Distillation Key Terms

MAY 31, 2020

Distillation Key Terms

Distillation Key terms: -

Cross flow:
In this arrangement liquid flows across the plate and falls on the
plate below through a channel (downcomer) at one side of the
plate.

Split flow:
Liquid flow across the tray is split into two or more flow paths.

Reverse flow:
 Liquid flowing from the inlet on one side of the tray reverses its
direction at the other side of the tray and flows back to the
downcomer on the same side of the tray where the inlet is located.
To achieve such flow path a center baffle is provided.
Radial flow:
 In radial flow, liquid flowing radially from or to, an inlet (or
outlet) located at the Centre of the tray to or from
downcomers (or inlets) at the tray periphery.

Dual flow:
In such flow arrangement both liquid and vapour pass through the
perforations on the tray. No downcomers are provided.

Liquid throw:
The horizontal distance travelled by the liquid after flowing over a
weir is called a liquid throw.

Double pass:
It is a split flow tray with two liquid flow paths on each tray. Each
path handles half of the total liquid flow.

Distillation
Key Terms

Blowing:
 It is a condition where the rising vapour punches holes through the
liquid layer on a tray and carries large drops and slugs of liquid to
the next tray.

Coning:
 It is the condition where the rising vapour pushes the liquid back
from the top of the hole and passes upward. In coning condition
vapour – liquid contact is poor.

Dumping:
It is the condition caused by low vapour flow rate where all the
liquid falls through some holes to the tray below, while vapour rises
through the remaining holes.

Raining:
It is a condition similar to the dumping. No liquid flows over the
weir. Difference between dumping and raining is that liquid trickles
through all holes at a uniform rate. Vapour flow rate is also very
high.

Weeping:
It is a condition when the vapour flow rate is not large enough to
hold all the liquid on the tray. Part of the liquid flows over the outlet
weir while the rest falls through the holes.

Flooding:
It is the condition which gives rise to sharp decline in efficiency of
the trays and sharp increase in pressure drop. Flooding results due
to excessive carryover of the liquid to the next tray or inability of
the system to convey the liquid flow to the tray below.
Seal point:
It is the point at which weeping changes into raining condition.

Oscillation:
Wave type motion of the liquid on the tray, perpendicular to the
normal direction of flow is called oscillation.

Distillation Key Terms

Reflux Ratio:
The ratio of the amount of condensate being refluxed to the amount
being withdrawn as product. Generally, the higher the reflux ratio,
the greater is the degree of separation of the components in a
distillation system

Injection regime:
It is the condition in which the liquid above the plate is in the form
of individual drops dispersed in the vapour. The meaning is there is
virtually no mixing in the main bulk of the liquid.
Reflux:
This still differs from the alembic in that multiple distillations occur
in one single cycle. The addition of a column with bubble plates (?)
between the condenser and pot allows vapor to condense and trickle
back down to be distilled once again. Thus, the vapor is repeatedly
cleansed and the resulting purity from one cycle is much higher
than that from an alembic.

Stable regime:
It is the preferable hydrodynamic condition of the aerated liquid on
a sieve tray. Gas liquid is good in a stable regime and the aerated
mixture exists as a stable froth. Turndown ratio: It is the term used
by designers to denote ratio of minimum allowable to operating
throughput.

Condensation:
The process by which a gas or vapor changes to a liquid.

Entrainment:
Some entrainment always occurs in the normal operation of a tray.
Entrainment affects tray efficiency and can cause flooding. The
cross flow, reverse flow and double pass flow conditions.

Distillate:
A liquid condensed from vapor in distillation; a purified form,
essence.