ISSN 0040-5795, Theoretical Foundations of Chemical Engineering, 2018, Vol. 52, No. 3, pp. 307–315. © Pleiades Publishing, Ltd.

, 2018.
Original Russian Text © V.P. Krivosheev, A.V. Anufriev, 2018, published in Teoreticheskie Osnovy Khimicheskoi Tekhnologii, 2018, Vol. 52, No. 3, pp. 251–259.

Mathematical Modeling of the Cyclic Distillation of Binary Mixtures

with a Continuous Supply of Streams to the Column
V. P. Krivosheeva, * and A. V. Anufrievb, **
a
Vladivostok State University of Economics and Service, Vladivostok, 690014 Russia
bFar Eastern Federal University, Vladivostok, 690000 Russia

*e-mail: [email protected]
**e-mail: [email protected]
Received May 24, 2017

Abstract⎯A mathematical model for cyclic binary distillation in a sectioned column with a continuous sup-
ply of streams has been proposed. A method has been developed for organizing cyclic modes in a sectioned
apparatus with the operation of one of the sections in the liquid flow mode and the other sections in the vapor
flow mode. The effect of the parameters of the proposed model on separation in the column has been studied.

Keywords: cyclic distillation, controlled phase movement, ideal displacement, perfect mixing, mass transfer,
column separation efficiency, thermodynamic criterion, Murphree tray efficiency
DOI: 10.1134/S0040579518020100

INTRODUCTION the difficulty of regulating the flow rates of the vapor,

feed, and reflux during the short period of supply; and
Growth in the chemical and petrochemical indus- (d) the periodicity of the operation of a reboiler and a
tries requires the development of more effective meth- reflux condenser.
ods for implementing the process. One of the methods
of increasing the efficiency of mass-transfer processes The specified disadvantages can be partially
is to use periodic (cyclic) phase movement modes in avoided using two columns with a common bottom
apparatuses. Cyclic distillation is based on the alterna- and reflux condenser so that, when the vapor is sup-
tion of two modes [1], i.e., the vapor flow period, in plied to one of the columns, the liquid is supplied to
which the vapor stream moves upward through the the other column [13]. However, in this case, it is
column, and the liquid flow period, in which the liq- impossible to select the optimal ratio of the liquid and
uid stream moves from each tray to the below-located vapor flow periods. In addition, the problem of hydro-
tray. The feed mixture and the reflux stream are only dynamic impact remains.
supplied to the column in the liquid flow period. This Organizing the cyclic process without interrupting
operation mode of the apparatus is also known as sep- the supply of the liquid and vapor to the column is of
arate phase movement [2]. greater interest. This can be achieved by using trays
without downcomers with the regulated active tray
The first studies into the intensification of mass area [14]. A disadvantage of this method that the liquid
transfer processes due to periodic changes in operating mixes during flow, which decreases the efficiency of
parameters were conducted in the 1960s. An increase separation. Another solution is to use a column with a
in the efficiency of cyclic distillation to 200% com- movable perforated cylinder [15]. Trays with down-
pared with conventional continuous distillation was comers are located in the movable cylinder, and the
shown in [2–10]. The maximum efficiency is achieved liquid flows through special pockets in an external
under the conditions of complete replacement of the motionless cylinder. The use of this design is only jus-
fluid on trays without mixing in the liquid flow period, tified in apparatuses with small diameters, since an
which is impossible when conventional contact increase in dimensions leads to an increase in energy
devices are used. The problem of the plug flow of the expenditures on the movement of the cylinder.
liquid is successfully solved using trays proposed by Another solution is to use an apparatus with sieve trays
Maleta [11, 12]. with downcomers [16]. Here, a tray consists of two
The industrial implementation of cyclic distillation semicircular perforated plates that are folded via rota-
is limited by the following factors: (a) hydrodynamic tion about the horizontal axis for the liquid flow. The
impact during the supply of the vapor to the apparatus; specific feature of this method is the organization of
(b) the need to install reliable high-speed valves; (c) the liquid flow in a tray-by-tray manner beginning

