NUMBER OF EQ.

STAGES
• FENSKE EQUATION:
𝑥𝐿𝐾 𝑥𝐻𝐾
𝐿𝑜𝑔 ∙
𝑥𝐻𝐾 𝐷 𝑥𝐿𝐾 𝐵
• 𝑁𝑀 =
𝐿𝑜𝑔 𝛼𝐿𝐾/𝐻𝐾
𝑎𝑣𝑔
 AVERAGE RELATIVE VOLATILITY,
LK,HK
• FEED VALUE  avg   LK ,HKF
• TOP/BOTTOM AVERAGE
 LK ,HKD   LK ,HKB
 avg 
2

• GEOMETRIC AVERAGES
• OVERALL  avg  3  LK ,HKF  LK ,HKD  LK ,HKB
• TOP/BOTTOM
 avg   LK ,HKD  LK ,HKB
NUMBER OF EQ.
STAGES
𝑁𝑜𝑝𝑡
= 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑓𝑖𝑘 →
𝑁𝑀
The economically optimum number
of trays is near twice the minimum
value Nmin. [Walas, 1990]
ROPT/RMIN
0.55𝛼𝑎𝑣𝑔
𝑋𝐿𝐾 𝑋𝐻𝐾 𝑋𝐿𝐾
𝑙𝑜𝑔 ∙
𝑋𝐻𝐾 𝐷
𝑋𝐿𝐾 𝐵
𝑋𝐻𝐾 𝐹

Economically optimum reflux ratio is

about 1.2 times the minimum reflux
ratio Rmin. [Walas, 1990]
RMIN=
𝛼𝑖 ∙ 𝑋𝑖,𝐷
𝑅𝑀𝐼𝑁 + 1 = ෍
𝛼𝑖 − 𝜃
NOTE:
𝑋𝐿𝐾
if < 1.5 
𝑋𝐻𝐾 𝐹
𝛼𝑖 ∙𝑋𝑖,𝐷
𝑅𝑀𝐼𝑁 + 1 = σ =1−𝑞
𝛼𝑖 −𝜃
q indicates feed condition:
q < 0  superheated vapor
q = 0  vapor
0 < q < 1  partially vapor
q = 1  liquid
1 < q  sub cooled liquid
 FEED TRAY LOCATION

𝑿𝑫
ൗ𝑿
𝑭 𝑳𝑲
𝒍𝒏 𝑿𝑫
ൗ𝑿 𝑁𝑟 = 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
𝑵𝒓 𝑭 𝑯𝑲
= 𝑁𝑠 = 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑝𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
𝑵𝑺 𝑿𝑭
ൗ𝑿
𝑩 𝑳𝑲 𝑁𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 𝑁𝑟 + 𝑁𝑠
𝒍𝒏 𝑿𝑭
ൗ𝑿
𝑩 𝑯𝑲
 CHECK DISTRIBUTION
COMPONENT

Component i distributed when

Component i not distributed when or

 SELECTION OF TRAY
Bubble cap Sieve trays Valve trays Counter Packings Packings
trays flow trays (high void) (normal)
Vapor 3 4 4 4 5 2
capacity
Liquid 4 4 4 5 5 3 5 excellent
capacity 4 very good
Efficiency 3 4 4 4 5 2 3 good
Flexibility 5 3 5 1 2 2 2 fair
1 poor
Pressure 3 4 4 4 5 2
drop
Cost 3 5 4 5 1 3
Design 4 4 3 2 2 3
reliability
Pall rings, Rasching
Glitschgrid ring, berl
saddles