Distillation Sequencing Using an Entrainer

Even though a feasible mass balance has been set up, there is no guarantee that vapor-liquid equilibrium will 

a stripping section mass balance gives  

the difference point (net overhead product) is given by the intersection of a straight line joining the Feed F, 

As long as this middle section operation leaf intersects with those for the top section (above the entrainer feed) and the bottom section (below the feed point for the feed mixture), the column design will be feasible. Note that there will always be a maximum reflux ratio, above which the separation will not be feasible because the profiles in the top and bottom sections will tend to follow residue curves, which cannot intersect. Also, the separation becomes poorer at high reflux ratios as a result of the entrainer being diluted by the reflux of lower boiling components. 

The size and shape of the middle section operation leaf depends on the location of the difference point, which in turn depends on the flowrate of entrainer. There will be a minimum flowrate of entrainer for feasible design. Above the minimum flowrate, the actual flowrate of the entrainer is an important degree of freedom for optimization. 

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