Short-cut Method Calculation Procedure:

1. Determination of the key components: -.

The Heavy Key component ( ) HK
The Light Key component ( ) LK

2. Minimum Number of stages by Fenskes Equation: -

log
log
LK HK
HK LK
D B
m
LK
x x
x x
N
o
| |
( (
|
( (
|
( (

\ .
=

3. Minimum Reflux Ratio by Underwoods Equations: -
1
1
i
i
i iD
m
i iF
x
R
x
q
o
o u
o
o u
= +

HK LK
o u o < <

4. Erbar-Maddox correlation: -

1 1
m m
m
N R R
vs with as a parameter
R N R + +


5. Feed Plate location by Kirkbrides Equation: -
2
log 0.206log
LKW r HK
s
LK HKD
F
x x
N W
N D x x
(
| | | |
(
(
| |
(
(
| |
(

\ . \ .
(

=


CHE 411
Illustrative Example:

A multicomponent hydrocarbon feed mixture is supplied as liquid at boiling point, is
to be fractionated to give the product distribution shown in the table below.

i
iF
x
i
o
iD
x
iW
x
3
C
0.05 5.0 0.11 --
4
iC
0.15 2.6 0.33 --
4
nC
0.25 2.0 0.53 0.02
5
iC
0.20 1.0 0.02 0.34
5
nC
0.35 0.85 0.01 0.64

1- Determination of key components:
Set 0.02 as the minimum acceptable concentration.
4
5
LH nC
HK iC

2- Minimum number of stages: -

8.81
0.53 0.34
log
log
0.02 0.02
log log2
LK HK
HK LK
D B
m
LK
x x
x x
N
o
| |
( (
| |
( (
|
( (
|
( (
|
|
( (

\ . \ .
= = =

3- Minimum reflux ratio: -
- Solve for u by trial and error.
For 1 q =
1 1 1 0
i
i iF
x
q
o
o u
= = =

Use tabulation form.

i
i iF
values of for different values of
x
u
o
o u

iF
x
i
o 1.5 u = 1.3 u = 1.35 u =
0.05 5.0 0.071 0.068 0.068
0.15 2.6 0.355 0.300 0.312
0.25 2.0 1.000 0.714 0.769
0.20 1.0 - 0.400 - 0.667 - 0.571
0.35 0.85 - 0.462 - 0.667 - 0.600
i iF
x o
o u

0.560 - 0.252 0.022
close enough

1.35 accepted is u =
- Solve for
m
R : From 1
i
i iD
m
x
R
o
o u
= +

as in table: -
iD
x
i
o
i iD
x o
o u

0.11 5.0 0.15
0.33 2.6 0.69
0.53 2.0 1.66
0.02 1.0 - 0.06
0.01 0.85 - 0.02
1
i iD
m
x
R
o
o u
= +

2.42

1.42
m
R =
4- Erbar-Maddox correlation for N and R

1.42
0.59
1 2.42
m
m
R
R
= =
+

Take 2 R = then 0.67
1
R
R
=
+


For 0.67
1
R
R
=
+
and 0.59
1
m
m
R
R
=
+

From chart read
m
N
N
0.56
m
N
N
=

As 8.81
m
N = then
8.81
15.7
0.56
N = =
And so on for other values of R . Compile a table:

R
2 3 4 5 6
N 15.7 11.9 10.7 10.4 10.1

After 4 R = a little change of N , the optimum R is near this value.

Take 3 R = and 12 N = 3, 12 R N = = (11 stages excluding the Reboiler)

5- From the material balance 45.3 D = , 54.7 W =
Feed Plate location by Kirkbrides Equation: -
2
0.993
54.9 0.2 0.02
log 0.206log
45.3 0.25 0.02
r
s
r
s
N
N
N
N
(
( | || |
(
=
( | |
| |
(
(
\ .\ .
(

=
Also 11
r s
N N + =
Solving for
r
N and
s
N : 5.517 6
s
N = and 5.487 6
r
N =
0.59
1
m
m
R
R
=
+
0.67
1
R
R
=
+
0.56
m
N
N
=





CHE 411
H.W

A 100 moles/hr of a multicomponent feed mixture, supplied as liquid at boiling
point, is to be fractionated to give the product distribution shown in the table below.

i
iF
x
iD
x
iW
x
i
o
14
C
0.05 0.157 0.003 6.13
16
C
0.35 0.693 0.197 2.42
18
C
0.50 0.148 0.660 1.00
20
C
0.10 0.002 0.140 0.39

i. Calculate the amount of distillate and bottom products.
ii. Determine the Light Key component and the Heavy Key component.
iii. Calculate the Minimum Reflux Ratio.
iv. Calculate the minimum number of Stages.
v. What will be the change if the feed is supplied half vaporized?