Binary Column Distillation Internal Stage by Stage Balance

CFE 3713
Separation Process Engineering
Md. Jahirul Islam

Lecturer
Chemical and Food Engineering Department
Dhaka University ofEngineering and Technology, Gazipur
Internal balances: Enriching section
Around Stage 1
V2 = L1 + D h1 = h1 (x1 )
V2 y2 = L1 x1 + DxD H2 = H2 (y2 )
V2 H2 + Qc = L1 h1 + DhD x1 = x1 (y1 )
There are six equations with six

unknowns: L1 , V2 , x1 , y2 , H2 , and h1
© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam

Around Stage 2
V3 = L2 + D h2 = h2 (x2 )
V3 y3 = L2 x2 + DxD H3 = H3 (y3 )
V3 H3 + Qc = L2 h2 + DhD x2 = x2 (y2 )

unknowns: L2 , V3 , x2 , y3 , H3 , and h2

Around Stage j
Vj+1 = Lj + D hj = hj (xj )
Vj+1 yj+1 = Lj xj + DxD Hj+1 = Hj+1 (yj+1 )
Vj+1 Hj+1 + Qc = Lj hj + DhD xj = xj (yj )

unknowns:Lj ,Vj+1 ,xj ,yj+1 ,Hj+1 , and hj

Internal balances: Stripping section
Below feed stage

ഥf+1 = Lത f − BxB
V hf = hf (xf )
ഥf+1 yf+1 = Lത f xf − BxB

V Hf+1 = Hf+1 (yf+1 )
ഥf+1 Hj+1 = Lത f hj − BhB + QR

V xf = xf (yf )

unknowns:Lത f ,V
ഥf+1 ,xf ,yf+1 ,Hf+1 , and hf

Operating Lines
Stage k
ഥk = Lത k−1 − B
V hk−1 = hk−1 (xk−1 )
ഥk yk = Lത k−1 xk−1 − BxB

V Hk = Hk (yk )
ഥk Hk = Lത k−1 hk−1 − BhB + QR xk−1 = xk−1 (yk−1 )

V

unknowns:Lത k−1 ,V
ഥk ,xk−1 ,yk ,Hk , and hk−1

Simplified Stage Calculation
• CMO valid (no energy balance for stages)
• Material balance
• Equilibrium relation
• Algebraic solution: Lewis's method
• Graphical solution: McCabe Thiele method

Lewis (1922) noted that in many cases the molar vapor and liquid flow
rates in each section (a region between input and output ports) were
constant. Thus
For each additional column section there will be another set of equations
for constant flow rates. Note that in general L ≠Lത and V ≠Vഥ . Thus the
equations will be valid if every time a mole of vapor is condensed a mole
of liquid is vaporized. This will occur if CMO is valid.

CMO Assumptions
1. The column is adiabatic.
2. The specific heat changes are small compared to latent heat
changes.
3. The heat of vaporization per mole, λ,isconstant;thatis,λ
does not depend on concentration. (Condition 3 is the most
important criterion. Lewis called this set of conditions
constant molal overflow (CMO)). An alternative to conditions
2 and 3 is:
The saturated liquid and vapor lines on an enthalpy-
composition diagram (in molar units) are parallel.

Operating Lines
Solving for yj+1, we have
Since L and V are constant, this equation becomes
This is the operating equation in the enriching section. It

relates the concentrations of two passing streams in the
column and thus represents the mass balances in the
enriching section

Operating Lines
In the stripping section
With CMO, Lത and Vഥ are constant, and the resulting stripping

section operating equation is

Feed Stage
If we assume CMO neither the vapor enthalpies

nor the liquid enthalpies vary much from stage to
stage. Thus Hf+1 ~ Hf and hf−1 ~ hf. Then

Quality

Stage-by-stage calculations by the Lewis method
A steady-state countercurrent, staged distillation column is to be used to
separate ethanol from water. The feed is a 30 wt % ethanol, 70 wt %
water mixture that is a saturated liquid at 1 atm pressure. Flow rate of
feed is 10,000 kg/h. The column operates at a pressure of 1 atm. The
reflux is returned as a saturated liquid. A reflux ratio of L/D = 3.0 is being
used. We desire a bottoms composition of xB = 0.05 (weight fraction
ethanol) and a distillate composition of xD = 0.80 (weight fraction
ethanol). The system has a total condenser and a partial reboiler. The
column is well insulated.
Use the Lewis method to find the number of equilibrium contacts
required if the feed is input on the second stage from the top.

Stage-by-stage calculations by the Lewis method

Preliminary Calculations

Stage-by-Stage Calculations
At the top of the column, y1 = xD = 0.61. Liquid stream L1 of concentration x1 is in
equilibrium with the vapor stream y1. From Figure 2-2, x1 = 0.4. (Note that y1 >x1 since
ethanol is the more volatile component.) Vapor stream y2 is a passing stream relative to x1
and can be determined from the operating Eq. (4-12)
Stream x2 is in equilibrium with y2. From Figure 2-2 we obtain x2 = 0.11.

