CHE 2002 Process Equipment Design and Drawing

Experiment 4
Name : Kindenew Mesenbet
Reg:No
18BCM0156

Design of a Distillation column

AIM:

To determine the column diameter, reflux drum dimensions and sump dimensions.

A distillation column operating at 1 atm is to be designed for separating an ethanol-water

mixture. The feed is 20 mole% ethanol and the feed flow rate is 1000 kg-mole/hr of saturated
liquid. A distillate composition of 80 mole% ethanol and a bottoms composition of not more
than 2 mole% ethanol are desired. The reflux ratio is 5/3.

THEORY:

Distillation columns are made up of several components, each of which is used either to
transfer heat energy or enhance material transfer.

A typical distillation contains several major components:

• a vertical shell where the separation of liquid components is carried out.

• column internals such as trays/plates and/or packings which are used to enhance
component separations.
• a reboiler to provide the necessary vaporization for the distillation process.
• a condenser to cool and condense the vapor leaving the top of the column.
• a reflux drum to hold the condensed vapor from the top of the column so that liquid
(reflux) can be recycled back to the column.

We can calculate the minimum number of theoretical trays with the help of Fenske equation

1. For a better tray count estimate, assume a reflux ratio and run cases in a simulator.
2. In Aspen Plus, use DISTWU model
3. In HYSYS, use Shortcut Column model.
4. All column design work is typically done with theoretical trays
CHE 2002 Process Equipment Design and Drawing

PROCEDURE:
CHE 2002 Process Equipment Design and Drawing

RESULT:

Plots: (temperature profile and flow rate profile)

Table: Dimension of the column

Column diameter Column height L and D for reflux L and D for sump
drum (condenser) (reboiler)
1.500 m 0.55x16 = 8.8 m 1.55 0.3

DISCUSSION:

• Ethanol and water is separated in a distillation column using the ASPEN HYSYS
software and the column diameter is found to be 1.5 meter.

• The column height is found to be 8.8 meters.

• The L/D ratio for the reflux drum (condenser) is 1.55

• The L/D ratio for the sump (reboiler) is found to be 0.3