Equilibrium Separation Operations

Lecture 1: Introduction
Reading Assignment: 1. Foust, 1980 pp. 1-27 2. Geankoplis pp 653-660 3. Geankoplis pp.696-705 SHORT QUIZ (30 min) 7/17/2007

5/11/2013

Separations

Crucial in Chemical Engineering

Most equipment - purifying products

Chemical Plants

50 - 90 % capital investment

5/11/2013

Common Separation Methods

Distillation

flash continuous column batch

Absorption/Stripping
Extraction

5/11/2013

Similarities of These Methods

Two phases contacted

Designed and analyzed as equilibrium stage processes

5/11/2013

Distillation

Separation depends on distribution of components between gas and liquid phase All components distribute at equilibrium

5/11/2013

Distillation

Gas phase - application of heat

Liquid phase - removal of heat

5/11/2013

Absorption/Stripping

Gas mixture contacted with liquid

Absorption - dissolving components of gas into liquid Stripping - mass transfer goes from liquid to gas

5/11/2013

Liquid Extraction

Liquid solution contacted with another insoluble liquid. Constituents distribute differently between the 2 liquid phases

5/11/2013

Key terms for understanding equilibrium staged processes

5/11/2013

Unit operation

Basic design principles for a given separation method are always the same Specific design depends on chemicals being separated

5/11/2013

Stage

Device or combination of a device

2 insoluble phases are brought into intimate contact mass transfer occurs between the phases tending to bring them to equilibrium
phases are mechanically separated

5/11/2013

Tray tower

Vertical assembly of trays on which vapor and liquid are contacted Liquid flows down tower due to gravity

Vapor flows upward as a result of a slight pressure drop from tray to tray

5/11/2013

Equilibrium stage

Equilibrium, ideal, or theoretical stage

Contacting device - a vessel - 2 or more phases in contact sufficiently to achieve equilibrium Streams leaving a stage are in equilibrium
Building block of multistage processes

5/11/2013

Stage Efficiency

Fractional approach to equilibrium

Equilibrium stages coupled with stage efficiency -actual stages

5/11/2013

Cascade

A group of stages interconnected

Purpose - to increase the extent of mass transfer over and above that which is possible with a single stage.

5/11/2013

3 Principles:
Distribution of substances between 2 insoluble phases

Fixed temperature and pressure, there exists a set of equilibrium relationships No net diffusion of the components between phases in equilibrium.

5/11/2013

3 Principles:
Distribution of substances between 2 insoluble phases

If the system is not in equilibrium, diffusion of the components between the phases will occur so as to bring the system to a condition of equilibrium.

5/11/2013

Liquid and Vapor Phases in Contact

x - mole frac liquid, y - mole frac vapor yA, yB Pvapor A A B yA + y B = 1 Tvapor B

Pliquid
xA, xB
5/11/2013

Tliquid
xA + x B = 1

Not at equilibrium

Liquid and vapor can be:

at different pressure
at different temperature present in different mole fractions

5/11/2013

At equilibrium

Temperature ceases to change

Pressure ceases to change

Fractions of the 2 phases cease to change

5/11/2013

Thermal Equilibrium

Heat transfer stops

Tliquid = Tvapor

5/11/2013

Mechanical Equilibrium

Forces between vapor and liquid balance

Staged separation processes:

Pliquid = Pvapor

5/11/2013

Phase Equilibrium

Rate at which each species is vaporizing is just equal to the rate at which it is condensing

No change in composition (mole fraction). Compositions of liquid and vapor are not equal.

(chemical potential i)liquid = (chemical potential i)vapor

5/11/2013