Distillation operating pressures

If distillation is the choice of separator, then some preliminary selection of the major design variables must be made to allow the design to proceed. The first decision is operating pressure. As pressure is raised,... 

Distillation is by far the most commonly used method for the separation of homogeneous fluid mixtures. The cost of distillation varies with operating pressure, which, in turn, is mainly determined by the molecular weight of the materials being separated. Its widespread use can be attributed to its ability to... 

Distillation columns are controlled by hand or automatically. The parameters that must be controlled are (/) the overall mass balance, (2) the overall enthalpy balance, and (J) the column operating pressure. Modem control systems are designed to control both the static and dynamic column and system variables. For an in-depth discussion, see References 101—104. 

Feed analyses in terms of component concentrations are usually not available for complex hydrocarbon mixtures with a final normal boihng point above about 38°C (100°F) (/i-pentane). One method of haudhug such a feed is to break it down into pseudo components (narrow-boihng fractions) and then estimate the mole fraction and value for each such component. Edmister [2nd. Eng. Chem., 47,1685 (1955)] and Maxwell (Data Book on Hydrocarbons, Van Nostrand, Princeton, N.J., 1958) give charts that are useful for this estimation. Once values are available, the calculation proceeds as described above for multicomponent mixtures. Another approach to complex mixtures is to obtain an American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) or true-boihng point (TBP) cui ve for the mixture and then use empirical correlations to con-strucl the atmospheric-pressure eqiiihbrium-flash cui ve (EF 0, which can then be corrected to the desired operating pressure. A discussion of this method and the necessary charts are presented in a later subsection entitled Tetroleum and Complex-Mixture Distillation. ... 

Regardless of the procedure used, certain initial steps must be taken for the determination or specification of certain product properties and yields based on the TBP distillation curve of the column feed, method of providing column reflux, column-operating pressure, type of condenser, and type of side-cut strippers ana stripping requirements. These steps are developed and ilhistrated with several detailed examples by Watkins (op. cit.). Only one example, modified from one given by Watkins, is considered briefly here to indicate the approach taken during the initial steps. 

The problem presented to the designer of a gas-absorption unit usually specifies the following quantities (1) gas flow rate (2) gas composition, at least with respect to the component or components to be sorbed (3) operating pressure and allowable pressure drop across the absorber (4) minimum degree of recoverv of one or more solutes and, possibly, (5) the solvent to be employed. Items 3, 4, and 5 may be subject to economic considerations and therefore are sometimes left up to the designer. For determining the number of variables that must be specified in order to fix a unique solution for the design of an absorber one can use the same phase-rule approach described in Sec. 13 for distillation systems. 

While working in a plant, a troubleshooter read a pressure gauge daily for several weeks and only realized it was inaccurate when one day the blower was down. The gauge still read about normal operating pressure. Had this have been a distillation unit, it could have been more serious. In distillation service, pressure is a more important variable than in many other unit operations. Relative volatility is a function of pressure. Pressure, or more accurately delta-P, is the best indication of the tower hydraulics. 

The design of any of the distillation processes discussed requires choosing an operating pressure, bottoms temperature, reflux condenser temperature and number of trays. This is normally done using any one of several commercially available process simulation programs which can perform the iterative calculations discussed in Chapter 6. 

To determine the proper operating pressure for a distillation system, whether trays or packed column, exam-... 

Studies with high-pressure distillation by Brierley [239] provide insight into some FRl studies and the effects of pressure on performance as well as the impacts of errors in physical properties, relative volatility, etc. This work provides important contributions to understanding and setting operating pressures. 

Figure 8-12. Algorithm for establishing distillation column pressure and type condenser. Used by permission, Heniey, E. J. and Seader, J. D., Equilibrium Stage Separation Operations in Chemical Engineering, John Wiiey, (1981), p. 43, aii rights reserved.

The volatilities of both zirconium tetrachloride and hafnium tetrachloride are very similar to each other at normal operating temperatures, and their separation by a simple distillation or fractional distillation operation is not viable. However, when the mixed chloride vapor is contacted with an eutectic molten salt mixture of aluminum chloride and potassium chloride, zirconium chloride is preferentially absorbed. The vapor pressure difference between zirconium and hafnium tetrachlorides is greatly enhanced over the molten... 

If distillation was carried out giving an overhead composition, as given in Table 4.3, and if cooling water was used in the condenser, then total condensation at 313 K (40°C) would require an operating pressure of 7.4 bar. 

However, before the above set of equations can be solved, many important decisions must be made about the distillation column. The thermal condition of the feed, the number of equilibrium stages, feed location, operating pressure, amount of reflux, and so on, all must be chosen. 

A distillation column uses a partial condenser as shown in Figure 9.19. Assume that the reflux ratio and the overhead product composition and flowrate and the operating pressure are known and that the behavior of the liquid and vapor phases in the column is ideal (i.e. Raoult s Law holds). How can the flowrate and composition of the vapor feed to the condenser and its liquid products be estimated, given the vapor pressure data for the pure components. Set up the equations that need to be solved. 

A reboiler of a distillation column is required to supply 10 kg-s 1 of toluene vapor. The column operating pressure at the bottom of the column is 1.6 bar. At this pressure, the toluene vaporizes at 127°C and can be assumed to be isothermal. Steam at 160°C is to be used for the vaporization. The latent heat of vaporization of toluene is 344,000 J-kg 1, the critical pressure is 40.5 bar and critical temperature is 594 K. Steel tubes with 30 mm outside diameter, 2 mm wall thickness and length 3.95 m are to be used. The film coefficient (including fouling) for the condensing steam can be assumed to be 5700 Wm 2-K 1. Estimate the heat transfer area for ... 

Example 21.1 Two distillation columns have been sequenced to be in the direct sequence (see Figure 21.8). Opportunities for heat integration between the two columns are to be explored. The operating pressures of the two columns need to be chosen to allow heat recovery. Data for Column 1 and Column 2 at various pressures are given in Tables 21.1 and 21.2. 

A direct sequence of two distillation columns produces three products A, B and C. The feed condition and operating pressures are to be chosen to maximize heat recovery opportunities. To simplify the calculations, assume that condenser duties do not change when changing from saturated liquid to saturated vapor feed. This will not be true in practice, but simplifies the exercise. Assume also that the reboiler duty for saturated liquid feed is the sum of the reboiler duty for saturated vapor feed plus the heat duty to vaporize the feed. Data for the two columns are given in Tables 21.7 and 21.8. 

A packed column, 1.2 m in diameter and 9 m tall, is packed with 25 mm Raschig rings, and used for the vacuum distillation of a mixture of isomers of molecular mass 155 kg/kmol. The mean temperature is 373 K, the pressure at the top of the column is maintained at 0.13 kN/m2 and the still pressure is 1.3-3.3 kN/m2. Obtain an expression for the pressure drop on the assumption that this is not appreciably affected by the liquid flow and may be calculated using a modified form of Carman s equation. Show that, over the range of operating pressures used, the pressure drop is approximately directly proportional to the mass rate of flow rate of vapour, and calculate the pressure drop at a vapour rate of 0.125 kg/m2. The specific surface of packing, S = 190 m2/m3, the mean voidage of bed, e = 0.71, the viscosity of vapour, // = 0.018 mN s/m2 and the molecular volume = 22.4 m3/kmol. 

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