Distillation IV

McCabe thiele method

Mass Transfer for 4th Year
Chemical Engineering Department
Faculty of Engineering
Cairo University
 Binary systems
(Plate to Plate calculations)

Material Balance
Material Balance
Energy Balance
Equilibrium Relation
Equilibrium Relation

Graphically Graphically
Analytically Analytically
(Punchon Savarit (McCabe Thiele
(Sorel Method) (Lewis Method)
method) method)
 Introduction
In some cases the distillation calculations can be
easier in solution as the energy balance
calculations can not be considered, i.e. Only
Material Balance equations and Equilibrium
relations are included.
This method is called LEWIS METHOD
In these cases the system must have some
conditions so that applying this solution will lead
to correct solution.
 Lewis Method
Now we will derive the equations of operating
lines (as we did in Sorel method).

Graphical Representation of these equations will

not need Enthalpy diagram as no energy balance
equations are included (McCabe Thiele method)

ONLY x-y diagram will be used.

Conditions for applying Lewis method
V
1. Mechanism of mass transfer y1
between liquid and vapour is
Equimolar, i.e. The molar flow Lo D
xD
Xo
rates of liquid and vapour in
each section is constant. V L

So V1=V2=....=Vn=V F
xF
L0=L1=L2=....=Ln=L
and V’r=V’1=V’2=....=V’n
V’ L’
L’1=L’2=....=L’n=L’ Vr’
NOTE: Dashed variables are of yr
W
bottom section xW
L’
x’1
Conditions for applying Lewis method
2. Heat of mixing = ZERO
3. Heat losses = ZERO
4. Molar latent heats of vaporization of both
components is nearly equal.
 Plate to Plate Calculations (Lewis)
For Top Section:
V1
V=L+D (1) y1

V.y2=L.x1 + D.xD (2)

From (1) and (2) V
y1
L D
L D
y 2 = x1 + x D V
L
x1
xo xD
V V y2

L D
y2 = x1 + xD L
L+D L+D x2

And R=L/D
R xD
y2 = x1 +
R +1 R +1
 Plate to Plate Calculations (Lewis)
For Top Section:
V1
For any stage “n” y1

R xD
y n +1 = xn + V
R +1 R +1 y1
L D
L xo xD
Operating line of top V
y2
x1

section is of slope R/(1+R) L

x2
and intercept of xD/(1+R)
 Plate to Plate Calculations (Lewis)
For Bottom Section: V’
y’m
L’=V’+W (1) L’
V’
x’m+1
y’m
L’.x’1=V’.y’r + W.xw (2)
L’
From (1) and (2) x’m

L' W
y'r = x'1 − x W
V' V'
V’
yr
For any stage “m”:
L' W
y'm = x'm +1 − x W L’
W
xw
V' V' X’1
Graphical representation of Lewis

McCabe Thiele Method

(All what you need is x-y diagram)
 McCabe Thiele Method
Top section operating line:
L D
y n +1 = xn + xD
L+D L+D
R xD
y n +1 = xn +
R +1 R +1
To draw this line we need
x
2 points: R +1
D

1. At xn=0 yn+1=xD/(1+R)
2. At xn=xD yn+1=xD

XW XF XD
 McCabe Thiele Method
Bottom section operating line:
L' W
y'm = x'm +1 − x W
V' V'
To draw this line we need 2
points:
1. At x’m+1=0 y’m=-Wxw/V’
2. At x’ m+1=xW y’m=xW

- Wx W
XW XF XD
V'
 Finally
If both lines are drawn,
then only remains
counting the number of
b
stages as shown. a

In this case:
Top section:
NTS=6+a/b xD
R +1
Bottom Section:
NTS=Reboiler+1

XW XF XD
 Given Information
Same as before:
F xF xD xW R

From overall material balance equations:

F=D+W
FxF=DxD+WxW
We can get D and W
 Solution Steps
Top line operating
lines require the (XD,XD )

knowledge of xD
and R
Top section is the x D

first operating line R + 1

to be drawn
WHATEVER the type
of problem. XW XF XD
 Solution Steps
The operating line
of the bottom (XD,XD )

section passes by
(0,-`WxW/V’) and
(xW,xW)
Dx
These information R + 1
are not available to
use. (V’)
Then we draw what XW XF XD

so called “q-line”
 q-Line
In order to draw the bottom section operating
line, two points are needed. One is known
(xW,xW) and the other is got from q-line.