Since stage 2 is the feed stage, use bottom operating Eq. (4-14) for y3.
Stream x3 is in equilibrium with y3. From Figure 2-2, this is x3 = 0.02. Since x3 =
xB (in mole fraction), we are finished.
The third equilibrium contact would be the partial reboiler. Thus the column has
two equilibrium stages plus the partial reboiler.

McCabe-Thiele Method
Top operating line
❑ Top operating line intersect x=y
line at x=xD
❑ The top operating line goes
through the point (y1, xD)
❑ The points on the equilibrium
curve (squares) represent liquid
and vapor streams leaving an
equilibrium stage.
❑ The points on the operating line
(circles) represent the liquid and
vapor streams passing each other
in the column.

McCabe-Thiele Method
Bottom operating line
Bottom operating line intersect x=y

line at x=xB

Rectifying and Stripping section
feed stage too high (stage 2)

optimum feed stage (stage 3)
feed stage too low (stage 5)

Feed Line

Feed Line

Feed Line
If we change the reflux ratio we change
the points of intersection, but they all lie
on the feed line
If the reflux ratio is fixed (the top

operating line is fixed) but q varies, the
intersection point varies

Calculate feed line slope
Case 1
Two phase feed 80% is vaporized

Case 2
Super heated Vapor: 1 mole of liquid on feed stage vaporizes per
9 moles of feed

Case 3
Liquid subcooled by 35 deg C,

Case 4
Feed 40% ethanol/water, @ 40 deg C and 1kg/cm2 pressure

Example 4-3. McCabe- Thiele method
❑ A distillation column with a total condenser and a partial
reboiler is separating an ethanol- water mixture. The feed is
20 mol% ethanol, feed rate is 1000 kmol/h, and feed
temperature is 80°F. A distillate composition of 80 mol%
ethanol and a bottoms composition of 2 mol% ethanol are
desired.
❑ The external reflux ratio is 5/3. The reflux is returned as a
saturated liquid and CMO can be assumed. Find the
optimum feed plate location and the total number of
equilibrium stages required. Pressure is 1 atm.

Schematic

Feed Line
To find q, first convert feed concentration, 20 mol%, to wt % ethanol = 39 wt%. Two
calculations in different units with different data are shown.

Operating Lines

Stage Calculation

Profiles for Binary Distillation
❑ The temperature decreases
rapidly for the first few
contacts above the reboiler
but is almost constant for
the last eight stages. This
occurs mainly because of
the shape of the
temperature-composition
diagram for ethanol-water

Partial Condensers
A partial condenser condenses only part of the overhead stream and returns this
as reflux. If a vapor distillate is desired, then a partial condenser will be very
convenient.
This is essentially the same as the equation for a top operating line with a total
condenser except that yD has replaced xD.
Total Reboilers
❑ A total reboiler vaporizes the entire
stream sent to it; thus, the vapor
composition is the same as the liquid
composition.
❑ The mass balance and the bottom
operating equation with a total
reboiler are exactly the same as with
a partial reboiler.
❑ The only difference is that a partial
reboiler is an equilibrium contact and
is labeled as such on the McCabe-
Thiele diagram. The total reboiler is
not an equilibrium contact and
appears on the McCabe-Thiele
diagram as the single point y = x = xB.

Multiple Feed and side stream

Intermediate Reboilers and Intermediate Condensers

Stripping and Enriching column
❑ When only a stripping section is used, the
feed must be a subcooled or saturated liquid.
❑ No reflux is used.
❑ A very pure bottoms product can be obtained
but the vapor distillate will not be pure.
❑ In the enriching or rectifying column,

the feed is a superheated vapor or a
saturated vapor
❑ The distillate can be very pure, but the
bottoms will not be very pure.
❑ Striping columns and enriching columns
are used when a pure distillate or a
pure bottoms, respectively, is not
© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam needed
McCabe-Thiele diagram for stripping column
❑ The stripping column can be thought of
as a complete distillation column with
zero liquid flow rate in the enriching
section. Then
❑ Then the top operating line is y = yD.
❑ The bottom operating line can be
derived as
❑ Top and bottom

operating lines intersect at the feed
line.

Limiting Operating Conditions
Total reflux
❑ In total reflux, all the overhead vapor is
returned to the column as reflux, and
all the underflow liquid is returned as
boil up.
❑ Thus, distillate and bottoms flow rates
are zero. At steady state, the feed rate
must also be zero.
❑ Total reflux is used for starting up
columns, for keeping a column
operating when another part of the
plant is shut down, and for testing
column efficiency.
Analysis of total reflux
❑ Since all the vapor is refluxed, L =
V and L/V = 1.0. Also, Lത = V ഥand
Lത / V
ഥ = 1.0. Thus, both operating
lines become the y = x line.
❑ Total reflux represents the
maximum separation that can be
obtained with a given number of
stages but zero throughput. Total
reflux also gives the minimum
number of stages required for a
given separation.

