This document contains two questions regarding distillation column problems. Question 1 involves a distillation column separating a 50 mol% benzene/toluene mixture, and calculates various parameters like minimum reflux ratio, bottoms composition, and moles of product per 100 moles of feed for different feed types and operating conditions. Question 2 involves a distillation column separating a 54.5 mol% benzene/chlorobenzene mixture, and asks to calculate the expected product and bottoms compositions given specifications of the partial reboiler, total condenser, and reflux ratio.
This document contains two questions regarding distillation column problems. Question 1 involves a distillation column separating a 50 mol% benzene/toluene mixture, and calculates various parameters like minimum reflux ratio, bottoms composition, and moles of product per 100 moles of feed for different feed types and operating conditions. Question 2 involves a distillation column separating a 54.5 mol% benzene/chlorobenzene mixture, and asks to calculate the expected product and bottoms compositions given specifications of the partial reboiler, total condenser, and reflux ratio.
Q1. A distillation unit consists of a partial reboiler, a column with seven equilibrium plates, and a total condenser. The feed consists of a 50 mol % of benzene in toluene. It is desired to produce a distillate containing of 96 mol % benzene, when operating at 101 kPa.
i. With saturated liquid feed fed to the fifth plate from the top determine: a. minimum reflux ratio b. the bottoms composition, using a reflux ratio of twice the minimum. c. Moles of product per 100 moles of feed. ii. Repeat part (i) for a saturated vapor feed fed to the fifth plate from the top. iii. With saturated vapor feed fed to the reboiler and a reflux ratio (L/V) of 0.9, calculate a. Bottoms composition, b. Moles of product per 100 mole of feed.
Q2. A mixture of 54.5 mol% benzene in chlorobenzene at its bubble point is fed continuously to the bottom of a column containing two theoretical plates. The column is equipped with a partial reboiler and a total condenser. Sufficient heat is supplied to the reboiler to give V/F= 0.855 and the reflux ratio L/V in the top of the column is kept constant at 0.5. Under these conditions, what quality of product and bottoms (xD, xB) can be expected.