Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar

Experiment-4, 13 February, 2023

Sieve-Plate Distillation

Mass Transfer and Reaction Engineering

CL-352 Lab Report (Group C)

Authors
Shreyansh Chourasiya 19110031
Sakshi Jain 20110181
Ayush Bhalala 20110037
Rajesh Kumar 20110161
Title
To determine the theoretical number of plates for a sieve plate distillation column and find the
overall efficiency.

Abstract
The sieve plate distillation experiment is a commonly used method for studying the separation
◦
of liquids which have a boiling point difference of less than 20 𝐶. The distillation column used
in this experiment consists of a series of plates, which are stacked on top of each other. Each
plate has a sieve-like structure with small holes, which allow the vapor to pass through while
holding back the liquid.

To perform the experiment, a binary mixture of 200 ml of each n-propanol and iso-propanol is
added to the distillation column, and the column is heated to the boiling point of more volatile
iso-propanol. As the mixture boils, the vapor rises up the column and passes through each
plate. At each plate, some of the vapor condenses back into liquid, while the remaining vapor
continues up the column. This process of vapor rising and liquid condensing is repeated at each
plate until the desired degree of separation is achieved.

The composition of the distillate is measured using a refractometer, which can determine the
refractive index of the liquid. The refractive index is related to the composition of the liquid and
can be used to calculate the number of plates required for the separation with the help of the
operating line and equilibrium curve. By analyzing the composition of the distillate and residue,
it is possible to determine the number of plates required to achieve the desired separation.
In this experiment, the number of plates was calculated to be and overall efficiency of the
distillation column came out to be .

Introduction
The act of selectively boiling and condensing substances from a liquid mixture is known as
distillation, or classical distillation. This is often done inside of a device called a still. We can get
nearly pure components or increase in the concentration of selected components by exploiting
the differences in the boiling point of the two components using Distillation. Usually, a column
is inserted between the pot and the condenser to improve the efficiency of the separation
process. In order to concentrate the more volatile liquid in the first fractions and the less
volatile components in the later fractions, a distillation column is a tube that offers surfaces on
which condensations and vaporization can occur before the gas hits the condenser. Prior to
reaching the condenser, the analyte normally travels through a number of
vaporization-condensation processes.
Here we have done the sieve plate distillation where the metal plates with holes serve as sieve
trays. On a tray, the liquid and vapor phase come into close contact, allowing for a quick
interchange of mass between them. The liquid on the plate is directly traversed by vapor. The
location, quantity, and size of the holes are design considerations. The holes allow vapor to
escape, which prevents liquid from seeping through. The liquid and vapor then combine on the
tray deck. Following that, the liquid will exit the tray via the downwarder. As the dish above is
filled with vapor.

Fig 1. Sieve Plate

Typical Distillation Column::
 Fig 2. Sketch of a Distillation Column
In the Enriching section, the more volatile component is removed through the rising vapor with
the liquid flowing down. This is the section above the feed.
In the stripping section, which is below the feed, the liquid is being stripped off of the more
volatile component by the vapor produced at the bottom.
Feed entry is the point that divides the column into an enriching section and a stripping section.
Some of the condensed vapor from the top section is returned to the column while the
remaining portion is used to create a distillate. Without reflux, neither the liquid in the bottom
section nor the vapor in the top section will be enriched.
Reflux ratio is a measurement of how much condensed vapor is recycled back into the column
relative to how much distillate is removed. The operating line travels away from the equilibrium
curve and the number of steps reduces as the reflux ratio increases.

Procedure

Materials and Equipment:

1. Sieve Plate distillation column with Reboiler
2. Digital refractometer
3. Beakers
 4. Two Fluids with different boiling points.(iso-propanol and n-propanol)
5. Stopwatch.

Procedure:
1. 200 ml each of iso-propanol and n-propanol are taken in a beaker and the distillation
column is filled with this mixture.
2. The heater is switched on and the temperature is set at 135 ̊C.
3. The cold water and hot oil flow are started and the system is allowed to reach a steady
state.
4. Few drops of distillate are collected in a beaker and its refractive index is measured
using a refractometer.
5. Few drops of residue are collected in a beaker and its refractive index is measured using
a refractometer.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 every 5 minutes.
7. Turn off the distillation apparatus safely, allowing it to cool to ambient temperature.

Observation table:

Boiling point:
o
n-propanol= 97 C
o
Iso-propanol = 82 C

Time (Min) R(D) R(W)

0 1.3772 1.3792

5 1.3772 1.3794

10 1.377 1.3793

15 1.3768 1.3793

20 1.3767 1.3794

25 1.3768 1.379

30 1.3767 1.379

35 1.3766 1.379

40 1.3765 1.3789
 45 1.3764 1.379

50 1.3764 1.3792

55 1.3763 1.3792

Table 1: Observation Table

Calculation:

Relation between refractive index and mole fraction for n-propanol and iso-propanol:
Refractive Index = - 0.0084 * mole fraction + 1.38

Calibration Curve Data:

