SOLVED PROBLEMS ON DISTILLATION

Instructor: Prof. Bishnupada Mandal

Course No.: CL 205 Course Name: Mass Transfer Operations I Date: 23.04.2018

Q1. The 50-mol feed comprising 32 mole % ethanol and 68 mole % water is to be distilled in the
multi-stage batch distillation with the 2 equilibrium stages on top of the re-boiler (still pot)
assuming total condenser with constant reflux ratio. It is desired to get 22.8 mol of distillate of 64.8
mole % ethanol within 2 hrs of distillation process. Steam is supplied to the coils in the still at such
a rate that 19 mol of vapour is generated per hour. Assume condenser is total condenser

a) What is the reflux ratio if reflux is saturated liquid?

b) What is the starting distillate concentration (first drop from reflux drum) and final distillate concentration
(last drop from reflux drum)?

The operation is at 1 atm. The equilibrium data at 1 atm is given below.

xEtoh 0 0.019 0.07 0.097 0.12 0.17 0.26 0.33 0.4 0.52 0.57 0.67 0.75 0.89 1

yEtoh 0 0.17 0.39 0.44 0.47 0.51 0.56 0.58 0.61 0.66 0.68 0.74 0.78 0.89 1

Solution to Q1:

2= (R+1)*22.8/19
R=2/3

Wi xWi  W f xWf
xD,av 
Wi  W f
Wf=5 0-22.8 =27.2
0.648=(50*0.32-27.2*xwf)/22.8

xWf=0.04

from graph xD(STARTING)=0.7

xD(final)=0.5

Q2. A feed containing 40 mole percent n-hexane and 60 percent n-octane is fed to a distillation column. A
reflux ratio of 1.2 is maintained. The overhead product is 95 percent hexane and the bottoms 10 percent
hexane. Find out the number of theoretical stages using Panchan-Savarit method. Assume that a total
condenser is used. The column is to operate at 1 atm. The equilibrium data are given below:

VLE Data, Mole Fraction Hexane, 1 atm

x (liquid) 0.0 0.1 0.3 0.5 0.55 0.7 1.0
y (vapor) 0.0 0.36 0.70 0.85 0.90 0.95 1.0

Enthalpy-Concentration Data
Mole Fraction Hexane Enthalpy cal/gmol
Sat. Liquid Sat. Vapor
0.0 7000 15,700
0.1 6300 15,400
0.3 5000 14,700
0.5 4100 13,900
 0.7 3400 12,900
0.9 3100 11,600
1.0 3000 10,000

Solution of Q2:

Step 1: Equilibrium data is collected.

VLE Data, Mole Fraction Hexane, 1 atm

x (liquid) 0.0 0.1 0.3 0.5 0.55 0.7 1.0
y (vapor) 0.0 0.36 0.70 0.85 0.90 0.95 1.0
Enthalpy-Concentration Data
Mole Fraction Hexane Enthalpy cal/gmol
Sat. Liquid Sat. Vapor
0.0 7000 15,700
0.1 6300 15,400
0.3 5000 14,700
0.5 4100 13,900
0.7 3400 12,900
0.9 3100 11,600
1.0 3000 10,000
This information can be used to create enthalpy-concentration and equilibrium diagrams.

Step 2: Plot the feed and product points. All three will lie on the saturated liquid line, B at x B=0.1, F
at xF=0.4, and D at xD=0.95.

Step 3: From the data tables (or from the Hx diagram) find the enthalpy of the distillate, hD=3050
cal/gmol. Because a total condenser is used, the vapor leaving the top stage will have concentration
y1=0.95. Consequently, it will have enthalpy HD=10,800. These values and the reflux ratio can be
used to find the enthalpy coordinate for the D' point, HDp.
 hDP  H y1
RD 
H y1  hD
hDP  10800
 1.2 
10800  3050

and so hDp=20,100. The D' point on the Hx diagram can then be placed at (0.95, 20100).

Step 4: The overall enthalpy line is then drawn from D', through F. Its intersection with the line
x=0.1 is the point B'.

Step 5: Because of the total condenser, the V1 point will lie on the saturated vapor curve at x=xD.

Step 6: Follow the tie line that passes through the V1 point back to the saturated liquid curve. The
intersection is the point L1 (liquid on tray 1). If tie lines are not available, they may be constructed
using the xy diagram.
Step 7: Construct an operating line through both the L1 point and the D' point. Its intersection with
the saturated vapor curve will be the point V2.

Step 8: Continue the construction, alternating between tie lines and and operating lines until you
have moved to the left of the overall enthalpy line at point L3.
Once the overall enthalpy line is crossed, construction continues, but operating lines are now drawn
between the Li point and the B' point (instead of the D' point). Construction continues until L5
which is almost directly on top of xB.

Consequently, there are 5 ideal stages required for this separation -- with a partial reboiler, that
means 4 ideal trays. The optimum feed tray is number 3.