q-line is the locus of intersection of top and

bottom sections operating lines. So intersection
of top section operating line and the q-line is
the second point on the bottom section line.
 q-Line
Equation of q-line is got from solving top and
bottom lines equations simultaneously:
V.y=L.x+D.xD (Top)
V’.y=L’.x-W.xW (Bottom)
V' −V L'−L
y= x − xF
F F
Where (L’-L)/F =q
 q-Line
From material balance at
feed entrance :
F+L+V’=L’+V F
L V

F+(V’-V)=(L’-L) ÷F
V'−V L'−L L’ V’
1+ =
F F
V' −V
= q −1
F
q 1
Finally q-line equation: y= xi − xF
q −1 q −1
 q-Line
q 1
y= xi − xF
q −1 q −1
To draw the q-line we will need two points, or a
point and the slope.
At x=xF y=xF
So point (xF,xF) lies on the q-line.

We will now get the slope of the q-line to be

able to draw it.
 q-Line
From Energy balance at
feed entrance :
L V
F.hF+L.hL+V’H.’V=L’.h’L+V.HV F hL HV
hF
And hL≈h’L, HV≈H’V
L’ V’
F.hF+(L-L’).hL=(V-V’).HV h’L H’V

L − L' V − V'
hF + hL = HV
F F
HV − h F
hF+q.hL=(q-1)HV q=
HV - h L
 q-Line
H V − h F Amount of heat required to vaporize all the feed
q= =
HV - hL latent heat of feed
At same feed composition, value of “q” and
consequently the slope of q-line [q/(q-1)] may
vary according to THE ENTHALPY OF FEED(hF).

Hence, there are five cases for the q-line.

 1- Subcooled Feed
hF<hL
HV − h F
q= 1
HV − h L
q
Slope = 1
q -1
Slope is determined by
calculating the feed
enthalpy and getting XW XF XD

the value of “q”

 2- Saturated Liquid Feed
hF=hL
HV − h F
q= =1
HV − h L
q
Slope = =
q -1
q-line is vertical in this
case, so no need to
calculate the feed XW XF XD

enthalpy
 3- Partially vaporized Feed
hL<hF<HV
HV − h F
q=
HV − h L 0<q<1
q
Slope = = −ve
q -1
q-line is of negative
slope, so feed enthalpy
must be calculated to get
the value of “q” XW XF XD
 4- Saturated Vapour Feed
hF=HV
HV − h F
q= =0
HV − h L
q
Slope = =0
q -1
q-line is horizontal in
this case, so no need to
calculate the feed XW XF XD

enthalpy
 5- Superheated Feed
hF>HV
HV − h F
q= 0
HV − h L
q − ve
Slope = = 0
q - 1 − ve − 1
q-line is of negative
slope, so feed enthalpy
must be calculated to
get the value of “q” XW XF XD
 Finally q-line Cases
1- Subcooled Feed
2- Saturated Liquid Feed 2 1
3
3- Parially Vaporized Feed
4- Saturated Vapour Feed
4
5- Superheated Feed
5

XW XF XD
 To get q from feed enthalpy
HV − h F HV − h F
q= =
HV − h L λ
-For superheated and subcooled feed, q has to be -
calculated from enthalpies.
-For partially vaporized feed, this can be easier.
EX: if feed is 30% vaporized. What does this mean??

hF=hL+0.3l
H V − h F H V − h L − 0.3λ λ − 0.3λ
q= = = = 1 − 0.3
λ λ λ
q=1-fraction vaporized=liquid fraction
 Minimum Reflux Ratio
When operating line and
equilibrium curve
intersect we can get
infinite number of stages
at the conditions of
Dx
minimum reflux ratio. R + 1
min

