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Distillation Problems Lecture 3

The document outlines recovery and loss calculations in distillation processes, detailing the recovery formulas for components A and B, along with mass balances and laws governing vapor-liquid equilibria. It includes practical problems involving the calculation of distillate and bottoms, mole fractions, and bubble and dew point temperatures for various mixtures. Additionally, it discusses Raoult's Law, Dalton's Law, and the Antoine equation for saturation vapor pressure, providing a comprehensive guide to thermodynamic principles in distillation.

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atshilor
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21 views

Distillation Problems Lecture 3

The document outlines recovery and loss calculations in distillation processes, detailing the recovery formulas for components A and B, along with mass balances and laws governing vapor-liquid equilibria. It includes practical problems involving the calculation of distillate and bottoms, mole fractions, and bubble and dew point temperatures for various mixtures. Additionally, it discusses Raoult's Law, Dalton's Law, and the Antoine equation for saturation vapor pressure, providing a comprehensive guide to thermodynamic principles in distillation.

Uploaded by

atshilor
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Notes on Recovery, Loss Calculations, and Thermodynamic Laws in

Distillation Processes
Recovery and Loss Calculations in a Distillation Column
1. Recovery of Component A (e.g., Methanol) in Distillate:
Recovery of A = (Amount of A in Distillate / Amount of A in Feed) × 100
= (D × x_D) / (F × x_F) × 100
2. Recovery of Component B (e.g., Water) in Bottom Product:
Recovery of B = (Amount of B in Bottom Product / Amount of B in Feed) × 100
= [(1 - x_W) × W] / [F × (1 - x_F)] × 100
3. Loss of Component A in Bottom Product:
Loss of A = (Amount of A in Bottom Product / Amount of A in Feed) × 100
= (W × x_W) / (F × x_F) × 100

Overall Mass Balance:


F=D+W

Component A Balance:
F × x_F = D × x_D + W × x_W

Component B Balance:
F × (1 - x_F) = D × (1 - x_D) + W × (1 - x_W)

Raoult's Law and Dalton's Law in Distillation


Raoult's Law for a Single Component (A or B):
P_A = x_A × P_A^sat = Ptotal
P_B = x_B × P_B^sat = Ptotal
Here, P_A and P_B are the partial pressures of components A and B, respectively, x_A
and x_B are their mole fractions in the liquid phase, and P_A^sat and P_B^sat are their
saturation vapor pressures. Ptotal is total pressure.
Raoult's Law for a Binary Mixture:
P_total = x_A × P_A^sat + x_B × P_B^sat = Ptotal
Here, P_total is the total vapor pressure of the mixture.

Dalton's Law for Vapor Phase Composition:


y_A = P_A / P_total
y_B = P_B / P_total
Here, y_A and y_B are the mole fractions of components A and B in the vapor phase.

Antoine Equation for Saturation Vapor Pressure:


Ln P^sat = (P - Q / (R + T))
Here, P^sat is the saturation vapor pressure (in mmHg), T is the temperature (in °C),
and P, Q, and R are Antoine constants specific to each substance.
Application: Calculating Vapor Phase Composition
Step 1: Use the Antoine equation to calculate the saturation vapor pressures (P_A^sat and
P_B^sat) at the given temperature.
Step 2: Apply Raoult's law to calculate the partial pressures of components A and B in
the liquid phase.
Step 3: Calculate the total vapor pressure using Raoult's law for binary mixtures.
Step 4: Use Dalton's law to determine the mole fractions of components in the vapor
phase.
Problem 1:

A feed solution of 30,000 kg mol/hr, containing 20% methanol and 80% water, is entered
into a distillation column. A total of 95% methanol is recovered in the distillate, and 4%
methanol remains in the bottom product.

Tasks:

1. Calculate the amount of distillate (D) and bottoms (W).


Answer: D = 5274.725 kg mol/hr, W = 24,725.275 kg mol/hr.
2. Determine the recovery percentage of methanol (Y).
Answer: Y = 83.51%.

Problem 2: Calculating Mole Fractions in Vapor and Liquid Phases


For a binary mixture of A and B, with the boiling points of A and B at 49°C and 80°C,
present at a pressure of 1 atm. The Antoine coefficients for the components are:

For Component A:
a = 15.8602
b = 2589.2
c = 281.36

For Component B:
a = 15.9037
b = 2789.01
c = 220.19

Antoine Equation:
ln(P^sat) = a - (b / (c + T))
Here, T is in °C and P^sat is in mmHg.

Find the values of mole fractions (x_A and y_A) in the liquid and vapor phases at
temperatures of 68°C and 70°C.

Problem 3: Determining Liquid and Vapor Phase Amounts


For the same data of Antoine constants, a two-phase mixture of 1 kmol with 42 mol% of
A is analyzed at 68°C and 1 atm total pressure. Calculate the amount of liquid phase and
vapor phase.

Problem 4: Mole Fraction of A in Vapor Phase at First Bubble Point


For the same data of Antoine constants, consider an equimolar mixture of A and B at a
total pressure of 600 mmHg. Calculate the mole fraction of A in the vapor phase when the
first bubble of vapor is formed.
Problem 5: Composition of Last Drop of Liquid Evaporated
For the same data, at a total pressure of 600 mmHg, calculate the composition of the last
drop of liquid evaporated. Assume the mixture is equimolar.

Bubble Point and Dew Point Calculations for Multicomponent Mixtures


K-Values
The relationship between liquid and vapor compositions of component-i in a binary or a
multi-component solution at equilibrium may be expressed as:
y_i = K_i *x_i
Here, K_i is known as the K-value or distribution coefficient of component-i. This
equation is especially useful for the computation of vapor-liquid equilibria of multi-
component solutions.

For ideal solutions: K_i = P_i^sat / P


For real solutions: K_i = P_i^sat γ_i / P
The K-value depends on temperature and pressure and can be determined experimentally
or from classical diagrams.

Bubble Point Temperature


To find the bubble point temperature and the composition of the first bubble to be formed
from a known composition of a liquid solution at a specified pressure, the equation is:
Σ y_i = 1 = Σ K_i x_i
Since P and x_i are known, an arbitrary temperature is selected, and at this temperature
and the specified pressure, the K-value for each component is calculated. The product
K_i x_i is computed for each component.
If the summation of these products is 1 or very close to 1, the selected temperature is the
bubble point temperature. Otherwise, the temperature is adjusted, and the process is
repeated until the summation gives 1.

Dew Point Temperature


To find the dew point temperature of a known composition vapor mixture at constant
pressure, the equation is:
Σ x_i = 1 = Σ (y_i / K_i)
An arbitrary temperature is selected, and at this temperature and the given pressure, the
K-value for each component is determined. The ratio y_i / K_i is computed for each
component. If the summation of these ratios is 1 or close to 1, the selected temperature is
the dew point temperature. Otherwise, the temperature is adjusted, and the steps are
repeated until the summation gives 1.

Problem 6 : Dew Point Temperature for a Ternary Mixture


Ternary solutions of benzene/toluene/o-xylene are ideal.
Given:
Mole percent benzene: 20%
Mole percent toluene: 30%
Mole percent o-xylene: 50%
Total pressure: 760 mmHg

Tasks:
a) Calculate the dew point temperature of the vapor mixture.
b) Determine the composition of the first liquid droplet formed.
c) Find the temperature range at which all the vapor will condense.

Antoine Constants for Components:


Component tbp (°C) a b c
Benzene (A) 80.1 6.90565 1211.033 220.79
Toluene (B) 110.6 6.95334 1343.943 219.38
o-Xylene (C) 144.4 6.99891 1474.679 213.69

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