Example.

Column Pressure and condenser type|

Determine the column operating pressure, type condenser an feed condition for the debutanizer of
figure. The feed sent to the column is a saturated liquid at a pressure of 105 psia.

Feed k-
Feed vapor Feed liquid Distillate Bottom33 values Distillate k- Bottoms k-
181.4°F,74 psia 181.4°F,74 psia 120°F,70 psia 4°F,77 psia 181.4°F,74 values values 334°F,77
Component Feed (Total) lbmol/h lbmol/h lbmol/h lbmol/h psia 120°F,70 psia psia
Isobutane 12 3.31 8.69 12 2.467 1.354 6.314
n-butane 448 102.59 345.41 442 6 1.922 1.009 5.425
Isopentane 36 4.72 31.28 13 23 0.977 0.458 3.44
n-pentane 15 1.67 13.33 1 14 0.81 0.366 3.073
n-hexane 23 1.18 21.82 23 0.348 0.136 1.755
n-heptane 39.1 0.9 38.2 39.1 0.152 0.051 1.029
n-octane 272.2 2.79 269.41 272.2 0.067 0.019 0.602
n-nonane 31 0.14 30.86 31 0.029 0.0072 0.352
Total 876.3 117.3 759 468 408.3
Minimun stages by the Fenske Equation

Fort he debutanizer shown in Figure 9.3 estimate the Nmin by the Fenske equation

Solution:

The LK in n-C4 and the HK is i-C5.

(𝛼𝐿𝑘,𝐻𝐾 )𝑚 = [(2.203)(1.577)]1/2 = 1.864

𝑙𝑜𝑔[(442/6)(23/13)]
𝑁𝑚𝑖𝑛 = = 7.82
𝑙𝑜𝑔[1.864]

Minimun reflux for Class 1

Calculate the mínimum internal reflux to feed ratio assuming a Class 1separation. Check the
validity of this assumption.

Solution:

(𝐷𝑥𝐿𝐾,𝐷 ) (𝐷𝑥𝐻𝐾,𝐷 )
(𝐿𝐹 /𝐹) [ − (𝛼𝐿𝑘,𝐻𝐾 )𝐹 ]
(𝐿∞ )𝑚𝑖𝑛 (𝐿𝐹 𝑥𝐿𝐾,𝐹 ) (𝐿𝐹 𝑥𝐻𝐾,𝐹 )
=
𝐹 (𝛼𝐿𝑘,𝐻𝐾 )𝐹 − 1

(442) (13)
(𝐿∞ )𝑚𝑖𝑛 (759/876.3) [345.41 − 1.967 (31.28)]
= = 0.414
𝐹 1.967 − 1
(𝐿∞ )𝑚𝑖𝑛 (𝐿∞ )𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝐹 876.3
= ∗ = 0.414 ∗ ( ) = 0.775
𝐷 𝐹 𝐷 468
 (𝐷𝑥𝑛𝐶5,𝐷 ) 0.82 − 1 442 1.96 − 0.82 13
=[ ]( )+[ ]( ) = 0.26
(𝐿𝐹 𝑥𝑛𝐶5,𝐹 ) 1.96 − 1 345.41 1.96 − 1 31.28

(𝐷𝑥𝑛𝐶5,𝐷 )
= 0.26
(𝐿𝐹 𝑥𝑛𝐶5,𝐹 )

(𝐷𝑥𝑛𝐶5,𝐷 ) = 0.26 ∗ (𝐿𝐹 𝑥𝑛𝐶5,𝐹 )

𝑙𝑏𝑚𝑜𝑙
(𝐷𝑥𝑛𝐶5,𝐷 ) = 0.26 ∗ (13.33) = 3.50 𝑛𝐶5
ℎ

This is less than the quantity of nC5 in the total feed. Therefore, nC5 distributes between the
distillate and the bottoms. However, similar calculations for the other nonkey components
give negative distillate flow rates for the other heavy components and, in the case of iC4, a
distillate flow rate greater than the feed rate. Thus, the computed reflux rate is not valid.