To get Rmin only connect

the point (xD,xD) with
pinch point then get the
intercept xD/(1+Rmin) XW XF XD
 Minimum Number of Stages
In cases of startup, there
is no distillate product and
all the condensed vapours b
a
from condenser goes to
the reflux stream
a’
i.e. D=0
b’
SO R=∞
Then the top section line
will be as shown
This is the case of
XW XF XD
Minimum number ofx D

stages, or Total Reflux R + 1


1-A continuous fractionating column is to be designed to separate 3000
lb/hr of a mixture of 30 mass% Benzene and 70 mass% Toluene into
overhead product containing 98 mass% benzene and bottom product
containing 98 mass% toluene. These percentages are by weight. A reflux
ratio of 3.5 moles/moles is to be used. The molar latent heats of
benzene and toluene are 7360 and 7960 Cal/gmol respectively.
Calculate the number of theoretical plates for the following feeds:
a. Saturated liquid.
b.50% vaporized
c. Liquid at 20oC and the average specific heat is 0.44 BTU/lb.F
d.The minimum number of stages for case (a)
e. The minimum reflux ratio for case (a)
N.B. Feed bubble point is 90oC and the equilibrium data:
Mole fraction of
0.1 0.22 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
benzene in liquid
Mole fraction of
0.22 0.38 0.51 0.63 0.7 0.78 0.85 0.91 0.95 1
benzene in Vapour
F=3000 lb/hr
xF=0.3 (mass fraction)
xD=0.98 (mass fraction)
xW=0.02 (mass fraction)
R=3.5
x (mole fraction)=(xA/MA)/(xA/MA+xB/MB)
Mole fractions:
xD=0.98 xF=0.336 xW=0.024
Mav(F)=0.336*78+0.664*92=87.3
F=3000/87.3=34.36 lbmol/hr
a- Saturated Liquid Feed
xD/(1+R)=0.246
q-line: 1

Vertical 0.9

0.8

Top section NTS=9.7 0.7

Bottom section NTS= 0.6

0.5
Reboiler+6.6
0.4

x D 0.3
R +1
0.2

0.1

0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
b- 50% vaporized feed
q=(1-0.5)=0.5
Slope=q/(q-1)=-1 1

Top section NTS=10 0.9

Bottom section NTS= 0.8

Reboiler+7.5 0.7

0.6

0.5

0.4

x D 0.3
R +1
0.2

0.1

0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
c- The feed is liquid at 20oC

q=(Hv-hF) / (Hv-hL)
(Hv-hL) = λ =(0.336*7360) + (0.664*7960)
= 7758.4 Cal/gmol
(Hv-hF)= (Hv-hL) + (hL-hF) = λ + Cpmix(Tbubble – Tfeed)
= 7758.4 +0.44*252 * 87.3 *(90-20)*1.8 / 453.6
= 10447.24 Cal / gmol (To convert oF to oC)

(To convert BTU to Cal) (To convert mass to mole)

(To convert lbmole to gmole)
c- The feed is liquid at 20oC

Therefore, q=(Hv-hF) / (Hv-hL) = 1.34657

Slope of q-line = (q / q-1) = 3.885
Top section NTS=6.3
Bottom section NTS= Reboiler+5.2
d- The minimum number of stages
No operating line is line 45

Top section NTS=7

Bottom section NTS=
Reboiler+2.8
e- The minimum reflux ratio for sat. liquid feed

1
(xD / (Rmin + 1)) = 0.32
0.9

0.8
Get Rmin = 2.0625
0.7

0.6

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
Special cases of binary systems distillation
using McCabe Thiele method.
 The Simple Case
•Only one feed
(XD,XD)
•Consisting of two sections
•Condenser and Reboiler
•No side products xD
Steps: R min + 1
xD
1. q-line R +1
2. Rmin
3. Rop and Top section oper.
(XW,XW)
Line XW XF XD

4. Bottom section oper. line

 Other Cases
1. Enriching Section
2. Stripping Section
3. Complex Feed or Multiple feeds
4. Open Steam
5. Top Side Product
6. Bottom Side Product

NOTE: q-line NOT ONLY represents feed, but it

represents any stream that changes the
flow rates inside the column.
 1- Enriching Section
• Used in case when it’s needed to V
yo
recover light component from feed
L D
containing little amount of it. xo xD

• Feed composition is near that of the

bottom product (xF is very small)
• Feed is usually saturated vapour
• No reboiler is used.

F
xF

W
xW
 1- Enriching Section
Steps:
(XD,XD)
• Feed is saturated vapour
• No. of stages in bottom
section =0
• Get point of intersection
of bottom section and
q-line directly
• Draw the top section
operating line.
XW XF XD
 2- Stripping Section
D
• Used in case when it’s needed to xD

recover heavy component from feed F

containing little amount of it. xF

• Feed composition is near that of the

top product (xF is very big)
• Feed is usually saturated liquid
• No reflux is needed.

