Column

Distillation

Caracas Lasola Villarmino

1. Explain how a distillation column works
Distillation column works by heating the mixture to separate the
most volatile component from the other components. The volatile
component of the mixture will be transformed into vapor while the
rest will remain in liquid form. To increase the concentration of the
volatile component, the vapor and the liquid is being stayed in contact
in a series of stages. These stages or plates are specifically designed to
allow the incoming vapor to go in while the mixture stays in place until
it reaches the height of the weir where it will cascades until the next
stage. After several stages, the vapor is then cooled and some of it is
refluxed while the bottom product is reboiled. This allows the control
of the internal liquid and vapor flow rate.
2. Define the following
● Isothermal distillation: A process in which separating the mixture happens at various levels
pressures at constant temperature.
● The four flow regimes in a staged distillation column: These four flow regimes are bubble, foam,
froth, and spray regime which depends on the flow rate of the rising vapor stream inside the
distillation column.
● Reflux and reflux ratio: Reflux is the process of condensing the distilled vapors and a portion is
returned to the distillation column; the ratio of the condensate that is returned to the condensed
distillate is the reflux ratio.
● Boilup and Boilup ratio: Boilup is the process of vaporizing the bottom distillate and a portion is
returned to the distillation column; the ratio of the vapor that is returned to the bottom product is the
boilup ratio.
● Rectifying (enriching) and stripping sections: The rectifying sections is found above the feed stage
where the volatile component is in higher concentration. The stripping sections, on the other hand, is
found below the feed stage where the volatile component is in lower concentration.
● Simulation and Design problems: Design problems have the desired separation established and the
column is designed to reach the desired specification. Simulation on the other hand, investigates how
much separation can be achieved given the feed of the mixture.
3. Explain the reasons a constant pressure distillation
column is preferable to:
a) An isothermal This system would require more compressors in order to operate at
distillation various pressures. More compressors would mean more expenses
system because compressors are expensive. A constant pressure distillation
column would be relatively cheaper compared to isothermal distillation.

b) A cascade of This system is not economical because aside from needing compressors
flash separators to manage the pressures the separate chambers for each stages is still
at constant needed to be created. As such, a constant pressure distillation column is
temperature preferable.

c) A cascade of This system despite at constant pressure, would require separate

flash separators chambers for flash distillation which is not economical. Thus, a constant
at constant distillation column is preferable because the chambers are integrated in
pressure one column. Which makes the process economical as compared to the
use of flash separators at the same condition.
4. In a countercurrent distillation column at constant pressure,
where is the temperature highest? Where is it lowest?
For a countercurrent distillation column at
constant pressure, the temperature is
highest at the bottom-most section
(where the bottom product exits from) Lowest
temp.
because the concentration of the more
volatile component is high, thus a lower
temperature is needed to boil the volatile
component. The section where the
temperature is lowest is at the top-most
section (where the distillate product exits
from) because the concentration of the Highest
temp.
volatile component here is low, thus a
higher temperature is needed to boil it.
5. Develop your own key relations chart for this chapter. Draw sketches, write
equations, and include all keywords you would want for solving problems.
Keywords: Sketch:
● Reflux ratio; Boilup ratio;
Plates/Stages/Trays;
optimum feed location;
flow regimes; least and
most volatile component
6.What type of specifications will lead to simultaneous
solution of the mass and energy balances?
The specifications that would lead to simultaneous solution of mass and
energy balances are when one of the important variables can be found
only in the energy balances. These would involve mass flows as well as
heat flows. Examples of this is where there is a heating and cooling
requirements for the reboiler and condenser. Specifications that would
include flow rates of of the distillate and bottom products and the heat
flows or the heat requirements are specifications that would need
calculating simultaneously the mass and energy balances.
7. Specifications for a distillation column cannot include all three flow rates F, D, and B. Why
not?
The feed stream (F), the bottom stream (B) and the distillate stream (D) all
constitute the overall mass and energy balances around the entire distillation
column. This would mean that if all three specifications were given, there
would be no use for the mass and energy balances if there is no variable that
is left unknown. Apart from that, there would be one less equation to utilize
for mass and energy balances in order to solve for the other specifications
such as composition, reflux and boil-up ratios, etc.
8. What are the purposes of reflux? How does it differ from recycle?

The purpose of refluxing in a distillation column is to ensure increased

concentration or purification of the feed stream. This is done by facilitating
phase change of the incoming stream and returns this stream back to the
feed stream where the fluid was withdrawn from.

The difference between refluxing and recycling is that the latter does not
facilitate phase change of the fluid and simply returns the fluid stream back to
the feed stream or the incoming stream that it came from.
9. Without looking at the text, name the streams or column parts labeled A to H in the following
figure.
The name of the streams or columns from A to H are the
following:

A: Condenser
B: Reflux
C: Accumulator
D: Enriching or Rectifying section
E: Stripping section
F: Boil-up
G: Reboiler
H: Plate
10. Explain in what ways reflux and boilup have similar functions.

Reflux and boil-up function similarly in terms of purpose although

performed through different processes. Both reflux and boil-up facilitate
phase change in the distillation column and thus return these streams back to
the feed or incoming stream. Similarly, both processes increase concentration
and thus purifying these streams albeit having different purification processes
in condensation and vaporization.
11. For a binary separation, is KMVCV/L usually less than, equal to, or greater than 1.0?
For a binary separation, is KLVCV/L usually less than, equal to, or greater than 1.0?
In a binary separation, the most volatile component (MVC) has a K value of
greater than 1.0 and the least volatile component (LVC) has a K value of less
than 1.0. This is because the V/L (fraction vaporization) of the MVC is larger
than compared to the V/L of the LVC in a mixture. In support to this, the MVC
is expected to have a large fraction vaporization because of its high volatility
as compared to the LVC.
12. Explain how to do mass balances if the percentage recovery of the more volatile component is
specified in the distillate and the percentage recovery of the less volatile component is specified
in the bottoms.

In order to perform mass balances given the percent recovery of both the
distillate (D) and bottom (B) streams, we can convert the percent recovery to
mass fractions, xB and xD, to mass flow rate in order to solve for B and D. In
turn, the value of the feed stream (F) can be solved by the overall mass
balance around the entire system. Usually the optimum feed location which
indicates the lowest number of stages used and the external reflux ratio (L 0/D)
are specified. We can then work from there to determine other required
specifications.