Distillation graphical methods

A. Pikiilik and H. E. Diaz [Chem. Eng., 84, 106-122 (Oct. 10, 1977)] presented a graphical method for estimating the fabricated cost of distillation cohimns and pressnre vessels, storage tanks, fired heaters, pnmps and drivers, compressors and drivers, and vacnnm eqnipment. 

Figure 14-6 illustrates the graphical method for a three-theoretical-plate system. Note that in gas absorption the operating line is above the equihbrium curve, whereas in distillation this does not happen. In gas stripping, the operating line will be below the equihbrium curve. 

Graphical methods at best are simply illustrative for the student today, but they are occasionally referenced by the process engineer. Extraction, like distillation can be viewed as a stage-wise operation, and hence metliods based on the McCabe Thiele approach briefly described in Chapter 4 have been applied to preliminary design cases. Indeed, both absorption and adsorption are stage-wise operations. 

Himmelbau (1995) or any of the general texts on material and energy balances listed at the end of Chapter 2. The Ponchon-Savarit graphical method used in the design of distillation columns, described in Volume 2, Chapter 11, is a further example of the application of the lever rule, and the use of enthalpy-concentration diagrams. 

The distillation of binary mixtures is covered thoroughly in Volume 2, Chapter 11, and the discussion in this section is limited to a brief review of the most useful design methods. Though binary systems are usually considered separately, the design methods developed for multicomponent systems (Section 11.6) can obviously also be used for binary systems. With binary mixtures fixing the composition of one component fixes the composition of the other, and iterative procedures are not usually needed to determine the stage and reflux requirements simple graphical methods are normally used. 

A prime application of graphical methods in modern distillation technology is for analyzing the results of computer simulations. Several of the graphical construction rules can be bent in order to benefit from computer accuracy and to reduce effort. Johnson and Morgan (28) described several key considerations their work is expanded here using the author s experience. 

Until about 1930, most distillation calculations were based on Raoult s law in extreme cases, where ideal-mixture behavior was clearly incorrect, distillation calculations required experimental data coupled with graphical methods, as in the McCabe-Thiele diagram. 

Annual cost for distillation column. The McCabe-Thiele simplifying assumptions apply for this case, and the number of theoretical plates can be determined by the standard graphical method shown in Fig. 11-8. The slope of the enriching operating line is 1.5 /(1.5 + 1) = 0.6. From Fig. 11-8, the total number of theoretical stages required for the given separation is 12.1. 

Underwood,E.R., Fractional Distillation of Multicomponent Distillation -Calculation of Minimum Reflux Ratio, J. Inst Petrol., 32,274, 614, 1946. Van Winkle, M.C., Todd, W., Optimum Fractionation Design by Simple Graphics Methods, Chem. Eng., 78, 21,136,1971. 

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