V’
yr’

W
L’ xW
xo’
 2- Stripping Section
Steps:
• Feed is saturated liqiud
• No. of stages in top
section =0
• Get point of intersection
of top section and
q-line directly
• Draw the bottom section
operating line.
XW XF XD
 3- Multiple Feeds
Generally F1 is saturated liquid, and F2 V
yo
is saturated vapour.
L D
The column can now be divided into xo xD

THREE section: Enriching, Stripping and

Middle section. F1
xF1

Both operating lines of the top and

bottom sections will not be changed. F2
xF2

Only we will need to get the middle

section line. V”
yr

W
L’’ xW
xo
 3- Multiple Feeds
Since we assumed constant molar flow V
yo
rates in the column, we can say that:
L D
L’=L+F1 xo xD

V’=V L V

F1
xF1
And L’ V’

L”=L’ F2
xF2
V’=V”+F2 L” V”

V”
To draw the middle section operating yr

line we have to calculate its slope from W

L’’
the above relations xo
xW
 3- Multiple Feeds
Given information:
(XD,XD)
F1, xf1, F2, xf2, xD, xW, R
F1 is saturated liqiud
F2 is saturated vapour

xD
Steps: R +1
Top section operating line
as it is
(XW,XW)

XW XF2 XF1 XD
 3- Multiple Feeds
Middle line starts from the
end of the top section and (XD,XD)

ends at the beginning of

the bottom section.
So point of intersection of
top section and first q-line
is on the middle section
line. xD
We need another point or R + 1
a slope to draw the middle
line. (XW,XW)

XW XF2 XF1 XD
 3- Multiple Feeds
The slope of any operating
line is L/V in the section it (XD,XD)

represents.
So in the middle section
slope is L’/V’ L’/V’

As we know
xD
L’=F1+L and V’=V
R +1
Where
L=D*R and V=L+D=(R+1)D (XW,XW)

So we can now get L’/V’

and draw its line XW XF2 XF1 XD
 4- Upper Side Product
• Any side product is withdrawn as V
yo
saturated liquid.
L D
• As this side product will change the flow xo xD

rates inside the column, there will be a S

xS
q-line representing the side product.
F
• The column will be divided into
x
3 section: Top, middle and bottom F

• Still the top section not affected, and we

want to draw the middle section line. V’
yr

L’ W
xo xW
 4- Upper Side Product
V
To get Operating line of the middle section do yo
MB on the loop:
L D
V=L+S+D xo xD
V.yn+1=L.xn+S.xS+D.xD S
xS
(equation of st. line as S,D,xS,xD are constants) L
xn
V
yn+1
F
This line starts at the intersection of the top xF

section with the q-line of side product

V’
yr

L’ W
xo xW
 4- Upper Side Product
Steps:
(XD,XD)
1. Side product is saturated
liquid.
2. Feed q-line is drawn
whatever its state
3. Draw the top section line

We need to use the x D

equation of the middle R + 1
section to draw its operating
(XW,XW)
line.
XW XF XS XD
 4- Upper Side Product
Back to equations:
(XD,XD)
V=L+S+D V-L=S+D
V.yn+1=L.xn+S.xS+D.xD x=y

We know a point on the line

and need to get another
point to draw it
The easy point is on 45 line
V.x=L.x+S.xS+D.xD xD
(V-L).x=S.xS+D.xD R +1
(S+D).x=S.xS+D.xD (XW,XW)

S .xS + D.xD
x= y= XW XF XS XD

S+D
 5- Bottom Side Product
V
• The column will be divided into 3 yo

section: Top, middle and bottom L D

xo xD
• Still the top section not affected, and
we want to draw the middle section
line.
• We will derive the middle section F
xF
operating line equation (as in
S
previous case) xS

V’
yr

L’ W
xo xW
 5- Bottom Side Product
V
To get Operating line of the middle section do yo
MB on the loop:
L D
L’=V’+S+W xo xD
L’.x’m+1=V’.y’m+S.xS+W.xW
F
(equation of st. line as S,W,xS,xw are constants)
xF

