CHEE317 W06

Tutorial#1
Adistillationcolumnreceivesafeedthatis40mole%npentane(C5)anda60mole%
nhexane(C6). Feed flow rate is 2500 lb moles/hr and feed temperature 30 oC. The
column is at 1 atm. A distillate that is 99.9 mole % npentane is desired. A total
condenser is used. Reflux is a saturated liquid. The external reflux ratio is Lo/D=3.
Bottoms from the partial reboiler is 99.8 mole % nhexane. Find D, B, QR, QC. Note:
watchyourunitsontemperature.
Data:
lC5=11,369Btu/lbmole
lC6=13,572Btu/lbmole
CPL,C5 =39.7Btu/lbmole(oF)Assumeconstant
CPL,C6 =51.7Btu/lbmole(oF)Assumeconstant
CPV,C5 =27.45+0.08148T 4.538x105 T2 +10.1x109T3 cal/gmole(TinoC)
CPV,C6 =32.85+0.09763T 5.716x105 T2 +13.78x109T3 cal/gmole(TinoC)

QC

V1,HV
xD=0.999
D=?
hD=?
Lo,hD

Lo
=3
D

P=1atm
F=2500lbmoles/hr
zC5=0.4(=z)
zC6=0.6(=1z)
TF=30oC

QR

xB=0.002
B=?
hB=?

Tutorial#1Solution
Externalmassbalances:
Overallmassbalance:

F =D+ B

(1)

Componentmassbalance(C5):

Fz =DxD + BxB

(2)

Combining(1)and(2)wecansolveforD:

z- xB
0.4- 0.002
F=
D=
2500= 998 lbmoles/hr
x
x
0
.
999
0
.
002

D
B

(3)

From(1)and(3)wecanalsocalculatethebottomsflowrate:

B =F- D= 2500- 998= 1502 lbmoles/hr

(4)

In order to calculate QC and QR we have to write two energy balance equations: one external
energybalanceforthecolumnandoneforthecondenser(dashedboxinthefigure)
Energybalanceforthecondenser:

V1HV +QC = (Lo + D)hD

(5)

(Note:byconventionweoriginallyconsiderallQsasinputstothesystem,henceweplacethem
onthelefthandsideoftheenergybalanceequation).
SolvingforQC weget(noticethatthemassbalancearoundthecondensergives:V1=Lo+D):

L
QC =1+ o (hD - HV)D
D

(6)

Before we calculate QC from Eqn. (6) we have to calculate the molar enthalpies HV, hD.
Alternatively, we can simply calculate only what we really need, i.e., the difference (HVhD).
Sincetheconcentrationofthedistillateis99.9%inC5,wecansafelyassumethatwedealwitha
puresubstance.Therefore,thedifference(HVhD)= lC5=11,369Btu/lbmole,isthelatentheatof
vaporisationofpureC5.Equation(6)gives:

L
QC =1+ o (-l C5)D= 4(-11,369)998= -45,385,048Btu/hr
D

(Note:signindicatesremovalofheatfromthesystem,i.e.,condensation).
OurlastunknownisQR.Itcanbedeterminedfromanoverall(external)energybalance.

(7)

Externalenergybalance:

Fh F +QC + QR = DhD + BhB

(8)

BeforewecalculateQR fromEqn.(8)wehavetocalculatethemolarenthalpieshF,hD,andhB.
Becauseallthreeareliquidstreams,themolarenthalpiescanbecalculatedfrom:
C

hJ = xiCPL,i(T- Tref )

(9)

i=1
o

LetsassumethatTref=0 F(anarbitraryselection).AlsonotethatTshouldbeinoFinEqn.(9).
[T(oF)=T(oC)x1.8+32]
Forthefeedstreamwehave:

hF =zC5CPL,C5(86- 0)+ zC6CPL,C6(86- 0)= 0.4(39.7)86+ 0.6(51.7)(86)

hF =4033.4 Btu/lbmole

(10)

It will be reasonable to assume that the distillate is pure C5 (xD=99.9%). The boiling point of
pureC5isfound(fromDePriesterchartsforP=1atmandKC5=1)Tbp,C5=35oC=95oF.

hD =1CPL,C5(95- Tref )= 1(39.7)(95) hD = 3771.5 Btu/lbmole

(11)

Much as before, we can simplify our calculations by making the assumption that the bottom
productispureC6(xB=99.8%).FromtheDePriesterchart(Wankat,Fig.212)chartwefindthat
theTbp,C6=152.6oF

hB =1CPL,C6(152.6- 0)= 1(51.7)(152.6) hB = 7889.4 Btu/lbmole

(12)

HavingcalculatedtheenthalpieswecannowuseEqn.(8)tofindQR:

QR =50,861,491 Btu/hr

(13)