Cairo University

Faculty of Engineering
Chemical Engineering Department

Cooling and Heating

Equipment in Distillation

By:‫ﺃﺣﻤﺪ ﻋﻤﺮ ﺃﻣﻴﻦ ﺃﺣﻤﺪ ﺍﻟﺰﻧﻘﻠﻲ‬

Date: 6/1/ 2023
Submitted to:‫ﻧﺠﻮﻯ ﻣﺤﻤﻮﺩ‬.‫ﺩ‬.‫ﺃ‬
 Contents
1.Condensers ………….…………………………(2)
2.Types of Condensers …………………….....….(3)
3.Reboilers …………………………...……...…...(6)
References……………………………………….(10)

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 Cooling and Heating Equipment in
Distillation
1.Condensers:
There are 8 condenser types from which the user may select when
defining a condenser for multistage column. These types are:
1. Partial Condenser (default)
2. Total Condenser at the bubble point with fixed distillate rate
3. Total Condenser at the bubble point with fixed reflux rate
4. Total Condenser at the bubble point with fixed reflux ratio
5. Sub-Cooled Total Condenser with Fixed Distillate rate and
Temperature
6. Sub-Cooled Total Condenser with Fixed Reflux rate and
Temperature
7. Sub-Cooled Total Condenser with Fixed Reflux Ratio and
Temperature
8. Decanter – Organic Phase removed, aqueous phase refluxed to
column.

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2.Types of Condensers:
Partial Condenser: This is the default condenser type. A
condenser of this type has the distillate as all vapor and the reflux
as all liquid. In a two-liquid case, the vapor leaves as the distillate
and both liquid phases are refluxed to the column. The user must
specify an initial enthalpy via the heat exchanger parameter for this
condenser to be properly specified.

Total Condenser at the bubble point with fixed distillate rate:

The temperature is adjusted such that the vapor/liquid ratio is at the
bubble point temperature. The distillate is all liquid at the specified
rate. In the case of two-liquids, both liquids are considered the
distillate. The user is required to make an initial estimate of the
enthalpy using the heat exchanger parameter for the top stage.
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Total Condenser at the bubble point with fixed Reflux rate:
The temperature is adjusted such that the vapor/liquid ratio is at the
bubble point temperature. The distillate is all liquid but the
refluxed liquid is at a specified rate. In the case of two-liquids,
both liquids are considered the distillate. The user is required to
make an initial estimate of the enthalpy using the heat exchanger
parameter for the top stage.

Total Condenser at the bubble point with fixed Reflux ratio:

The temperature is adjusted such that the vapor/liquid ratio is at the
bubble point temperature. The distillate is all liquid but the ratio of
liquid distillate and liquid reflux is at a specified ratio. In the case
of two liquids, both liquids are considered the distillate. The user is
required to make an initial estimate of the enthalpy using the heat
exchanger parameter for the top stage.
The definition of reflux ratio is = distillate rate/reflux rate
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Sub-cooled Total Condenser with a fixed distillate rate and
temperature: The temperature of this condenser is set below the
bubble point temperature. The distillate is all liquid and the
enthalpy is adjusted to match the specified distillate rate. In the
case of two-liquids, both liquids are considered the distillate. The
user is required to make an initial estimate of the enthalpy using
the heat exchanger parameter for the top stage.
Sub-cooled Total Condenser with a fixed reflux rate and
temperature: The temperature of this condenser is set below the
bubble point temperature. The distillate is all liquid and the
enthalpy is adjusted to match the specified reflux rate. In the case
of two-liquids, both liquids are considered the distillate. The user is
required to make an initial estimate of the enthalpy using the heat
exchanger parameter for the top stage.

Sub-cooled Total Condenser with a fixed reflux ratio and

temperature: The temperature of this condenser is set below the
bubble point temperature. The distillate is all liquid and the
enthalpy is adjusted to match the specified reflux ratio. In the case
of two-liquids, both liquids are considered the distillate. The user is
required to make an initial estimate of the enthalpy using the heat
exchanger parameter for the top stage.

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Decanter –Organic phase removed, Aqueous phase is refluxed
to column: There is no temperature specification for this type of
condenser. If the fluid reaching the condenser is two phase
(organic and aqueous) then the organic phase is removed and the
aqueous phase is refluxed to the column. In the case of two-liquids,
the water-rich phase is considered the aqueous phase. The user is
required to set enthalpy using the heat exchanger parameter for the
top stage. This condenser type is not valid if there is no water in
the simulation.(1)

3.Reboilers:
There are generally Two type of reboiler used in industrial
distillation column.
1.Kettle type reboiler:

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For the following condition we can use kettle type reboiler:

 Pressure drop in kettel type reboiler is lower so it is suitable

for the Vacuum services.
 In kettle type reboiler liquid totally converted into vapour so
when you need higher vaporization rate then it is suitable.
 When hot fluid and cold fluid have more temperature
difference then you have to use expansion joint for the
compensation of expansion and contractions of shell and tube
but in kettle type U-bend tube arrangement used so this
problem can eliminate.
2. Thermosyphon reboiler:
There are two different type of Thermosyphon used as per
orientation.

 Horizontal Thermosyphon reboiler

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  Vertical Thermosyphon reboiler

Mostly Horizontal Thermosyphon reboiler used with the

distillation column.
Horizontal Thermosyphon reboiler again classified into two
category

 Natural circulation:
1. Natural circulation type Thermosyphon reboiler used for the
sensitive materials with lower viscosity because here
circulation is done because of the temperature difference.
2. Operating cost is lower because we are not using pump at the
bottom of the distillation column.
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 3. When vaporization requirement is lower then it is suitable.
4. It is used for fouling service becuase process fluid is on tube
side so we can easily clean the tube.

 Forced circulation:
In forced circulation we provide a pump between distillation
column bottom and reboiler.
1. It is used for the high viscosity fluid.
2. It is used when vaporization required is less.
3. It is used for fouling services.(2)

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 References
(1) https://support.olisystems.com/TIPS/OLI-Tips83-ESP-
Mulitstage-Condenser-Types.pdf
(2) https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-different-types-of-
reboilers-used-in-industrial-distillation-columns-and-how-
are-they-selected

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