Distillation Column

Design

Prof.M.B.Mandake
Department of Chemical Engineering,

BVCOE Navi Mumbai

 FLOW SHEET
REFLUX
DRUM
Condenser

REFLUX DRUM
(1) Methyl Iodide
= 0.212 (1) Methyl Iodide = 0.21
(2) Acetic Acid =(2) Acetic Acid = 0.0005
0.0005
(3)Methyl Acetate = 0.62
FEED FEED Pump (3)Methyl
Acetate = 0.62 (4) Water = 0.17
(4) Water = 0.167

(1) Methyl
(1) Methyl Iodide
Iodide = 0.074
= 0.07
(2) Acetic
(2) Acetic AcidAcid = 0.65
= 0.65
(3)Methyl Acetate = 0.215
(3)MethylAcetate=0.22
(4) Water = 0.065
(4) Water = 0.065

Reboiler
(1)Acetic Acid = 0.99
(2)Water = 0.01
DESIGN PROCEDURE
M.V.JOSHI
 Stresses in shell column
Assume stresses due to wind load and
earthquake will not occur simultaneously.
Therefore maximum of either should be taken.

• Internal pressure and upwind side

Ft(max)= fwx or fsx+fap-fdx
•
External pressure and upwind side

• ft(max)=fwx or fsx-fap-fdx
where

fwx=stresses due to wind load

fs x=load due to earthquake or seismic loads
fap=axial stress due to internal or external pressure
fdx=stress due to dead loads
• Considering internal and pressure downside wind
fc,max= fwx or fsx+fap-fdx

• - pexternal and downside wind

fc,max= fwx or fsx+fap+fdx

p
ts=( di/2fJ-P))+c
• fap= (PDi)/(4(ts-c))------uniform over column
height
• fdx=wt of shell/area of shell

• Stress due to insulation

fdi(iw)=(π Dins tins ϼins)/(πDm(ts-c))
• Stresses due to liquid present in column
fd(l)= (∑weight of liquid/X)/( πDm(ts-c))

• Due to attachments(like fittings)

fd,att=(∑weight of attachments/X)/( πDm(ts-c))

• fdx=fds+fd(ins)+fd(l)+fd(att)
• fWind load
fwx=Mw/Z
2
Mw=Wind load(X) /2

=0.7 Pw Do X2/2
where
Mw=Bending moment due to wind
load at a distance X
Z=modulus of section for area of shell
 • f-Eccentricity

Fe=We(e)/ (π/4)Do2(ts-c)
where
e=eccentricity
We=eccentric loads
• fsx=msx/(π/4)Do2(ts-c)
where
Msx=CWX2/3 x ((3H-X)/H 2)
=Bending moment at distance x
C=Seismic co efficient
W=total weight of column
H=total height of column
• All stresses for determining height X all
stresses except due to eccentricity and
seismic loads acting in an axial direction
may be added and equated to the
allowable tensile stress.
• DETERMINATION OF HEIGHT X
•  

• fwx +fap-fdx=ft,max= + -
 
 BHATTACHRYA
PROCEDURE
• The axial Stress(compressive) due to dead loads
The stress induced by shell weight at a distance
X metre from the top is-
σzs=Ws/πt(Di+t)
where,
Ws=weight of the shell for a length x
metre,
t=shell thickness at the point under
consideration.
DETERMINATION OF LONGITUDINAL
STRESSES

• The axial stresses(tensile and compressive) due to

pressure is-
σzp=Pd2/4t(Di+t)
• Where D=Di for internal pressure
Do for vacuum(Do should include
insulation thickness if insulated)
• The axial Stress(compressive) due to dead
loads

• The stress induced by shell weight at a

distance X metre from the top is-
σzs=Ws/πt(Di+t)
where,
Ws=weight of the shell for a length x
metre,
t=shell thickness at the point under
consideration.
• The stress induced in the shell due to insulation at a
distance X meter from the top is-
σi=wi/πt(Di+t)
where
Wi=weight of insulation upto a distance X
meter from the top
t=shell thickness at the point under
consideration
Di=inside diameter of shell
• The stress induced by the weight of
the liquid supported by the inner
arrangement like tray for a distance
X meter from the top is
• σza=Wt/πt(Di+t)
• where Wt=wt of the liquid
supported for a distance X meter
from the top.
• THE LONGITUDINAL BENDING STRESSES DUE TO
DYNAMIC LOADS
• The stress due to wind load may be calculated by treating the
vessel as uniformly loaded cantilever.
• The wind load is a function of the wind velocity, air density,
shape of the tower, and the arrangement of all such tall vessels.

• The wind load on a vessel is given by,

Pw=0.5CDρVw2A
Where, CD=drag coefficient
ρ=density of air
Vw=wind velocity
A=projected area normal to the direction of the wind
• If wind velocity is known ,approximate wind
pressure can be computed from the following
simplified relationship.
Pw=0.05 Vw 2
Where
Pw=minimum wind pressure to be used
for moment calculation,N/m2
• It is also known that the wind velocity changes with the
height. The velocity of wind it is near the ground is less
than that away from it. To take into account this factor a
variable wind force may be taken.

