17th Oct, 2019

Department of Chemical Engineering

Rijksuniversiteit, Groningen
Assignment #4
General Process Equipment 2019-2020
Separation
Due date: 25th October 17.00pm Mail Box (Building 18 Second Floor, O.Akin)

Dear Sir/Madam:

A rectification column is fed 100 kmol/h of a mixture of 50 mol % benzene and 50 mol % toluene at 101.32 kPa abs
pressure. The feed is liquid at the boiling point. The distillate is to contain 90 mol% benzene and the bottoms 10 mol %
benzene. The reflux ratio is 4.52 :1.

Calculate the number of theoretical trays needed using;

a) McCabe-Thiele method and

b) ASPEN simple distillation tower design (DSTWU).

You are asked to;

1) Select the property method that you use, explain in details how did you select the method? (5 points)

2) Derive the equilibrium data via ASPEN property analysis. (5 points)

3) Define the inlet temperature of the feed stream to the column. (5 points)

4) Find the number of trays with method McCabe-Thiele. Show the steps in details including operating lines for
enriching and stripping section. Show the feed stage. (25 points)

5) Find the number of trays with ASPEN-DSTWU. Show the steps and operating conditions in details.
Condenser/Boiler Duty etc. (25 points)

6) Compare the number of trays you find with two methods. (5 points)

The following information should be available in your report:

1. Format (Cover Page, Abstract, List of Table/Figure, Outline etc) 5 points
2. Abstract (write a coincide abstract indicating objective, important result of your simulation) 5 points
3. Introduction (substance properties), give information regarding to the property package that you select, 5 points
4. Methodology and sample calculation (Which features of ASPEN did you use, show your steps, show in details
which parameters you used in the simulation, make sample calculation. 10 points
5. Results and Discussion parts (70 points) Above tasks 1-6 should be included
6. Conclusion (5 points)

We expect a report (maximum 10 pages; including figures, data, a list of references and appendices). If you have
questions, please feel free to contact with TAs. The contact information of TAs is available at Nestor.

Hand in your report as Hard Copy hand in to mail box (O. Akin, building 18 second floor, 5118). Delayed reports (5
points/day of delay)

Best regards,

Dr. Okan Akin