n  Dx D

Which we can rearrange to find: Reflux Distillate

Ln D Ls
yn1  xn  x
Vn1 Vn1 D
Feed
For L and V constant from
stage to stage, then: Boilup

L D
y  x  xD Operating line above side stream Bottoms
V V
Lecture 13: McCabe-Theile 21
 McCabe-Thiele Method: Side Stream
If we perform a material balance in the light key
around the stages above the side stream
including the side stream and condenser:

Reflux Distillate
V y  L x  L x  Dx
n  1 n 1 n n s s D
Ls
Which we can rearrange to find:
Feed

Ln L x  Dx D Boilup
yn1  xn  s s
Vn1 Vn1
Bottoms
For L and V constant from
stage to stage, then:

L' L x  Dx
y x s Operating line below side stream
V V

The two operating lines intersect at :

xx
s

Lecture 13: McCabe-Theile 22

 McCabe-Thiele Method: Side Stream

Side Stream:
y Liquid withdrawn
Rectifying Section:
Operating line
Equilibrium
Slope=L/V=R/(R+1)<1
curve
yN
Intermediate section:
Operating line
Saturated liquid feed Slope=L’/V
yB
Stripping Section:
Operating line
Slope=L/V=(VB+1) /VB
Total condenser

xB x=xs xD
Distillation
x=zF
Overhead vapor Reflux drum

Rectifying section stages 1 Reflux Distillate

2
Side Stream xs
Feed

Boilup
Stripping section stages N
Partial reboiler

Lecture 13: McCabe-Theile Bottoms 23

 McCabe-Thiele Method: Open Steam

Total condenser
Consider the cascade shown on the left:
Distillation
In this example, the reboiler is replaced by a Overhead vapor
source of hot steam or an inert gas. In this case,
the vapor entering the bottom stage of the column Rectifying section stages 1 Reflux Distillate
has no light key and so yB is zero, although xB is 2
non-zero.
Feed Feed Stage

Stripping section stages N

Steam or inert hot gas (y=0)

Bottoms

Does the slope of the rectifying section operating line

increase or decrease?

Lecture 13: McCabe-Theile 24

 McCabe-Thiele Method: Open Steam

y Rectifying Section:
Operating line
Slope=L/V=R/(R+1)<1
Equilibrium
curve
yN

Saturated liquid feed Stripping Section:

yB Operating line
Slope=L/V Total condenser

Distillation
Overhead vapor Reflux drum
xB x=zF xD
Rectifying section stages 1 Reflux Distillate
2

Feed Feed Stage

Stripping section stages N

Steam or inert hot gas (y=0)

Bottoms

Lecture 13: McCabe-Theile 25

 Non-equilibrium McCabe-Thiele: Murphree Efficiency

Equilibrium Actual separation

curve attained The Murphree Plate Efficiency gives the ratio of
the actual composition difference between two
sequential plates, and that predicted by
equilibrium.
E’ A’
B’
y For the vapor efficiency:
2
yn  yn1 AB
EMV  
yN E 3 yn*  yn1 EB

For the liquid efficiency:

yB 4
A
xn  x n1 A' B'
EML  
xn*  x n1 E' B'
B

xB xD
x=zF

Component distribution obtained less

than theoretical limit described by
equilibrium

Lecture 13: McCabe-Theile 26

 McCabe-Thiele Algebraic Method

We have already developed the McCabe-Thiele Graphical Method for cascades. The same
equations we used for the operating lines, q-line, and equilibrium curve can be used to solve
for the compositions in each stage algebraically.

x
Equilibrium y
curve
1 x  1
y

yN Rectifying Section: R 1
Operating line y x x
R 1 R 1 D
Slope=L/V=R/(R+1)<1

yB Stripping Section: L B
Operating line y x  xB
Slope=L/V=(VB+1) /VB
V V
45° line

 q   z F 
q-line y   x   
xB x=zF q  1 q 1
xD
Lecture 13: McCabe-Theile 27
 McCabe-Thiele: Minimum Reflux

To carry out the algebraic method we need to determine the slopes of the operating lines
algebraically. This can be done finding the intersections between the q-line and equilibrium
curve, and the q-line and the rectifying section operating line.

x
y
yD 1 x  1

 q   z F 
y   x   
y q  1 q 1

yB
 q   z F  x
y   x   
45° line q  1 q  1 1 x  1

xB x=zF xD

Lecture 13: McCabe-Theile 28

 McCabe-Thiele: Rectifying Section Operating Line

The slope of the operating line for the rectifying section with minimum reflux can be determined
from the rise over run. We can then also find the minimum reflux from this slope.

 q   z F  x
y   x   
q  1 q  1 1 x  1

yD
y D  yq Rmin

x D  x q Rmin  1
y
q 45° line
From the minimum reflux, and R/Rmin we can
determine the reflux R.

yB We determine the slope of the rectifying section

operating line from:

R
slope 
R 1
xB x x=zF xD
q
Lecture 13: McCabe-Theile 29
 McCabe-Thiele: Rectifying Section Operating Line

We can find the intersection of the operating line and the q-line to determine the stripping
section operating line:

 q   z F  R 1
y   x    x x
q  1 q  1 R  1 R 1 D

yD
R
slope 
R 1
yQR
45° line
From the minimum reflux, and R/Rmin we can
determine the reflux R.

We determine the slope of the stripping section

operating line from:
yQR  y B
yB  slope
xQR  x B
xB xQR x=zF xD
Lecture 13: McCabe-Theile 30
 McCabe-Thiele: Algebraic Method
Equilibrium
1. In total condenser y1=x0
curve
2. x1 is determined from the equilibrium curve:
1 x 1
y1 
1  x 1   1
y 2
3. y2 is determined from operating line for
the rectifying section:
yN R 1
3 y2  x1  x
R 1 R 1 D
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until xn is less than
4 xQR (you are on a point of the equilibrium
curve to the left of the intersection of the OL
and the q-line).
yB
5. y3 is determined from operating line for
the stripping section:
xB xQR xD
x=zF L B
y3  x2  xB
V V
6. x3 is determined from the equilibrium curve:
x 3
y3 
1  x 3   1
7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 until xn is less than xB
Lecture 13: McCabe-Theile 31
 McCabe-Thiele Algebraic Method: Examples
Equilibrium
curve xD=0.9, xB=0.1, zF=0.5, q=0.8

1 1. Alpha = 4, R=Rmin
2. Alpha=4 R=2Rmin
y 2 3. Alpha=4 R=4Rmin
4. Alpha=4 R=20Rmin
5. Alpha=1.1 R=3Rmin
yN
3

yB

xB xQR xD
x=zF

Lecture 13: McCabe-Theile 32