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H
ST
)
TFP
=Q
F
. Since either Q
F
or T
FP
may be arbitrar-
ily varied, the equation denes the feed preconditioning
target through a continuous mapping between Q
F
and
T
FP
. Clearly, Q
F
may be computed if T
FP
is specied
and vice versa.
The feed preconditioning target based on the IRS
curves is precise, in contrast to the fuzzy target (Colum-
nTarget, 1994) based on the CGCC. The target from
the CGCC is approximate because visual inspection is
required to estimate the extent of the sharp enthalpy
change in the CGCC prole near the feed location
(Dhole & Linnhoff, 1993; Ognisty, 1995). In fact, such
sharp enthalpy changes in the CGCC may be caused by
an inappropriate feed condition or position as observed
by Dhole and Linnhoff (1993). Importantly, the IRS
curves simultaneously target feed condition and posi-
tion, allowing the feed to be properly located after feed
preconditioning using the methodology discussed in
Section 4.3
Side exchangers provide increased opportunities for
heat integration and reduction in utility costs. As the
IRS curves are fundamentally based on the MTC, they
dene the maximum heat load that can be placed on
side exchangers at specied temperature levels. Fig. 15b
1122
Fig. 15. Application of invariant rectifying-stripping curves for: (a) feed preconditioning targets; (b) side-exchanger targets.
shows corners truncated out of the trapezium (in Fig.
7c). The upper corner depicts the maximum scope to
supply a portion (Q
sr,max
) of the required heat through
a side reboiler at a temperature (T
sr
) below that of the
main reboiler. The lower corner shows the maximum
potential to remove a portion (Q
sc,max
) of the excess
heat through a side condenser at a temperature (T
sc
)
above that of the main condenser. The side exchanger
targets from the IRS curves are conceptually equivalent
to those dened by earlier workers (Naka et al., 1980;
Ho & Keller, 1987).
9. Conclusions
This work provides targets for distillation in terms of
the minimum reboiler/condenser duties, feed location
and pinch. These targets (with the exception of feed
location) are analogous to those discussed by Linnhoff
et al. (1982) for heat exchanger networks (HENs). The
energy targets for distillation from the IRS curves are
based purely on feed/products specications and are
established prior to column design. In a similar fashion,
the energy targets for HENs from pinch analysis (com-
posite and grand composite curves) are based purely on
streams specications and are established prior to net-
work design. The analogs of hot utility load, cold utility
load, and DT
min
in HENs are reboiler duty, condenser
duty, and reux ratio in distillation. The problem of
deciding loads amongst multiple utilities in HENs is
equivalent to the case of distributing duties between
side-reboilers and side-condensers in distillation. The
IRS curves have the potential of providing targets for
side exchangers on recognizing that the portion of the
IRS curves within the circumscribed trapezium corre-
sponds to the grand composite curve in HENs at
ZT
min
=0. The signicance of the pinch, in the context
of distillation, may be stated as follows: no (side-
)reboiling below the pinch and no (side-)condensing
above the pinch. This is consistent with the observa-
tions of Naka et al. (1980) and Agrawal and Fidkowski
(1996).
It may be noted that the minimum energy target
from the IRS curves is exact for any binary system,
irrespective of its chemical nature. This is superior to
the prediction from the minimum reux equation of
Underwood (1948), which assumes constant relative
volatility and constant molar overow. However, IRS
curves for multicomponent systems are based on a
pseudo-binary approach and this limitation does not
exist in Underwoods method. As discussed earlier, the
limitation may be overcome by generating IRS curves
from a simulation of a column with a large number of
stages (i.e. close to the minimum reux).
The key representation proposed in this work is the
IRS curves. Earlier studies had generated only portions
of such TH curves and, consequently, failed to recog-
nize their invariance to feed location. Thus, IRS curves
allow targets to be established for feed location. In fact,
IRS curves simultaneously target feed location and
minimum energy (which is equivalent to the scope for
reux modication) ahead of conguring the column. It
is inappropriate to locate feed and reduce reux se-
quentially as recommended by earlier works.
Multiple simulations are not required to generate the
IRS curves and establish targets from them. On the
other hand, multiple simulations are required to set
targets based on the CGCC because a new CGCC
needs to be generated after each column modication.
Thus, the simulation work is reduced (i.e. no simulation
is necessary for binary systems and a single simulation
is required for multicomponent systems) during target-
ing by IRS curves. Multiple simulations are necessary
only for conguring the column (i.e. to locate the feed
stage appropriately in a column with nite number of
stages).
A preliminary design procedure (Kister, 1992) in-
volves four typical steps to determine: (1) minimum
number of stages (e.g. by Fenske equation); (2) mini-
mum reux (e.g. by Underwoods equation); (3) actual
1123
number of stages for a given reux (e.g. by Gillilands
plot or a stage-reux correlation); and (4) feed location
(e.g. by Kirkbrides equation). This work provides an
improved methodology for steps (2) and (4). In other
words, steps (1) and (3) are done as before. The
optimum reux could be established by minimizing the
total annual cost target starting with the IRS curves
(Bandyopadhyay, 1999). Thus, the IRS-based method
provides a systematic energy analysis tool to generate
a thermodynamically efcient conguration of a distil-
lation column while using some of the existing methods
of preliminary design. Further, the possibility for inte-
gration (Ho & Keller, 1987) of the distillation column
with the background process can be conveniently ex-
plored on a temperatureenthalpy diagram since the
behavior of the column is depicted by a set of invariant
curves.
It may be noted that for retrot cases, feed relocation
is easier to implement and has no major cost implication
when compared to reux modication. Appropriately
relocating the feed may also help in debottlenecking.
Furthermore, IRS curves are independent of the en-
thalpy of the feed and allow targeting for feed precon-
ditioning (preheating/cooling). Current work is directed
towards targeting the efciency of feed preconditioning
in terms of impact on reboiler/condenser loads.
10. Notation
B bottom product molar ow
CGCC column grand composite curve
distillate molar ow D
F feed molar ow
enthalpy H
IRS invariant rectifying-stripping (curves)
liquid molar ow L
LeeKesler LK
minimum thermodynamic condition MTC
stage number N
NRTL non-random two-liquid
heat duty Q
reux ratio (L/D) R
SoaveRedlichKwong SRK
slope of rectifying/stripping line S
temperature T
vapor molar ow V
mole fraction in liquid x
mole fraction in vapor y
mole fraction in feed z
enthalpy difference dened in Eq. (18) D
heat of vaporization l
Subscript
bottom product B
condenser c
column grand composite curve CGCC
distillate D
def decit
feed F
preconditioned feed FP
I intersection point on translated IRS
curves
in in to (entering) a stage
L liquid
maximum max
min minimum
out of (leaving) a stage out
pinch p
reboiler r
rectifying curve R
rectifying curve (translated) RT
side condenser sc
sr side reboiler
stripping curve S
stripping curve (translated) ST
total (stages) t
at temperature T
F
TF
vapor V
Superscript
equilibrium condition *
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