Binary System Distillation

McCabe-Thiele Method
Using Matlab
 Available Data (usually)
• Equilibrium relation y
• Feed flow rate “F”
• Feed composition “xF”
• Distillate composition “xD”
• Bottom product composition
“xW”
• Distillate or bottom product
flow rate “D” or “W”
• Reflux ratio “R”

XW XF x XD
 Lines and equations
(XD,XD )
• Equilibrium relation

• Top section line

• Bottom section line

(XF,XF)
• q-line
𝑥𝐷
𝑅+1

(XW,XW)

XW XF XD
 q-line Cases

1- Subcooled Feed 2 1
3
2- Saturated Liquid Feed
3- Parially Vaporized Feed 4

4- Saturated Vapour Feed 5

5- Superheated Feed

XW XF XD
 Minimum Reflux Ratio
When operating line and
equilibrium curve Pinch Point
intersect we can get
infinite number of stages
at the conditions of
minimum reflux ratio.
𝑥𝐷
𝑅min +1
Usually operating Reflux
ratio is 1.2-1.3 times the
minimum reflux ratio

XW XF XD
 Rmin Procedure in Matlab
• Get pinch point coordinates from
intersection of q-line and equilibrium
curve (x_pinch,y_pinch)
• Q-line equation

• Equilibrium curve 𝑥𝐷
𝑅min +1

Solving them simultaneously

To get x, then calculate y from any of the two

equations

XW XF XD
 Rmin Procedure in Matlab
• Get pinch point coordinates from
intersection of q-line and equilibrium
curve (x_pinch,y_pinch)
• Find the equation of the top section
line at Rmin

𝑥𝐷
𝑅min +1

XW XF XD
 Drawing the actual top section
• Top section equation

Top section line drawn between

(xD,xD) and (x,xD/(1+R))
𝑥𝐷
• Intersection between q-line 𝑅min +1
and top section line
(x_intersect,y_intersect) 𝑥𝐷
𝑅+1

XW XF XD
Rmin for non-ideal curves

𝑥𝐷
𝑅min +1

𝑥𝐷
𝑅min +1

XW XF XD
 In Matlab
1. Get (x_pinch1,y_pinch1) (x_pinch1,y_pinch1)
2. Check that there are no
intersection before 𝑥𝐷
(x_pinch1,y_pinch1), how? 𝑅min _ Ideal +1
Calculate y_top using top
section line equation over the
region x_pinch1:xD and
compare them to y_eq
calculated from equilibrium
curve.
If at least on value of
y_top>y_eq, then there are
intersections before
(x_pinch1,y_pinch1).

XW XF XD
 In Matlab
3. Find the actual value of Rmin by (x_pinch1,y_pinch1)
increasing the value of Rmin
and checking on the previous 𝑥𝐷
condition y_top>y_eq. 𝑅min _ Ideal +1
Once the condition is not
fulfilled then this is Rmin.

𝑥𝐷
𝑅min +1

XW XF XD