Minimum reflux ratio and pinch point
❑ Minimum reflux, (L/D)min, is defined as the external reflux ratio at
which the desired separation could just be obtained with an
infinite number of stages.
❑ To have an infinite number of stages, the operating and
equilibrium lines must touch
❑ This can happen either at the feed or at a point tangent to the
equilibrium curve.

Minimum reflux ratio and pinch point
❑ The point where the operating line touches the equilibrium curve
is called the pinch point.
❑ At the pinch point the concentrations of liquid and vapor do not
change from stage to stage.
❑ If the reflux ratio is increased slightly, then the desired separation
can be achieved with a finite number of stages.
❑ To determine the minimum reflux ratio the top operating line is
drawn to a pinch point. Then (L/V)min is equal to the slope of this
top operating line.
❑ Minimum reflux would use the minimum amount of reflux liquid
and hence the minimum amount of heat in the reboiler, but the
maximum (infinite) number of stages and a maximum (infinite)
diameter for a given separation.
❑ As a rule of thumb, the optimum external reflux ratio is between
1.05 and 1.25 times (L/D)min.
Efficiencies
• We have always assumed that the stages are
equilibrium stages.
• But equilibrium stages are difficult to obtain
• To compare the performance of an actual stage to an
equilibrium stage, we use a measure of efficiency.
• Two that are in common use are
✓ overall efficiency
✓ Murphree efficiency.

Overall efficiency
• The number of equilibrium stages required for the separation
divided by the actual number of stages required.
Nequil
E0 =
Nactual
• Partial condensers and partial reboilers are not included in either

the actual or equilibrium number of stages, since they will not have
the same efficiency as the stages in the column
• The hydrodynamic flow properties such as viscosity and gas flow
rate would affect the flow regime, which affects efficiency.
• The mass transfer rate, which is affected by the diffusivity, will in
turn affect efficiency.

Murphree efficiency
• The Murphree vapor efficiency is defined as
actual change in vapor concentration
EMV =
change in vapor concentration for equilibrium stage
• Murphree postulated that

• The vapor between trays is well mixed,
• The liquid in the down-comers is well mixed
• The liquid on the tray is well mixed and is of the same
composition as the liquid in the downcomer leaving the
tray.
yj − yj+1
EMV = ∗
yj − yj+1

Murphree efficiency
yj − yj+1
EMV =
yj ∗ − yj+1
• The denominator represents the vertical distance from the
operating line to the equilibrium line.
• The numerator is the vertical distance from the operating line
to the actual outlet concentration.
• Thus the Murphree vapor efficiency is the fractional amount
of the total vertical distance to move from the operating line

Murphree efficiency
If the Murphree efficiencies are accurate, the locations labeled by the

stage numbers represent the actual vapor and liquid compositions leaving
a stage. These points can be connected to form a pseudo-equilibrium
curve, but this curve depends on the operating lines used and thus has to
be redrawn for each new set of operating lines.
Murphree efficiency
A Murphree liquid efficiency can be defined as
xj − xj−1
EML =
xj ∗ − xj−1
• the actual change in mole fraction divided by the change for an

equilibrium stage. The Murphree liquid efficiency is similar to the
Murphree vapor efficiency except that it uses horizontal
distances.
• Note that EML ≠ EMV
• For binary mixtures the Murphree efficiencies are the same
whether they are written in terms of the more volatile or least
volatile component. For multicomponent mixtures they can be
different for different components and can even be negative.

Simulation Problems
Read it yourself

New Uses for Old Columns
Read it yourself

Binary Column Distillation Internal Stage by Stage Balance

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Binary Column Distillation Internal Stage by Stage Balance

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

CFE 3713

Separation Process Engineering

Md. Jahirul Islam

There are six equations with six

© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam

There are six equations with six

© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam

Vj+1 yj+1 = Lj xj + DxD Hj+1 = Hj+1 (yj+1 )

Vj+1 Hj+1 + Qc = Lj hj + DhD xj = xj (yj )

There are six equations with six

© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam

Below feed stage

ഥf+1 yf+1 = Lത f xf − BxB

ഥf+1 Hj+1 = Lത f hj − BhB + QR

There are six equations with six

© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam

ഥk yk = Lത k−1 xk−1 − BxB

ഥk Hk = Lത k−1 hk−1 − BhB + QR xk−1 = xk−1 (yk−1 )

There are six equations with six

© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam

© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam

© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam

© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam

Solving for yj+1, we have

Since L and V are constant, this equation becomes

This is the operating equation in the enriching section. It

© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam

With CMO, Lത and Vഥ are constant, and the resulting stripping

© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam

If we assume CMO neither the vapor enthalpies

© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam

© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam

© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam

© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam

© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam

Stream x2 is in equilibrium with y2. From Figure 2-2 we obtain x2 = 0.11.

© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam

© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam

Bottom operating line intersect x=y

© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam

feed stage too high (stage 2)

feed stage too low (stage 5)

© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam

© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam

If the reflux ratio is fixed (the top

© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam

© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam

© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam

© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam

© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam

© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam

© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam

© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam

© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam

© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam

© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam

© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam

© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam

© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam

❑ In the enriching or rectifying column,

❑ Top and bottom

© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam