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Tutorial Questions Distillation 1 (1)

The document provides tutorials on binary distillation, focusing on calculations related to bubble and dew points, flash separation, and distillation column operations. It includes specific problems and solutions involving mixtures of pentane, heptane, ethyl acetate, and toluene, detailing flow rates, temperatures, and compositions of distillate and bottoms products. Additionally, it discusses the determination of equilibrium stages and reflux ratios for various distillation scenarios.

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4 views

Tutorial Questions Distillation 1 (1)

The document provides tutorials on binary distillation, focusing on calculations related to bubble and dew points, flash separation, and distillation column operations. It includes specific problems and solutions involving mixtures of pentane, heptane, ethyl acetate, and toluene, detailing flow rates, temperatures, and compositions of distillate and bottoms products. Additionally, it discusses the determination of equilibrium stages and reflux ratios for various distillation scenarios.

Uploaded by

grx92831
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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UNIT OPERATION A – DISTILLATION TUTORIALS 1

Tutorial 1 : Binary Distillation


These questions relate to determining top and bottom column temperatures/pressures through
bubble and dew point flash calculations. The questions are provided as a reminder of what you
should be able to do from studying Separations A.

1. The Antoine constants for Pentane and Heptane are:

A B C

n-pentane 6.85221 1064.63 232


n-heptane 6.89677 1264.90 216.54

Where Log10 (P * ) = A −
B
T+C

and T in deg C
Determine the normal boiling points of both components.
(36¨C, 98°C)

Use the Antoine data to construct a T-xy and x-y diagram for a mixture containing both n-
pentane and n-hexane.

2. 100 kmol/hr of a mixture of composition 45 mol% pentane , 55% heptane is flash


separated (distilled) at 1 bar to give a vapour containing 75 mol% pentane. Find the
temperature of the flash and the quantity of vapour produced.

(ans: 66°C, 32 kmol/hr)

The liquid phase from this flash is further heated to 80°C and flashed again. Calculate
the quantity and composition of the two resultant phases.

(ans:
Vapour Liquid

kmol/hr 31 37

mol % pentane 50 15

©Heriot-Watt University B40EA April 2016 v1


UNIT OPERATION A – DISTILLATION TUTORIALS 2

3. A distillation column separating a mixture of 30 mol% pentane and 70 mole% heptane


produces a distillate containing 90% pentane and a bottom product of 5% pentane. The
column is fitted with a total condenser and total reboiler and operates at 1 bar pressure.
The feed stream enters the column as saturated vapour. Determine the following:
a) Molar flowrates of distillate and bottoms product, based on a feed of 100 kmols/hr
b) Temperature of distillate and product from the bottom of the column
c) Temperature of the top plate.

(ans D=29.4, Td=38.4 C, Tb=91 C, T1=51.6)

4. A distillation column operating at 1 atm, is separating ethyl acetate and toluene under the
following conditions.

Mole fraction ethyl-acetate

Feed (at bubble point) 0.46


Distillate 0.95

Bottoms 0.18

Critical constants for the two components are

Pc Tc Omega Antoine Constants

Atm K A B C

Toluene 40.6 591.7 0.257 16.0137 3096.52 -53.67

Ethyl Acetate 37.8 523.2 0.363 16.1516 2790.5 -57.15

Determine Graphically the:


a) Number of equilibrium stages at a reflux ratio of 2
b) The minimum reflux ratio
c) The minimum number of equilibrium stages

(ans a) 6-7, b) 0.86, c) Approx. 4)


1.16
Correction to the Antoine constants
A B C
Toluene 4.08245 1346.382 -53.508
Ethyl Acetate 4.22809 1245.702 -55.189
pressure in bar
temperature in K

©Heriot-Watt University B40EA April 2016 v1


UNIT OPERATION A – DISTILLATION TUTORIALS 3

5. 250 kmol/hr of a stream containing 55 mol% butane, 45 mol% pentane is to be distilled


to recover 95% of the butane in the distillate and 95% of the pentane in the bottoms.

a) Determine the flowrates and compositions of the product streams

(ans Distillate 136.2 kmo/hr, 95.9 mol% butane, Bottoms 113.8 kmol/hr, 6.1 % butane)

b) At a reflux ratio of 3.0, determine (assuming constant molar overflow) the liquid and
vapour flows in the stripping section of the column, for “q” values of 1, 0, 0.4, 1.3 and
–0.6

(Ans

q 1 0 0.4 1.3 -0.6


Lm 658 408 508 733 258

Vm 544 294 394 619 144


)

6. 200 kmol/hr of a mixture containing 40 mole% pentane and 60 mole% heptane at feed
conditions of 1 bar and 60°C is to be distilled to recover 90% of the pentane as a 95
mol% pure distillate. The column will have a partial condenser and a partial reboiler.
a) How many equilibrium stages are required at a reflux ratio of 1.5x the minimum
value for this separation (ans 6-7 stages) 5
b) Determine the temperature of the top and bottom products (ans 45°C, 89°C)
c) Determine the flowrate, composition and temperature of the overhead from the
column to the condenser (ans 109.9 kmol/hr, 87.5% pentane, 54°C)

©Heriot-Watt University B40EA April 2016 v1


UNIT OPERATION A – DISTILLATION TUTORIALS 4

7. Using the diagram constructed in question 1

a) Determine the following for a pentane-heptane binary mixture of 60 mole% pentane at


1 bar pressure
o The boiling point
o The bubble point
o The dew point

b) If 100 kmol/hr of this mixture is flash distilled at 1 bar and 65°C:


o What will be the composition of the resultant liquid and vapour
o What percentage of the feed will be flashed off (i.e. vaporised)

c) the feed in (b) is to be distilled in a multi-stage distillation column to recover 98% of


the pentane a top product (distillate) and 98% of the heptane as the bottom product. The
column operates at 1bar pressure and has a partial condenser and a partial reboiler.
Determine:
o The minimum reflux ratio
o The number of ideal plates required in the column for this distillation operation if the
column operates with a reflux ratio 1.3 times the minimum

(32 mole%, 76 mole%, 63.6%, 0.523, 6,)


0.483

©Heriot-Watt University B40EA April 2016 v1

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