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Pressure Swing to Overcome Azeotropes with Aspen HYSYS V8.0

Separation of Ethanol and Benzene
1. Lesson Objectives
Learn how to use pressure swing to separate a binary mixture that forms an azeotrope into two pure components

2. Prerequisites
Aspen HYSYS V8.0 Introduction to azeotropic mixtures Introduction to distillation

3. Background
Ethanol and benzene form an azeotrope and the azeotropic composition is sensitive to pressure. Therefore, it is possible to use pressure swing to separate this binary mixture into pure components. The examples presented are solely intended to illustrate specific concepts and principles. They may not reflect an industrial application or real situation.

4. Problem Statement and Aspen HYSYS Solution

Problem Statement
The first column operates under a pressure of 3 bars and the second one at 0.1 bar. A compressor is used to pressurize the recycle stream from 0.1 bar to 3 bars before it is recycled back to the first column. Since the relative volatility is large except for the azeotrope point, there is no need to add a third component (as a solvent).

Aspen HYSYS Solution

4.01. 4.02. Start a new simulation in Aspen HYSYS V8.0. Create a component list. In the Component Lists folder select Add. Add Ethanol and Benzene to the component list.

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4.03.

Define property package. In the Fluid Packages folder select Add. Select PRSV as the property package.

4.04.

Go to the simulation environment by clicking the Simulation button in the bottom left of the screen.

4.05.

We will first add two Material Streams to the flowsheet. Name one of the streams Feed and the other Recycle .

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Double click on the Feed stream. This will be the ethanol-benzene feed to the process. In the Worksheet tab enter a Vapour Fraction of 0.5, a Pressure of 3 bar, and a Molar Flow of 100 kgmole/h. In the Composition form enter Mole Fractions of 0.5 for both ethanol and benzene .

4.07.

We will now define the stream Recycle . This stream will consist of ethanol and benzene vapors that come off the top of the second column, which we will recycle so we dont throw away any product. Double click on the Recycle stream. In the Worksheet tab enter a Vapour Fraction of 1, a Pressure of 3 bar, and a Molar Flow of 200 kgmole/h. In the Composition tab enter Mole Fractions of 0.5 for both ethanol and benzene . These values are initial estimates. They will eventually be replaced by the actual recycled product.

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4.08.

We are now ready to add a Distillation Column Sub-Flowsheet to the flowsheet from the Model Palette .

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Double click the distillation column ( T-100). This will launch the Distillation Column Input Expert. On Page 1 specify the following information. Change the # Stages to 30 and select streams Feed and Recycle to enter on stage 10. Select Full Reflux for Condenser, create an Ovhd Vapour Outlet stream called Vap, a Bottoms Liquid Outlet called Benzene , and a Condenser Energy Stream called Q-Cond1. When complete click Next.

4.10.

On Page 2 of the Distillation Column Input Expert select a Once-through, Regular Hysys reboiler. Click Next. On Page 3 of the Distillation Column Input Expert enter Condenser and Reboiler Pressures of 3 bar. For this simulation we will assume no pressure drop through the column. In real life this wouldnt be the case. Click Next.

4.11.

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4.12.

Page 4 asks for Temperature estimates. These are optional values that will help the column solver converge. For this column we will leave all estimates blank. Click Next.

4.13.

On the final page of the expert enter a Reflux Ratio of 3. Click Done .

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4.14.

The Column: T-100 window will now appear. We must define the design specifications for the column. We have already specified the reflux ratio, but we still need to specify the mole fraction of benzene in the bottoms stream. First go to the Specs Summary form and make sure that only the Reflux Ratio specification is checked as active.

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Now we will create a specification for the mole fraction of benzene in the bottoms stream. Go to the Specs form under the Design tab. Click Add and select Column Component Fraction. Select Stream for Target Type , Benzene for Draw, enter 0.999 for Spec Value , and select Benzene for Component.

4.16.

The Degrees of Freedom for the column should now be 0. Click the Run button to begin calculations. The column should quickly converge.

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4.17.

We will now insert a second Distillation Column Sub-Flowsheet.

4.18.

Double click on the second column ( T-101) to open the Distillation Column Input Expert. On the first page change the # Stages to 30 and select the stream Vap to enter on stage 10. Select Full Reflux for the Condenser, create an Ovhd Vapour Outlet called Rec, a Bottoms Liquid Outlet called Ethanol, and a Condenser Energy Stream called Q-Cond2. Click Next when complete.

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4.19.

On Page 2 of the Distillation Column Input Expert leave the default selections for a Once-through, Regular Hysys reboiler. Click Next.

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On Page 3 of the Distillation Column Input Expert enter Condenser and Reboiler Pressures of 0.1 bar. Click Next when complete.

4.21.

On Page 4 of the Distillation Column Input Expert leave all fields for temperature estimates blank. Click Next.

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On the final page of the Distillation Column Input Expert enter a Reflux Ratio of 1. Click Done when complete to configure the column.

4.23.

Go to the Specs Summary form under the Design tab. We wish to specify the reflux ratio and the mole fraction of ethanol in the bottoms stream. We have already specified the reflux ratio, but we still need to create a specification for the mole fraction of ethanol in the bottoms. First, make sure that the only current active specification is the Reflux Ratio.

4.24.

Now we will create a specification for the mole fraction of ethanol in the bottoms stream. Go to the Specs form under the Design tab. Click Add and select Column Component Fraction. Select Stream for Target Type , Ethanol for Draw, enter 0.999 for Spec Value , and select Ethanol for Component. 12

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4.25.

The Degrees of Freedom for the column should now be 0. Click the Run button to begin calculations. The column should converge.

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4.26.

Before we connect the recycle loop we must first add a compressor to raise the pressure of stream Rec. Add a Compressor to the flowsheet from the Model Palette .

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Double click on the compressor ( K-100). Select stream Rec as the Inlet. Create an Outlet called RecHighP and an Energy stream called Q-Comp.

4.28.

In the Worksheet tab enter an outlet Pressure of 3 bar. The compressor should solve.

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4.29.

We are now ready to connect the recycle loop. Add a Recycle block to the flowsheet from the Model Palette .

4.30.

Double click on the recycle block ( RCY-1). Select stream Rec-HighP as the Inlet and select stream Recycle as the Outlet. The flowsheet should solve after a few moments.

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4.31.

The flowsheet is now complete. Check results. Double click on stream Benzene and stream Ethanol. You will find that the flowrate of each stream is roughly 50 kgmole/h with a mole fraction of 0.999 of each respective product.

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5. Conclusions
Pressure swing distillation can be a good method for separating a binary mixture that forms an azeotrope when: The azeotropic composition is sensitive to a pressure change The relative volatility of the two components is large except at the azeotropic point

6. Copyright
Copyright 2012 by Aspen Technology, Inc. (AspenTech). All rights re served. This work may not be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of AspenTech. ASPENTECH MAKES NO WARRANTY OR REPRESENTATION, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO THIS WORK and assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. In no event will AspenTech be liable to you for damages, including any loss of profits, lost savings, or other incidental or consequential damages arising out of the use of the information contained in, or the digital file s supplied with or for use with, this work. This work and its contents are provided for educational purposes only.

AspenTech, aspenONE, and the Aspen leaf logo, are trademarks of Aspen Technology, Inc.. Brands and product names mentioned in this documentation are trademarks or service marks of their respective companies.

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