Table 1 of the Ramanujam paper gives Xs (mass fraction solvent in liquid) and x'1 (solvent-free mole

fraction of ethanol in liquid). You have to find mole fractions xs, x1, x2. There are many ways to do it.
Here's one:

- Express Xs and x'1 in terms of x1, x2, xs:

Xs = Ms.xs / (Ms.xs + M1.x1 + M2.x2)

x1 = x'1 / (x'1 + x'2)

- Summation:

x1+x2+xs = 1

There are 3 equations in 3 unknowns hence you can solve for xs, x1, x2.

Do the same for the vapour phase to find ys, y1, y2.

Then you can find K-values and alpha values.

To save time, make sure you check the accuracy of your property method before launching yourself in the
calculation of the alpha value curves. Get hold of the experimental ternary x-y data, select two or three
points and calculate the experimental K values at those points. Then simulate flashing of the same
mixtures (same composition) with Aspen and calculate the theoretical K-values. If large discrepancies are
found, revise your property method selection.

For example, the procedure for verifying a datapoint from the Ramanujam and Laddha paper is:

- Select a row from Table 1 of the paper (or equivalent data from Figure 2). It gives the mass fraction of
solvent (xS, yS) and the (solvent-free basis) mole fraction of ethanol (x1, y1) in each phase, from which you
can calc. all the mole fractions in each phase. Then you can calc. the K-value for each component at that
point. Do everything on a spreadsheet so that you can repeat the procedure quickly.

- Go to Aspen and start a simulation of a flash process (Flash2 model). Specify the composition of the inlet
stream using the previous data. Specify the vaporised fraction to a small number, say 0.001 (so that the
liquid composition will not change after flashing). Run. Calculate the K-values. If they differ by, say, more
than 10% the property model is suspect and you should consider changing the property model.

- Repeat for other liquid compositions. You should try at least 3 compositions, especially around 0.9 mole
fraction ethanol where the binary azeotrope occurs.

Once you got the procedure programmed into a spreadsheet it should be very quick to generate new VLE
points.

If you know of a quicker way pse let me know!