Mole Fraction

Temperature (°C) x y

97.0482 0 0

97.0319 0.001 0.00179086

97.0482 0 0

97.0319 0.001 0.00179086

97.011 0.002 0.0035789

96.9902 0.003 0.00536415

96.9694 0.004 0.00714659

96.9279 0.006 0.0107031

96.8865 0.008 0.0142485

96.8451 0.01 0.0177828

96.6393 0.02 0.0352901

96.4352 0.03 0.0525281

96.2328 0.04 0.0695026

95.8332 0.06 0.102684

95.44 0.08 0.13488

95.0533 0.1 0.166131

94.113 0.15 0.240384

93.2088 0.2 0.309545

92.3383 0.25 0.374113

91.4991 0.3 0.434526

90.6894 0.35 0.491169

89.9071 0.4 0.544385

89.1507 0.45 0.594477

88.4186 0.5 0.641717

87.7092 0.55 0.686346

87.0212 0.6 0.72858

86.3535 0.65 0.768614

85.7048 0.7 0.806623

85.0741 0.75 0.842763

84.4603 0.8 0.877179

83.8626 0.85 0.909998

83.2801 0.9 0.941338

83.0511 0.92 0.953485

82.8244 0.94 0.965418

82.5999 0.96 0.977144

82.4885 0.97 0.982932

82.3776 0.98 0.98867

82.2672 0.99 0.994359

82.2452 0.992 0.995491

 82.2232 0.994 0.996621

82.2012 0.996 0.997749

82.1902 0.997 0.998313

82.1793 0.998 0.998876

82.1683 0.999 0.999438

82.151 1 1

Table 2: Equilibrium Curve data

Calculation Table:

Time (Min) R(D) R(W) X(D) X(W)

0 1.3772 1.3792 0.3333333333 0.09523809524

5 1.3772 1.3794 0.3333333333 0.07142857143

10 1.377 1.3793 0.3571428571 0.08333333333

15 1.3768 1.3793 0.380952381 0.08333333333

20 1.3767 1.3794 0.3928571429 0.07142857143

25 1.3768 1.379 0.380952381 0.119047619

30 1.3767 1.379 0.3928571429 0.119047619

35 1.3766 1.379 0.4047619048 0.119047619

40 1.3765 1.3789 0.4166666667 0.130952381

45 1.3764 1.379 0.4285714286 0.119047619

50 1.3764 1.3792 0.4285714286 0.09523809524

55 1.3763 1.3792 0.4404761905 0.09523809524

Table 3: Calculation Table

Plots:

Calibration Curve:

Plot 1.Graph plot for equilibrium data with y = x line

Plot 2: Graph showing the XD XW final values for calculating

the number of plates which came out to be 4.
Theoretical No. of Trays = 3.82
Real No. of Trays= 4

Murphy Efficiency = Theoretical No. of Trays / Real No. of Trays

Murphy Efficiency = 3.82/4
Murphy Efficiency = 95.5%

Discussion
Whereas residue is what is left over after distillation, distillate is made up of condensed, more
volatile liquid. The sieve plate method, which provides low pressure and more surface area for
the mixture to separate and travel through, is a practical and simple approach for liquid
mixtures with smaller Boiling point differences. Due to infinite reflux ratio and no outbound
condensate, the distillate is a bypass from the reflux stream. That is the entire distillate is fed
back into the column. The findings indicate that there are four trays in the distillation column,
which was determined using the McCabe-Thiele method. Designing distillation columns with
the desired product parameters can be done using this knowledge. The amount of material
processed and the amount of energy used for the distillation process depend on the flow rate of
the feed mixture. If excessively high, a larger reboiler might be required, raising the price and
complexity of the procedure.

Conclusion
The column's efficiency is quite high and equals 0.8. The ratio of the actual change in the
composition of the liquid between plate n and plate n +1 to the change that should occur if there
were perfect equilibrium between the rising vapor and the liquid on the plate is the definition of
the overall efficiency of a single plate in a distilling column. The range of plate efficiency is
usually between 0.5 and 0.7. So, we can conclude that there is good contact between the liquid
and vapor on the plate. The sieve plate distillation column experiment was successful in
determining the number of sieve plates and their impact on the efficiency of the distillation
process, providing valuable information for future design choices and optimization. The
experiment's results can be used to design sieve plate distillation columns, optimize existing
distillation processes, and develop new liquid separation and purification techniques.
References:

● Sieve Tray Distillation Columns - MTL. (n.d.). Sieve Tray Distillation Columns - MTL.
https://mtl-us.com/sieve-tray-distillation-column.php
● Distillation - Wikipedia. (2021, June 22). Distillation - Wikipedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distillation
● Distillation column | chemical instrument. (n.d.). Encyclopedia Britannica.
https://www.britannica.com/science/distillation-column
● S., W. (n.d.). Distillation Column - Column Internals, Bubble cap trays, Valve trays, Sieve trays,
Structured packing. Distillation Column - Column Internals, Bubble Cap Trays, Valve
Trays, Sieve Trays, Structured Packing.
https://www.wermac.org/equipment/distillation_part2.html#:~:text=Sie

Spreadsheet_Calculation

Contribution:

Sakshi Jain Experiment: Observations and Readings,

Report: Theory, Procedure, Discussion and
Conclusion

Rajesh Kumar Experiment: Observation and Reading,

Report: Abstract, Discussion and Conclusion

Shreyansh Chourasiya Experiment: Observation and Reading,

Report: Calculation, Results, Discussion and
Conclusion

Ayush Bhalala Experiment: Observation and Reading,

Report: Discussion and Conclusion