Distillation Theory

Team 3: Robert Clifford, Patricia Firmin,

Gen Liang, Rooma Raza
The Basics of Distillation
 Different Parts of Distillation
Condenser

Overhead Vapor

Overhead Product
Reflux
Rectifying Section

Stripping Section Reboiler

Bottoms Product
Possible Feed Conditions

L- L
q=
F
V- V
q =1+
F
McCabe-Thiele Graphical Method
Minimum Reflux Ratio
Optimal Feed Stage
 Shortcut Method
• Fenske equation-minimum number of trays and split fraction

x lk (1 - xhk )
ln
xhk (1 - xlk )
Nm =
ln a lk /hk
a Nm
xhk
xk = k
1 + (a Nm
k - 1)xhk
Tray Number and Reflux Ratio
b lk =x lk bhk =1- xlk
12.3
Ni =
{(a lk /hk - 1)2/3 (1 - bi )1/6 }

N T =gN max i (N i ) + (1 - gN ) min i (N i )

1.38
Ri =
{(a lk /hk - 1)0.9 (1 - bi )0.1 }

R =gR max i (Ri ) + (1 - gR ) min i (Ri )

 Stage Efficiency

E0 =13.3 - 66.8 log m

• Range from 41% to 88%

• For close-boiling mixtures, liquid viscosity is low, resulting in
high stage efficiency
 Distillation Column Sizing
• Calculate column Diameter by Internal flowrates and design column
at 80% of linear flooding velocity.

A =p D 2 =V '/ (0.8U nf er g )
U nf =Csb (( rl - rg ) / rg ) (20 / s )
0.5 0.2

• If D> 3m = Parallel columns

 Types of Distillation Columns
• Packed Bed Columns
 Used more often for absorption and
distillation of vapor-liquid mixtures.
 The liquid flows downward through the packing and
the vapor flows upward through the column.
• Advantages
 Cost efficient
 Lower pressure drop
 Good for thermally sensitive liquids
• Disadvantages
 Packing can break during installation
 Types of Distillation Columns
• Tray Column
 The number of trays or stages is dependent
• Advantages
 Cost efficient
 Can handle high liquid flow rates
• Disadvantages
 Higher pressure drops than packed columns
 Foaming can occur due to agitation
 Advanced Distillation
Reactive Distillation Extractive Distillation

Vacuum Distillation
 References
• Seader, J. D., Ernest J. Henley, and D. Keith. Roper. Separation Process
Principles: Chemical and Biochemical Operations. 3rd ed. Hoboken, NJ:
Wiley, 2011. Print.
• "ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING EQUIPMENT."
Distillation Columns. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2015.
http://encyclopedia.che.engin.umich.edu/Pages/SeparationsChemical/Distill
ationColumns/DistillationColumns.html.
• Biegler, L., Grossmann, I., Westerberg , A., 1997, Systematic Methods of
Chemical Process Design, Prentice Hall.
• Bravo, Jose L. and James K. Fair. "Distillation Columns." Chemical
Engineering Progress     January 1990: 19-29.