• Since the wind pressure does not remain constant

throughout the height of the tall vessel,it is
recommended that to calculated the wind load un two
parts. In case of vessel with height 20m, it is suggested
that the wind load may be determined separately for the
bottom part of the vessel having height equal to 20m,&
then for rest of upper part
• The wind pressure for bottom part & rest of upper part can
directly be obtained from the Table 1 given below
depending upon the zone where the vessel will be installed.
WIND PRESSURE(KN/m2)
Nature of the region At H=20m At H=100m

Coastal Area 0.7-1.0 1.5-2.0

Area with moderate 0.4 1.0

wind
• The total load due to wind acting on the bottom & upper
parts of the vessel are determined from the following
equations.
• Pbw=K1K2p1h1Do
• Puw =K1K2p2h2Do
• Pbw=total force due to wind load acting on the bottom part
of the vessel with height equal to or less than 20m
• Puw= total force due to wind load acting on the upper part
above 20m
• h1=height of the bottom part of the vessel equal to or less
than 20m
• h2= height of the upper part of the vessel above 20m
• p1=wind pressure for a bottom part of the vessel (from table
of wind pressure forH=20m)
• p2= wind pressure for a upper part of the vessel.
• Do=outer dia including insulation as the case may be
• K1=coefficient depending upon the shape factor
=1.4 for flat plate 90®to the wind
=0.7 for cylindrical surface
• K2=coefficient depending upon the period of 1 cycle of
vibration of the vessel.
=1.0(if period of vibration is 0.5 sec or less)
=2(if period exceed 0.5 sec)
•The  bending moment at the base of the vessel due to wind load
is determined from the following equations
(i) For the vessels with H≤20m
Mw=PbwH/2
(ii)For the vessels with H>20m
Mw=Pbwh1/2 + Puw(h1+0.5h2)
The resulting bending stress in the axial direction is then
computed from the following corelation
σzwm=
Where

σzwm=longitudinal stress due to wind moment(compressive

on down wind side and tensile on upwind side)

Mw=bending moment due to wind load

Dt=inner diameter of the shell

t=corroded shell thickness

THE STRESSES DUE TO SEISMIC LOADS

The seismic forces act to produce horizontal

shear in self supporting vertical vessels.
This shear force in turn produces a bending
moment about the base of the vessel.
The shear loading is triangular with the apex at
the base as shown in fig.
• If the acceleration of the earthquake is a the force on
the vessel will be

F=a(W/g)=CsW
Where
W=total weight of the vessel
Cs=seismic coefficient
The seismic coefficients Cs,as a function of period of
vibration, T, in seconds, are given in table below-
Seismic Zone T<0.4 0.4<T<1 T>1.0

Mild 0.05 0.02/T 0.02

Medium 0.10 0.04/T 0.04

Severe 0.20 0.08/T 0.08

• The resulting bending Stress from seismic load
is given by

σzwm=4Ms/πt(Ds+t)Dt
• PERIOD OF VIBRATION OF THE VESSEL

The study of the vibration of the vessel should be made to

understand(i) the vibration induced by the earthquake and (ii)
the vibration induced by the wind.

The seismic force on a vessel is also a function of the

flexibility of the system and therefore it becomes necessary to
determine the natural frequency of the vessel in order to
calculate the magnitude of the earthquake force.
• The frequency of vortex shedding fs is given by
f=SVw/Do
Where S=characteristic number
=0.2 for circular cylinders
Vw=wind velocity
Do=outside diameter of vessel including insulation if any

If the natural frequency N of the vessel is equated to vortex shedding

frequency f the critical wind velocity for the vessel will be obtained as
follows
N=SVc/Do
Or Ve=5NDo
Where Ve=critical wind velocity
•If T is the period of vibration then
N=1/T
The expression for T is given by
T=(2π/3.53)()^0.5
Where
T=period of vibration
W=total wt of the tower
H=total tower height including skirt
E=modulus of elasticity
I=moment of inertia of the shell c/s
=πD^3t/8
• The total weight of the shell is calculated as
• (N) Wv = Cv ρm Dm g(Hv+0.81Dm)*t’10-3
• for steel vessel

• Wv =240 Cv ρm Dm g(Hv+0.81Dm)*t
• Wv=total weight of shell in newton’s
• Cv=factor to account for weight of nozzle , mounting & internal
support
=1.15---------for distillation column
• Dm=mean diameter of vessel
=(Di+( t’10-3))m
• Ρm= density of vessel material in Kg/m3
• Hv=distance between tangent lines in terms of meter
• g =9.81 m/sec2
• t=thickness in mm
 
 R.C.
PROCEDURE
• Nelson(1963)-1)caged ladder,steel 360N/m length
• 2)Plain Ladder 150N/m length
• 3)Platform,steel 1.7KN/m2
• 4)Containing plates,ateel and with tyoical liquid loading 1.2
KN/m2 area.

• INSULATING DENSITY
Ρ(ins) in Kg/m3 for various materials
Foam Glass 150

Mineral Wood 130

Fiber Glass 100

Calcium Silicate 200

• These densities should be doubled to allow for
attachment fittings,ceiling and moisture absorption.

• Bending Stress
Mx=Fwx2/2
• Where,i) Fw=loading per unit length=Pw.Deff
Pw=Wind Pressure
Deff=effective column diameter

ii)x=Distance measured from free end

• Stresses longitudinal flong=Pdi/2t
• f
ap= (PDi/4t)--------for axial

• stress due to weight of vessel its contents & attachments

fw=(W/π(Di+t)t)

• w= total weight of vessel

• fb(bending stress)= (±Mv/Iv)((Di/2)+t)

• where Iv= second moment of inertia

• 4 4
=π/ 64 (Do – Di )

• Mv=total bending moment at the plane being considered

• Resultant stress f f f f
z= ap+ w± b

• critical buckling stress fc=(E/(3(1-µ2)1/2)(t/Rp)

• where
µ=0.3
fc=0.6E(t/Rp)
Rp= radius of curvature
E=200000 N/mm2