SAMPLE PROBLEM #17:

A total feed of 200 mol/h having an overall

composition of 42 mol % heptane and 58 mol %
ethyl benzene is to be fractionated at 101.3 kPa
pressure to give a distillate containing 97 mol %
heptane and a bottoms containing 1.1 mol %
heptane.

The feed enters the tower partially

vaporized so that 40 mol % is liquid and 60
mol % vapor.
Calculate the following:

(a) Moles per hour of distillate and bottoms.

(b) Minimum reflux ratio Rm.
(c) Minimum steps and theoretical trays at total
reflux.
(d) Theoretical number of trays required for an
operating reflux ratio of 2.5:1.
Equilibrium data are given below at 101.32 kPa abs
pressure for the mole fraction h-heptane xH and yH:

Temperature
xH yH
K C
409.3 136.1 0.000 0.000
402.6 129.4 0.080 0.230
392.6 119.4 0.250 0.514
383.8 110.6 0.485 0.730
376.0 102.8 0.790 0.904
371.5 098.3 1.000 1.000
SOLUTION total
condenser

L0
D
Distilling R = 2.5 xD = 0.97
200 mol/h column
F 101.3 kPa
(q = 0.4) abs
xF = 0.42

B
xB = 0.011
partial
reboiler
 D, B = ?
 Rmin = ?
 ntheo at (R = ∞), nmin = ?
 ntheo at (R= 2.5)
 Solve for the y-intercept for the rectifying operating line
R xD
y n1  xn 
R 1 R 1
xD 0.97
   0.277
R  1 2 .5  1
 Solve for the slope of the feed line
q 0. 4
q-line slope    0.67
q  1 0 .4  1
Plotting the McCabe-Thiele diagram

2 1
3
4

nF = 7 6
7

10

11

n = 11.3
xB xF xD
Doing the material balances

 Total balance
F = 200 = D + B
 More volatile component balance
xFF = xDD + xBB
0.42(200) = 0.97D + 0.011B
 Solving these two equations
D = 85.3 mols/h
B = 114.7 mols/h
Solving for Rmin

y-int for Rm = 0.36

xB xF xD

xD
y-int of rectifying line =  Rm = 1.7
R 1
0.97
0.36 
Rm  1
Solving for nmin

1
2

7
Nmin = 7.5
xB xF xD

N = 7.5 = theoretical trays + reboiler = n + 1

 n = 6.5 theoretical trays
SUMMARY
 nF = 7, n = 11.3
 D = 85.3 mols/h and B 114.7 mols/h
 Rmin = 1.7
 ntheo = 6.5