307
308 KRIVOSHEEV, ANUFRIEV

and reflux condenser. For each section, the vapor flow

period and the liquid flow period are calculated alter-
Gv Yi(t) nately and independently using initial data on the feed
mixture.
In the mathematical model of cyclic binary distilla-
Hi i tion, the following assumptions were made: (a) a
Xi(t) change in the concentration of the more volatile com-
ponent (also called the light key) in the vapor that
leaves a tray instantaneously follows a change in the
concentration of the liquid on the tray; (b) equimolar
mass transfer takes place; (c) the holding capacity of a
Gv Yi – 1(t) tray with respect to the liquid is the same at all of the
stages of the enriching and stripping sections; (d) the
Murphree tray efficiency is constant at the given sepa-
ration stage; (e) the original mixture is supplied to the
Fig. 1. Schematic representation of a tray in the vapor flow column at the initial boiling point; (f) the entrainment
period. of the liquid is not taken into account; (g) in the vapor
flow period, there is perfect mixing on all trays; (h) the
from the bottom of the column, rather than simulta- condenser of the column is a total condenser; (i) the
neously along the entire column. The disadvantage of vapor that leaves the bottom is in equilibrium with the
the method is that it is necessary to install equipment liquid; (j) within the stripping and enriching sections
for folding each tray, which complicates both the of the column, the same amount of the liquid flows
from each tray of the section for the liquid flow period;
design itself and a control system for this process.
and (k) there is no mass transfer in the liquid flow
The purpose of this study is to investigate the cyclic period. The initial data for calculating the conven-
distillation of binary mixtures with the continuous tional distillation process were as follows: N, f, R, EM,
supply of streams to a sectioned column using the n, XF, GF, GV, P, HW, and HD. The initial data for cal-
mathematical model of the process. To achieve this culating the cyclic mode were as follows: τ, γ, β, and η.
goal, the following objectives are to be achieved: (1) to
develop a method for organizing the continuous sup-
ply of material streams to the sectioned column of Vapor Flow Period
cyclic distillation; (2) to develop a mathematical
model for cyclic distillation with the continuous sup- A schematic representation of the movement of
ply of streams to the sectioned column; (3) to study the streams on a tray in the vapor flow period is shown in
effect of the parameters of the mathematical model on Fig. 1. In the vapor flow period, the variations in the
the efficiency of separation; and (4) to verify the ade- fraction of the light key on the ith tray is described by
quacy of the proposed mathematical model. the following equation:
dX i (t ) ⎡
= Yi −1(t ) − Yi*( X i )⎤ V M .
G E
(1)
MATHEMATICAL MODEL dt ⎣⎢ ⎦⎥ H i
To organize the continuous supply of material A system of equations written for each tray based on
streams to a cyclic distillation column, it is proposed to Eq. (1) requires simultaneous solving, since, in order
use a vertically sectioned column with the bottom and to calculate the variation in the fraction of a compo-
a reflux condenser that are common to all sections. In nent on a tray, it is necessary to know the fraction of
each section, the vapor and liquid flow periods alter- this component in the vapor that enters from the pre-
nate so that, at any point in time, the flow of the liquid vious tray.
only takes place in one of the sections. Thus, the pro- For an ideal mixture, the equilibrium concentra-
portion of the vapor flow period in the entire column tion of the light key in the vapor on a tray is described
depends on the number of sections. A detailed by the well-known equation
description of a method for the continuous supply of
streams to a column is presented in Method for the Yi* = K i (Ti , Pi )X i . (2)
Continuous Supply of Streams to a Column.
At a temperature that corresponds to an equilib-
The presented mathematical model, which takes rium state, the following condition should be satisfied:
into account the mixing of the liquid on trays in the
n
liquid flow period, has been obtained by improving the
model of binary cyclic distillation that we proposed in ∑K
j =1
i, j (Ti , Pi, j )X i, j = 1. (3)
[17, 18] based on studies [19, 20]. According to the
model, a multisectional column is calculated as indi- The vapor–liquid distribution ratio for an ideal
vidual independent columns with the common bottom mixture is calculated as the ratio of the saturated vapor

THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING Vol. 52 No. 3 2018

 MATHEMATICAL MODELING OF THE CYCLIC DISTILLATION 309

pressure of the jth component over its pure solution to the fraction of the liquid on the tray by the end of the
the total pressure in the system as follows: liquid flow period:
τ
Pi, j (Ti ) η
K i, j (Ti , Pi, j ) =
Pi
. (4) X i (τ) = β Z i (τ) + ∫
(1 − γ ) τ τ−ttr.d
Z i +1(t )dt. (9)

The vapor pressure of the jth component over a The concentration of the light key in the liquid on
pure solvent can be calculated using the extended Rie- the tray by the end of the liquid flow period depends
del equation [21] on the concentration of the component in the mixing
unit by the end of the liquid flow period and the inte-
Bj
ln Pi, j (Ti ) = A j + gral that describes the variation of concentration in the
Ti mixing unit on the above-located tray for the time
E
(5) interval from τ – ttr.d to τ. By mixing unit, we mean the
+ C j ln Ti + D jTi + 2j .
2
portion of liquid on the tray in which there is no vari-
Ti ation in the concentration of the light key during the
plug flow of the liquid. Within the transport delay
Thus, to calculate the fraction of a component in time, the fraction of the light key in the liquid that
the equilibrium vapor (2), it is necessary to determine flows from the ith tray is equal to the fraction of the
the temperature at which condition (3) is satisfied. light key in the mixing unit of the given tray Zi.
The fraction of the liquid on the feed tray by the
Liquid Flow Period end of the liquid flow period is calculated using the
following equation:
According to the model, in the liquid flow period
within the transport delay time, the liquid flow on H f +1 η
X f (τ) = β Z f (τ) +
trays takes place in the ideal displacement (plug flow) H f (1 − γ ) τ
mode. After the transport delay time, the interaction τ (10)
between the tray fluid and the downward-flowing liq- G t
uid occurs in the perfect mixing mode. The transport × ∫
τ−ttr.d
Z f +1(t )dt + F tr.d X F .
Hfγ
delay time is calculated using the following equation:
The variations in the fraction of the light key in the
1−β
ttr.d = (1 − γ ) τ, (6) mixing unit of the ith tray is described by the equation
η
dZ i (t ) η
where β is the degree of mixing between trays, which = {U (t − ttr.d − γτ) X i +1(γτ)
characterizes the proportion of the duration of the liq-
dt (1 − γ ) τβ (11)
uid flow in the perfect mixing mode. + [1 − U (t − ttr.d − γτ)] X i (γτ) − Z i (t )} ,
If the transport delay time is higher than or equal to where U(t – ttr.d – γτ) is the unit step function that
the liquid flow time, the downward-flowing liquid takes on the value 0 when t – ttr.d – γτ ≤ 0 and the value
replaces the tray fluid according to the ideal displace- 1 when t – ttr.d – γτ > 0. The fraction of the light key in
ment (plug flow) model. In this case, to calculate the the mixing unit on the ith tray at the beginning of the
fraction of the liquid on the tray by the end of the liq- liquid flow period is equal to the fraction of the com-
uid flow period, the following algebraic equation is ponent in the liquid on the same tray and remains
used: unchanged during the transport delay time as follows:

X i (τ) = ηX i +1(γτ) + (1 − η) X i (γτ). (7) Z i (γτ) = Z i (γτ + ttr.d ) = X i (γτ). (12)

The fraction of the liquid on the feed tray by the The variations in the fraction of the light key in the
end of the liquid flow period is calculated using the mixing unit of the feed tray is described by the follow-
equation ing differential equation:
H f +1 dZ f (t ) η ⎧
X f (τ) = ηX f +1(γτ) = ⎨U (t − ttr.d − γτ)
Hf dt (1 − γ ) τβ ⎩
(8)
G (1 − γ ) τ ⎡H G (1 − γ ) τ ⎤
+ (1 − η) X f (γτ) + F X F. × ⎢ f +1 X f +1(γτ) + F XF⎥ (13)
Hfγ ⎣ Hf Hfγ ⎦
⎫
If the transport delay time is lower than the liquid + [1 − U (t − ttr.d − γτ)] X f (γτ) − Z f (t )⎬ .
flow time, the following equation is used to calculate ⎭
THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING Vol. 52 No. 3 2018
310 KRIVOSHEEV, ANUFRIEV

(a) (b)

Fig. 2. Division of a column into sections: (a) three sections and (b) five sections; (1) external shell, (2) internal shell, and
(3) partitions.

Thus, if the transport delay time is greater than or given number of sections (Fig. 2). Contact devices
equal to the liquid flow time, the calculation of the liq- (trays) are located along the height of each section.
uid flow is performed using algebraic equations (7) Each of the sections is connected to the common bot-
and (8). If the transport delay time is lower than the tom and the common reflux condenser.
liquid flow time, the mole fraction of the component
in the liquid on the tray by the end of the liquid flow As contact devices, it is proposed to use trays devel-
period is calculated by Eqs. (9) and (10) by solving dif- oped by Maleta [12, 13], which ensure the single
ferential equations (11) and (13). downward flow of the liquid without mixing. The
design feature of Maleta’s trays is that there are special
chambers to which the liquid is supplied in the liquid
The Bottom of the Column and the Reflux Condenser flow period (Fig. 3). In the subsequent supply of the
Variations in the fraction at the bottom of the col- vapor, the liquid flows to the tray located below with-
umn at a constant liquid level is described by the fol- out mixing.
lowing equation:
It is proposed to distribute the vapor stream among
dX W (t ) the sections of the column using a rotating cutoff plate
HW = ηH1 X 1(t )
dt that blocks the supply of the vapor to one of the sec-
(14)
⎡
− G VYW ( X W ) − GF − G V R − 1 ⎤ X W (t ).
tions (Fig. 4). Mass transfer takes place in the sections
⎢⎣ R ⎥⎦ open for the supply of the vapor. The flow of the liquid
occurs in the closed section. The rotation of the cutoff
Here, X1(t) is the fraction of the light key in the liquid plate ensures the alternation of the vapor flow period
that flows from the bottom tray of the section operated and the liquid flow period in sections.
in the liquid flow period.
The variations in the fraction of the light key in a It is proposed to distribute the feed stream and the
reflux condenser at a constant liquid level are reflux stream among the sections of the column using
described by the following equation: buffers (Fig. 5). A buffer consists of a rotating cylindri-
cal chamber (Fig. 5a) and a motionless section with
dX D(t )
HD = G V [YN (t ) − X D(t )] . (15) connecting pipes (Fig. 5b). The distributed liquid is
dt continuously supplied to the chamber through the
Here, YN(t) is the average fraction of the light key in lower opening 2 via the connecting pipe 4. The liquid
the vapor that enters from the column sections oper- is supplied to one of the column sections through the
ated in the vapor flow period. upper opening 1 of the cylindrical chamber via the
connecting pipes 3.
METHOD OF CONTINUOUS SUPPLYING The distributing cutoff plate and the rotating
STREAMS TO A COLUMN chambers of buffers are fastened to a movable shaft
To organize the continuous supply of material that passes through the center of the column. The
streams to a cyclic distillation column, it is proposed to mechanical connection of these devices into a unified
divide the column into sections in the vertical direc- rigid system simplifies the regulation process and
tion. Sectioning is performed by dividing the internal excludes a mismatch between the supply of the vapor
space of the column by vertical partitions into the and the liquid to the column.

THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING Vol. 52 No. 3 2018

 MATHEMATICAL MODELING OF THE CYCLIC DISTILLATION 311

(a) (b) (c)

1

Fig. 3. Operating principle of trays proposed by Maleta: (a) vapor flow, (b) liquid flow into the sluice chamber, and (c) liquid flow
to the below-located tray; (1) working zone of mass transfer, (2) sluice chamber, and (3) valve.

(a) (b) (c)

I II I II I II

III III III

Fig. 4. Operating principle of a distributing cutoff plate in a three-section column: (a) supply of the vapor to sections I and II, (b)
supply of the vapor to sections II and III, and (c) supply of the vapor to sections I and III.

CALCULATING THE CYCLIC 0.5 mol/mol, N = 5, f = 3, EM = 0.5, PW = 101.3 kPa,

DISTILLATION PROCESS PD = 101.3 kPa, GF = 100 mol/h, GD = 50 mol/h,
HW = 5 mol, and HD = 5 mol.
A column for separating an ideal model toluene– The operating efficiency of the distillation column
ortho-xylene mixture was chosen as the object of was estimated as follows using the thermodynamic cri-
investigation with the following basic parameters: XF = terion of the column separation efficiency ξ [22]:

2 2 2

∑X
j =1
F, j ln X F, j ∑X
−ε
j =1
D, j ln X D, j − (1 − ε ) ∑X
j =1
W, j ln X W, j
ξ= 2
. (16)
∑X
j =1
F, j ln X F, j

THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING Vol. 52 No. 3 2018

312 KRIVOSHEEV, ANUFRIEV

(a) (b)

Fig. 5. Schematic representation of a buffer: (a) rotating chamber and (b) motionless section; (1) opening for the liquid flow from
the chamber, (2) opening for the liquid flow into the chamber, (3) connecting pipe of the distribution device for the supply of the
liquid to the column section, and (4) connecting pipe of the distribution device for the introduction of the liquid into the chamber.

X, mol/mol
0.8
5

4
0.6

3
2
0.4 1

0 10 20 30
t, s

Fig. 6. Fraction of the light key in the liquid on trays as a function of time for section I in a three-section column (τ = 15 s, γ =
0.667, β = 0, and η = 1): (1) tray 1, (2) tray 2, (3) tray 3, (4) tray 4, and (5) tray 5.

The variations in the fraction of toluene on the case, a decrease in the efficiency of separation is
trays of section I in the operating mode for a three- observed.
section column are presented in Figs. 6 and 7. The In the operating mode, variations in the fraction of
flow of the vapor takes place over the time interval of toluene in the liquid on the tray in each of the sections
0–10 s, and the flow of the liquid occurs over the time are the same (Fig. 8).
interval of 10–15 s. The cycle is then repeated. Under
the conditions of single replacement of the liquid in In the mathematical model under consideration,
the ideal displacement mode (Fig. 6) in the vapor flow the duration of the period τ and the proportion of the
period, the fraction of toluene on the tray decreases to vapor flow period γ have no effect on the results of cal-
the fraction of toluene on the tray located below at the culations. According to Eq. (1), in the vapor flow
beginning of the vapor flow period as follows: period, the variations in the fraction of the light key in
the liquid on the tray is in inverse proportion to its vol-
X i (10) = X i +1(0). ume on the tray. Since there is no flow of the liquid in
the vapor flow period, the holding capacity of the tray
This regularity is disturbed at an insufficient frac- with respect to the liquid is determined by the flow
tion of the replaced fluid on the tray (Fig. 7). In this rates of the feed mixture and the reflux. The volume of

THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING Vol. 52 No. 3 2018

 MATHEMATICAL MODELING OF THE CYCLIC DISTILLATION 313

X, mol/mol
0.8

0.6
4

3
2
0.4 1

0 10 20 30
t, s

Fig. 7. Fraction of the light key in the liquid on trays as a function of time for section I in a three-section column (τ = 15 s, γ =
0.667, β = 0, and η = 0.5): (1) tray 1, (2) tray 2, (3) tray 3, (4) tray 4, and (5) tray 5.

X5, mol/mol
1

0.75

0.70 3

0.65

0 10 20 30
t, s

Fig. 8. Fraction of the light key in the liquid on the fifth tray as a function of time for a three-section column: (1) section I,
(2) section II, and (3) section III.

the liquid on the tray increases in proportion to the ment with literature data [6–8]. When hydrodynamic
duration of the vapor flow period. Therefore, by the conditions are different from the ideal displacement
end of the vapor flow period, the concentration of the mode, it is inexpedient to replace the entire volume of
light key is the same regardless of the cycle time, with the fluid on the tray. The maximum separation of
other parameters of the process being unchanged. For components is achieved when the condition β + η = 1
the liquid flow period, the movement of the liquid is satisfied.
depends on the quantity of liquid that flows from the A model calculated in the Unisim Design software
tray, but it does not depend on the duration of the liq- (Honeywell) was used to compare the efficiencies of
uid flow period. cyclic distillation and conventional continuous distil-
The effect of the fraction of the replaced fluid on lation. The Peng–Robinson model was used as the
the tray and the degree of mixing between trays is pre- model of the vapor–liquid equilibrium for continuous
sented in Fig. 9. The maximum efficiency of separa- distillation [23].
tion is achieved under the conditions of single replace- It can be seen from Fig. 10 that the efficiency of
ment of the fluid without mixing, which is in agree- separation in the cyclic mode is higher than the effi-

THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING Vol. 52 No. 3 2018

314 KRIVOSHEEV, ANUFRIEV

ξ The proposed mathematical model takes into

account the degree of mixing between trays β, which
0.24 was not measured in experiments. This parameter
1 depends on the design of a tray; therefore, the verifica-
tion of the model was performed for the β range of 0–1
0.23 2 with a step of 0.1.
3 The root-mean-square deviation of the calculated
values for the mole fraction of the light key on the con-
0.22 trol tray from experimental data was taken as a crite-
rion for the adequacy of the mathematical model as
follows:
0.21
0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 m
η ∑(X exp
k − Xk )
calc 2

S = k =1
. (17)
Fig. 9. Thermodynamic criterion of the column separation N exp − 1
efficiency as a function of the fraction of the replaced fluid
on the tray at E = 0.5 for β = (1) 0, (2) 0.25, and (3) 0.5. For β = 0.3, the value of the criterion was
0.017 mol/mol. At an average value of YW = 0.297 mol/mol,
the relative error of calculated values was 5.7%.
χ
0.5 1
2 CONCLUSIONS
0.4 3 In this study, a mathematical model for cyclic
binary distillation with the continuous supply of
0.3 4 streams to a column has been proposed. The adequacy
of the proposed model has been assessed using exper-
0.2 imental data on cyclic distillation for the case of sepa-
rating a methanol–ethanol mixture. The higher effi-
0.1 ciency of a three-section column operated in the cyclic
mode compared with a conventional distillation col-
0 umn has been shown for the case of separating a tolu-
0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 ene–ortho-xylene mixture.
EM
The effect of the parameters of the proposed model
for cyclic distillation on the separation process has
Fig. 10. Thermodynamic criterion of the column separa- been studied. The highest efficiency of separation is
tion efficiency as a function of the Murphree tray effi- achieved under the conditions of the single replace-
ciency: (1) cyclic distillation (β = 0 and η = 1), (2) cyclic
distillation (β = 0.5 and η = 1), (3) cyclic distillation (β = 0 ment of the fluid on the tray in the liquid flow period
and η = 0.5), and (4) continuous distillation. without mixing. When hydrodynamic conditions are
different from the ideal displacement (plug flow)
mode, it is inexpedient to replace the entire volume of
ciency of continuous distillation. The highest effi- the fluid on the tray.
ciency of cyclic distillation relative to continuous dis- A method has been proposed for organizing the
tillation is 166%, which is achieved at ЕM = 1, β = 0, continuous supply of material streams to a column by
and η = 1. dividing the column into vertical sections and distrib-
uting the liquid and vapor streams among the sections.

VERIFICATION OF THE MODEL NOTATION

The verification of the mathematical model of
A, B, C, D, E constants in the extended Riedel equation
cyclic distillation was performed by comparing the
results of calculations and experimental data on cyclic EM Murphree tray efficiency
distillation presented in [7]. To verify the adequacy of f number of the feed tray
the model, we used the data of 41 experiments on the G flow rate, mol/s
separation of a methanol–ethanol mixture at total
H tray holdup, mol
reflux for a wide range of parameters [7, pp. 175–186]:
GW = 1.09–4.30 m/s, YW = 0.170–0.414 mol/mol, K vapor–liquid distribution ratio
Yc.pl = 0.205–0.520 mol/mol, η = 0.578–1.580, and m number of experiments
EM = 0.22–0.77. N number of trays in the distillation column

THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING Vol. 52 No. 3 2018

 MATHEMATICAL MODELING OF THE CYCLIC DISTILLATION 315

n number of components 4. Mcwhirter, J.R. and Cannon, M.R., Controlled

cycling distillation in a packed-plate column, Ind. Eng.
P pressure, Pa Chem., 1961, vol. 53, no. 8, p. 632.
R reflux ratio 5. Schrodt, V., Sommerfeld, J., Martin, O., Parisot, P.,
S root-mean-square deviation and Chien, H., Plant-scale study of controlled cyclic
T temperature, K distillation, Chem. Eng. Sci., 1967, vol. 22, no. 5, p. 759.
6. Robinson, R.G. and Engel, A.J., Analysis of controlled
t time, s cycling mass transfer operations, Ind. Eng. Chem.,
U unit step function 1967, vol. 59, no. 3, p. 22.
X mole fraction of the light key in the liquid, 7. Arutyunyan, G.R., Cyclic distillation in tray and
mol/mol packed columns, Cand. Sci. (Eng.) Dissertation,
Obninsk, 1984.
Y mole fraction of the light key in the vapor, 8. Szonyi, L. and Furzer, I.A., Periodic cycling of distilla-
mol/mol tion columns using a new tray design, AIChE J., 1985,
Y* equilibrium mole fraction of the light key in vol. 31, no. 10, p. 1707.
the vapor, mol/mol 9. Azizov, S.B., Hydrodynamics and mass transfer in
Z mole fraction of the light key in the mixing apparatuses operated in the cyclic mode, Cand. Sci.
(Eng.) Dissertation, Kazan, 2007.
unit, mol/mol
10. Maleta, B.V., Shevchenko, A., Bedryk, O., and Kiss, A.A.,
β degree of mixing between trays Pilot-scale studies of process intensification by cyclic
γ proportion of the vapor flow period distillation, AIChE J., 2015, vol. 61, no. 8, p. 2581.
ε fraction of the withdrawn overhead product 11. Maleta, B.V. and Maleta, O.V., Mass exchange contact
device, US Patent 20090145738 A1, 2009.
η fraction of the replaced fluid on the tray 12. Maleta, B.V. and Maleta, O.V., Mass-exchange contact
ξ thermodynamic criterion of column sepa- device, US Patent 20100219060 A1, 2010.
ration efficiency 13. Gel’perin, N.I., Polotskii, L.M., and Potapov, T.G.,
τ column section cycle time, s USSR Inventor’s Certificate no. 572285, Byull. Izobret.,
1977, no. 34.
14. Razmolodin, L.P., Protod’yakonov, I.O., and Ovchin-
SUBSCRIPTS AND SUPERSCRIPTS nikov, A.I., Mathematical model and algorithm for cal-
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