Mass Transfer Fundamentals

(ChE-206)
Lecture No. 17

1
McCabe-Thiele Method
• A graphical method for determining the trade-off b/w reflux and
minimum no of stages is known as McCabe-Thiele Method.
• It also determines the optimal feed-stage location.

2
Assumptions
• Equimolar flow rates through tower b/w;
Feed inlet & top tray
Feed inlet & bottom tray
• The two components have equal & constant molar enthalpies of
vaporization (latent heats).
• Sensible enthalpy changes of component are negligible.
• The pressure is uniform throughout the column (no ∆P).

3
Top Operating Line

  𝐿𝑛 𝐷
𝑦 𝑛= 𝑥 + 𝑥
𝑉 𝑛 𝑛 +1 𝑉 𝑛 𝑑

4
Bottom operating line

  𝐿𝑚 𝑊
𝑦 𝑚= 𝑥 − 𝑥
𝑉 𝑚 𝑚+1 𝑉 𝑚 𝑤

5
Construction of Operating Lines
• Draw 45o line
• Draw equilibrium curve
• Locate feed line
• Calculate y axis Intercept of rectifying section
• Plot the rectifying line from intercept to
(xD,xD).
• Draw stripping line through (xw,xw) and
intersection of stripping & feed line.

6
Location of Feed Tray
•  First draw q line
• Draw enriching and stripping lines to intersect at q-line.
• Start from

7
Example 11.8

8
Enrichment in still and condenser
• Point 16 is liquid conc. in still.
• Point 15 is vapor conc.
• 15-16 is the enrichment in boiler or
still.
• Point 2 is the liquid conc. at top plate.
• Point 1 is the vapor conc.
• Point A is the enrichment in condenser.
• A stage (15-16)+(1-A) should always be
subtracted from the total steps.

9
The intersection of operating lines

10
Enthalpy balance over feed plate
• Enthalpy per mole of feed = Hf
• Enthalpy of one mole of feed at its boiling point = Hfs
• Heat required to bring the feed to its boiling point = F(Hfs-Hf)
• Number of moles to be condensed t provide this heat = F(Hfs-Hf)/λ
• Reflux liquor will be:

11
Feed condition (q Line/Feed Line)

12
Feed condition (q line)

13
Thermal condition of feed

Bubble Point Partly vapor

Cold Feed
Feed Feed

Saturated super-heated
vapor Feed vapor Feed

14
 • Feed add to the liquid
flowing down the column.
Cold Feed • Since, feed is cold, it will
condense some vapors.
• Liquid flow in the stripping
section becomes greater
than vapor flow.

15
 • No heat is required to condense
Feed at bubble point the liquid.
• Vapor flow rate will remain same.
• Since, some portion of feed has
become part of flowing liquid, so
liquid flow become greater.

16
 • Liquid portion becomes part
of flowing liquid.
Partly vapor Feed • Vapor portion becomes part
of rising vapors.

17
 • All the feed becomes part of vapor
Feed is Saturated vapor portion.
• Liquid flow remains the same.
• Vapor flow increases due to
addition of vapors from feed.

18
Feed is super-heated
vapor • Liquid from rectifying column will
vaporize to cool the feed.
• Liquid flow in the stripping section
will be less than that of rectifying
section.

19
Feed Characteristic (q)
• All the feed types are represented by q.
• q is defined as, “ moles of liquid flow in stripping section after
introduction of each mole of feed”.

20
• q is the intersection of two operating lines.

21
Reflux Ratio

Total Reflux

To fix the operating

lines, reflux ratio Min. Reflux
must be set

Operating
Reflux

22
 •  If , then
• Slope =1
Total Reflux
• Operating lines will coincide
• No of plates will be finite.
• No overhead and bottom
product will be taken.
• Infinite size of condenser,
reboiler and tower dia will
be needed.

23
 • R=Rmin
• No of plates are infinite
Min. Reflux • Vapor flow will be minimum in
tower.
• Operating lines move away from
45o Line.
• Pinch Point

 
Slope
  y2

24
Operating Reflux
•  Selection of Reflux Ratio directly affects the cost of distillation units
( reboiler, condenser, tower dia).

• Operating Reflux

25