Distillation Modeling

CHEN 4470 – Process Design Practice

Dr. Mario Richard Eden

Department of Chemical Engineering
Auburn University

Lecture No. 13 – Reboiler Selection and Design

February 26, 2013

Material Developed by Dr. Jeffrey R. Seay, University of Kentucky - Paducah

 Overview

• Purpose of Reboilers
– Provide vapor flow up a column and acts as an
additional theoretical stage below the trays/packing

• Types of Reboilers
– Thermosyphon
– Forced circulation
– Kettle
– Internal reboiler (rarely used in continuous columns)

Proper reboiler design is critical to the optimum

operation of a column!
 Thermosyphon Reboiler

• Return piping to the column

must be sized for two-phase 2-Phase
Flow Region
flow.

• Thermosyphons operate based

on thermodynamic principles,
rather than gravity.

• Therefore, design detail is

important.

• Thermosyphon operation is
simple, but they are often
difficult to design for a wide
operating range.
All-Liquid
• Proper elevation is critical! Flow Region
 Forced Circulation Reboiler

• Forced circulation reboilers are

designed to operate liquid full.

• Flashing occur as the liquid

crosses the control valve.

• Valve should be located close to

the column shell.

• Forced circulation reboilers offer

greater operational flexibility than
thermosyphons, yet have a smaller
footprint than kettle reboilers.

• Elevation is less critical due to

pump and control valve.
 Kettle Reboiler

All-Vapor Cross Section of

Kettle
• Vapor-Liquid disengagement
Flow Region
occurs in the vapor space,
therefore return piping is sized
for all-vapor flow.

• Proper elevation is critical to

kettle reboiler operation.

• Kettles have a large footprint,

but require less elevation than
a thermosyphon.

• Works by gravity, rather than

thermodynamics.

All-Liquid
Flow Region
 Reboiler Design

Reboiler Selection Flowchart Cost Comparison of Reboiler Types

Thermosyphon

Kettle

Forced Circulation
Reboilers in ASPEN Plus