Distillation

Tutorial 3B
Q4: Continuous Distillation:
(Different Feed Conditions)
A mixture of benzene and toluene containing 40 mole percent of
benzene is to be separated using continuous distillation to give a
product of 90 mole percent of benzene in the distillate, and a
bottom product with not more than 10 mole percent of benzene.
The feed is preheated to its bubble point and enters the
distillation column operating at 1 bar pressure.

(a) Estimate the bubble point temperature of the feed

(b) Determine the number of stages required using a R of 3.0
(c) Determine the feed location for operation as per part (b)
(d) Repeat part (b) if the feed is preheated such that q is 0.2
 x y T
1 1 80.1
0.78 0.9 85
113
0.581 0.777 90
0.411 0.632 95
0.258 0.456 100 108

0.13 0.261 105

0 0 111 103

TEMPERATURE
Since the feed condition 98

of xF=0.4 is very close to 93

the given data whereby
x is 0.411 when T is 95oC, 88

the bubble point can be

estimated using linear 83

interpolation between
78
X=0.258 and x=0.411. 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
MOLE FRACTIONS (X, Y)
Doing so, TBP is 95.36oC
Part (b)
ROL  R   1 
y x   x D
 R  1  R  1
y = 0.75x + 0.25(0.9)
y = 0.75x + 0.225

Feed is preheated to its bubble point, therefore

q-line is a vertical line passing through (xF, xF)

From the graph plotted, number of triangles = 8.

Thus, number of equilibrium trays required = 7 + 1
reboiler.
(c) Feed plate location = tray #4.
Part (d)
q = 0.2, q-line has a y-intercept of 0.5, (xF/1-q).

Draw new q-line, find the new intersection point

with the ROL

Draw new SOL

Draw triangles
Answer
The number of equilibrium trays required now = 9 + 1
reboiler. Feed is at Tray #6.

Comparison of Designs:
For the same feed composition (xF = 0.40), same
product compositions (xD =0.9, xB =0.1), and same
operating condition (R = 3.0), more trays are required
if the feed is introduced as vapour-liquid mixture.

It is more economical to have a saturated liquid feed.

Question 5
An equimolar mixture of benzene and toluene is to be
separated using continuous distillation into a top product
containing 95 mole% benzene and a bottom product
containing 95 mole% toluene. The distillation is to be
carried out at atmospheric pressure. The feed enters as a
saturated liquid. The reflux ratio to be used is 1.5 times
the minimum.

• Determine the number of theoretical trays required for

the separation.
• Repeat the calculations for a reflux ratio of 4.0 times
the minimum.
• Compare your answers: What is the effect of increasing
reflux ratio on the number of theoretical trays
required?
Given:
xF = 0.50, xD = 0.95, xB = 0.05,
q = 1.0 (saturated liquid feed)

R is not given, but only specified as 1.5 times Rmin.

• Cannot draw ROL

• Draw q-line to cut equilibrium curve first

Draw ROL from xD = 0.95 on the diagonal, passing
through intersection point and extend to the y-axis.

Find Rmin from y-intercept

Calculate actual reflux ratio, R used from Rmin

Calculate new y-intercept with this R value

Draw new ROL from xD to this y-intercept.

 (0.95 / Rmin + 1) = 0.45
xD/(1+Rmin)
Rmin = 1.11

R = 1.67

Intercept = 0.95/(2.67)
= 0.356
0.356)

(Tray Required =13+1

Feed tray = 7
Reflux ratio of 4.0 times the minimum.

(Tray Required =8+1

Feed tray = 5
Discussion of Results:

• At Rmin, the number of theoretical trays required is infinite.

• Increasing the reflux ratio (at constant xD) decreases the

number of theoretical trays required:
• R = 1.67, N = 13+1
• R = 4.44, N = 8+1

• Doubling the reflux ratio does not equate to halving the

number of theoretical trays required.
Question 6
A liquid mixture of benzene-toluene is to be distilled in a
fractionating tower at 101.3 kPa pressure. The reflux ratio is 4:1.
The feed is 100 kg-mole/hr of liquid and it contains 45 mole%
benzene and 55 mole% toluene and enters the tower at 327.6 K
(130 oF). The average heat capacity of the feed is 159 kJ/kg-
mole.K (38 Btu/lb-mole.oF) and the average latent heat is 32,099
kJ/kg-mole (13,800 Btu/lb-mole). A distillate containing 95
mole% benzene and a bottoms containing not more than 10
mole% benzene are to be obtained. Determine

