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Separation Processes: Worksheet #3: Multicomponent Distillation

This document provides information and calculations for three multicomponent distillation problems: 1. Calculation of the bubble point temperature and vapor fraction of a feed containing four components. The bubble point is found to be 134°F and the vapor fraction is 20.23%. 2. Calculation of the minimum number of plates required for a column separating four components with given recoveries and relative volatilities. The minimum number of plates is calculated to be 16. 3. Estimation of the minimum reflux ratio for the conditions in problem 2 if the feed is liquid, and calculation of the approximate number of plates required at a reflux ratio of 1.3 times the minimum. The minimum reflux

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Patricia David
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358 views5 pages

Separation Processes: Worksheet #3: Multicomponent Distillation

This document provides information and calculations for three multicomponent distillation problems: 1. Calculation of the bubble point temperature and vapor fraction of a feed containing four components. The bubble point is found to be 134°F and the vapor fraction is 20.23%. 2. Calculation of the minimum number of plates required for a column separating four components with given recoveries and relative volatilities. The minimum number of plates is calculated to be 16. 3. Estimation of the minimum reflux ratio for the conditions in problem 2 if the feed is liquid, and calculation of the approximate number of plates required at a reflux ratio of 1.3 times the minimum. The minimum reflux

Uploaded by

Patricia David
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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SEPARATION PROCESSES

WORKSHEET #3: MULTICOMPONENT DISTILLATION

Name:
David, Patricia Laine L.

Present clean and clear solutions to the following problems. Highlight your final answer by enclosing it within a box.

1. The feed to a distillation column operating at 270 psia contains 10% ethane, 45% propane, 30% i-butane and 15% n-
butane. Calculate the bubble point of the feed and the fraction vaporized if the feed is heated 20 C above the bubble
point.

Given:
P = 270 psia
Component Mole fraction
C2 0.10
C3 0.45
i-C4 0.30
n-C4 0.15

Solution:

Using Depriester chart

Page 1 of 5
SEPARATION PROCESSES

y i=K i x i
For bubble point calculations:

∑ K i x i=∑ y i=1
Assume Bubble Points

Trial 1 : Tb = 120 F Trial 2 : Tb = 130 F Trial 3 : Tb = 134 F


Component xi Ki yi Ki yi Ki yi
C2 0.10 2.65 0.265 2.81 0.281 2.9 0.29
C3 0.45 0.98 0.441 1.09 0.4905 1.11 0.4995
i-C4 0.30 0.479 0.1437 0.52 0.156 0.53 0.159
n-C4 0.15 0.34 0.051 0.38 0.057 0.39 0.0585
Total: 0.9007 Total: 0.9845 Total: 1.007
Increase Increase
Bubble
assumed assumed
∑ yi <1 Bubble ∑ yi <1 Bubble ∑ yi ≈ 1 point =
134F
Point Point

T b=134 ℉

T feed =134 ℉ +(1.8 ( 20 ℃ ) +32)℉ =202℉

Component zi yi Cp, Btu/lb mol-F ∆ H v , Btu/lb


C2 0.10 0.29 14.81 210.15
C3 0.45 0.4995 21.09 184
i-C4 0.30 0.159 27.77 157.52
n-C4 0.15 0.0585 28.02 164.92

Heat capacity of the feed


Btu
C´ p=( 0.10 ) ( 14. 81 )+ ( 0.45 )( 2 1.09 ) + ( 0.30 ) ( 27.77 )+ ( 0.15 ) (2 8.02 )=23.5055
℉
∆ H =Ć p ∆ T
Enthalpy of Feed

Btu
(
∆ H = 2 3.5055
℉ )
( 202−134 ) ℉ =1,598.37 Btu

Enthalpy of the vapor

V lb Btu lb Btu lb
1,598.37 Btu=
F [ (
( 0.29 ) 30.07
lb mol )(
210.15
lb )
+ ( 0.4995 ) 44.09
lb mol(184
lb )(
+ ( 0.159 ) 58.12
lb mol )
157 ( )(
V
=0.2023=20.23 %
F

Page 2 of 5
SEPARATION PROCESSES

2. The feed to a conventional distillation column and the relative volatilities are shown in the following table. The recovery
of component 2 in the distillate is 99% and 98% of component 3 is to leave in the bottoms. Calculate the minimum
number of plates.

Component Mole fraction Relative volatility


1 0.05 2.10
2 0.42 1.70
3 0.46 1.00
4 0.07 0.65

Basis: 1 mol of Feed


D
Given:
C1
99% recovery of C2
C3

C1 0.05
C2 0.42
C3 0.46
C4 0.07
B
C2
98% C3
C4
Solution:

Distillate:

No C1 in bottom due to high relative volatility therefore

C 1∈ D=0.05 mol
C 2∈ D
99 % recovery of C 2= × 100
C 2∈ F
C 2∈ D
0.99=
0.42(1 mol)
C 2∈ D=0.4158 mol
Overall C3 Balance:
C 3∈ F=C 3∈ D+C 3∈B
0.46(1mol)=C 3∈D+0.98(0.46 mol )
C 3∈ D=0.0092mol

Page 3 of 5
SEPARATION PROCESSES

No C4 in distillate due to low relative volatility therefore


C 4∈ D=0
Bottom:
No C1 in bottom due to high relative volatility therefore
C 1∈B=0
Overall C2 balance
C 2∈ F=C 2∈D+ C 2∈B
0.42 ( 1mol )=0.4158 mol +C 2∈B
C 2∈B=0.0042 mol
C 3∈ B=0.98 ( 0.46 )=0.4508 mol
No C4 in distillate due to low relative volatility therefore
C 4∈B=0.07 mol
F D B
mol frac mol frac mol frac
C1 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.10526 0 0
C2 0.42 0.42 0.4158 0.87537 0.0042 0.008
C3 0.46 0.46 0.0092 0.01937 0.4508 0.85867
C4 0.07 0.07 0 0 0.07 0.13333
0.475 1 0.525 1
Total

x DA

N min =
x
ln BA
()
x DB
x BB
ln ( α ave )

0.87537

N min =
ln
( )
0.008
0.01937
0.85867

ln ( 1.71 )
N min =16 stages

3. For the conditions in Problem #2, estimate the minimum reflux ratio if the feed is liquid at the boiling point. About how
many plates would be required at a reflux ratio 1.3 times the minimum?

Page 4 of 5
SEPARATION PROCESSES

Dx DA Dx DB
Lmin
=
( ) ( )
Fz FA
−α AB
Fz FB
F α AB−1

Lmin
=
( 0.4158
0.42 )
−1.7 (
0.0092
0.46 )
F 1.7−1
Lmin
=1.3657
F
Lmin F
Rmin = ×
F D
1
Rmin =1.3657 ×
0.475
Rmin =2.875

Page 5 of 5

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