L’
This line ends at the intersection of the V’
Xm+1

bottom section with the q-line of side product ym

S
xS
V’
yr

L’ W
xo xW
 5- Bottom Side Product
Steps:
(XD,XD)
1. Side product is saturated
liquid.
2. Feed q-line is drawn
whatever its state
3. Draw the top section line
xD
We need to use theR + 1
equation of the middle
section to draw its operating
(XW,XW)
line.
XW XS XF XD
 5- Bottom Side Product
Back to equations:
(XD,XD)
L’=V’+S+W L’-V’=S+W
L’.x’m+1=V’.y’m+S.xS+W.xw
We know a point on the line
and need to get another
point to draw it
The easy point is on 45 line x D
L’.x=V’.x+S.xS+W.xW R +1
(L’-V’).x=S.xS+W.xW x=y

(S+W).x=S.xS+W.xW (XW,XW)

S .xS + W .xW
x= y= XW XS XF XD

S +W
 6- Open Steam
• Used in cases when the feed V
yo
contains water, so heat is added to
L D
column in the form of direct heating xo xD

by steam instead of reboiler.

• The bottom section operating line
will change as the equations will be F
xF
changed.
• Still the intersection of the top
section line and the q-line is on the
bottom section line. S

W
xW
 6- Open Steam
Operating line of bottom section: V
yo

L’+S=V’+W L’-V’=W-S L D
xo xD
L’.x’m+1+S.yS=V’.y’m+W.xW

To draw this line we need another point,

try 45o line F
xF
L’.x=V’.x+W.xW
L’ V’
(L’-V’)x=W.xW Xm+1 ym

(W-S)x=W.xW S
W .xW
x= y= W
W −S xW
 6- Open Steam
Steps:
(XD,XD)
1. Draw the top section line
2. Draw the q-line
3. Locate the point derived
on the 45o line
4. Draw the bottom section
line. xD
Here the bottom section willR + 1
end at a point (xw,0) W .xW
W −S

Usually S needed to be calculated.

XW(XW,ys) XF XD
4- 100 Kgmol/hr of saturated liquid containing 70 mol%
benzene enters a stripping tower at 1 atm. The bottom
product flow rate is 15 Kgmol/hr containing only 10%
benzene. Saturated steam at 4 atmospheres is available for
the reboiler duty. (Hv=2740 KJ/Kg, hL=610 KJ/Kg).
Calculate:
a- The overhead product flow rate and its composition.
b- Number of theoretical plates required.
c- Steam consumption in reboiler.
Equilibrium data:
T, C 80 85 90 95 100 105 110
PBo, mmHg 760 877 1016 1068 1344 1532 1800
PTo, mmHg 205 345 405 475 557 645 760

lBenzene=7360 Cal/gmol, lToluene=7960 Cal/gmol

Stripping tower
F=100 Kgmol/hr (saturated liquid)
xF=0.7 P=1 atm
W=15 Kgmol/hr xW=0.1
Steam: Hv=2740 KJ/Kg, hL=610 KJ/Kg
lst=2130 KJ/Kg

a)
D=F-W=100-15=85 Kmol/hr
xD=(F.xF-W.xW)/D=(100*0.7-15*0.1)/85=0.806
 T, C 80 85 90 95 100 105 110
PBo, mmHg 760 877 1016 1068 1344 1532 1800
PTo, mmHg 205 345 405 475 557 645 760
X 1 0.78 0.58 0.48 0.26 0.13 0
Y 1 0.90 0.78 0.678 0.46 0.26 0
1
b)
0.9
NTS= Reboiler + 4.6
0.8

c) 0.7

Qr=mst.lst=V’.lr 0.6
lr is calculated at yr
0.5
lr =0.2*7360+0.8*7960
lr =7840 Cal/gmol 0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
V’=???
Slope of operating line is L’/V’=1.1667
And
W+V’=L’ 1

0.9
Get L’ and V’
0.8
V’=90 kmol/hr
0.7
L’=105 Kmol/hr
0.6
L’/V’
0.5
V’
y’m
L’ 0.4
x’m+1 V’
y’m

L’ 0.3
x’m

0.2
V’
yr
0.1

W
L’ xw 0
X’1 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
Finally
Qr=90*7840=705600 Cal/hr= 2949.408 KJ/hr
lst=2130 KJ/Kg
2949.408 =2130*mst
mst= 1384.7 Kg/hr