(a) Flow rates in kg-mole/hr for the distillates and bottoms

(b) Number of theoretical trays needed
(c) Minimum reflux ratio Rmin
(d) Minimum number of theoretical plates at total reflux
Given
Benzene-toluene system
R =4
F=100 kg-mole/hr of liquid, T = 327.6K
xF = 0.45
Cp,Average =159 kJ/kg-mole.K
∆HLatent = 32099 kJ/kg-mole
xD = 0.95, xB = 0.1

q not given
Distillates and bottoms flow rates
Overall Material Balance
F = D + B ; thus, B = 100 – D

Component Material Balance (MVC)

F xF = D xD + B xB

Sub B = 100 – D
(100)(0.45) = (D)(0.95) + (100-D)(0.10)

Solving gives: D = 41.17 kg-mole/hr

B = 58.83 kg-mole/hr
Number of theoretical trays needed
• Calculate the q-value
• From the table, bubble point can be obtain by
interpolating between x=0.411 and x=0.581.
• Tbp = 93.5 oC.
• Feed temperature is 327.6K (54.6 oC)
• Since feed is colder than the bubble point q > 1.0.

Temperature X Y
(oC)
90.0 0.581 0.777
95.0 0.411 0.632
Use the equation:

Cp,L ( Tbp  TF )  λ
q 
λ
where λ is the latent heat and Cp,L is heat capacity of
the feed mixture

Hence:
( 159 ) ( 93.5  54.6 )  32,099
q   1.193
32,099
Number of theoretical trays = 7 + 1
Feed Tray = 5
For the minimum reflux ratio, locate the intersection between
the q-line and the equilibrium curve. Then draw a straight line
from xD = 0.95 on the 45o diagonal through the intersection point
to the y-axis.

From the y-intercept:

 1 
  x D  0.45
 R min  1

Solving gives: Rmin = 1.111

For TOTAL REFLUX, the ROL (and hence SOL) coincide
with the 45o diagonal.

This results in minimum number of theoretical trays.

From graph,
number of trays = 5 + 1
Feed Tray = 4
Question 7
An ethanol-water mixture (MW of ethanol = 46, MW of water = 18) is separated
using continuous distillation operating at 101.32 kPa pressure. The feed rate is
453.6 kg/hr and enters the column at its bubble point. Its density at 30oC is
905.80 kg/m3. A reflux ratio of 1.5 is to be used. The distillate has a density of
822.20 kg/m3 at 30 oC and the bottoms has a density of 990.14 kg/m3 at 30 oC.
(S.G table for ethanol-water system is given)

Determine the following:

(a) The amounts of distillate and bottoms in kg-moles/hr and their
concentrations in mole fraction ethanol.
(b) The number of theoretical trays required.
(c) For the same number of theoretical trays determined in part (b), find the
reflux ratio required to produce a distillate of 0.74 mole fraction ethanol.
How does it compare with the original reflux ratio of 1.5 ?
Obtain the weight % of ethanol in the mixtures - this
requires the use of the density table for ethanol-water
mixture (all at 30 oC).

Feed density = 905.80 kg/m3  weight % ethanol = 50.0

Distillate density = 822.20 kg/m3  weight % ethanol = 85.0
Bottoms density = 990.14 kg/m3  weight % ethanol = 3.0
Convert into mole fraction ethanol (MVC).

 50 
 
 46 
xF   0.281
 50   100  50 
    
 
46  18 

 85 
 
 46 
xD   0.689
 85   100  85 
    
 
46  18 

 3 
 
 46 
xB   0.012
 3   100  3 
    
 
46  18 
 Convert mass flow rate to molar flow rate

Feed flow rate = 453.6 kg/hr.

weight % ethanol = 50.0%
0.50 x 453 .6 0.50 x 453 .6 kg  mole
F    17.53
46 18 hr

Total Material Balance: F = D + B; B = 17.53 – D

Component Material Balance (MVC) F xF = D xD + B xB

Sub B = 17.53 – D:
(17.53) (0.281) = (D) (0.689) + (17.53 - D) (0.012)

Solving: D = 6.965 kg-mole/hr, B = 10.565 kg-mole/hr

 Draw the ROL:

 R   1 
y x  xD
 R  1  R  1
Intercept = 0.689 / ( 1.5 + 1 ) = 0.2756

Draw q-line: a vertical line (i.e. q = 1.0)

Draw SOL,

Draw triangles

Number of theoretical trays = 4 + 1

Feed at Tray 3