MULTICOMPONENT DISTILLATION

Operating pressure is defiend at

split
split

COMPONENT
Propane
Isobutane
N butane
Isopentane
N pentane

8.3 bar
feed
5
15
25
20
35
100

Desired split
Distillate Bottom
5
0.1
15
0.3
24
1
1
19
0.1
35
45.1
55.4

Mole fr
0.05
0.15
0.25
0.2
0.35
1

Observation 1
Top of column has distillate composition at the dew point
Bottom of the column has bottom composition at the bubble point.

Determine top of column temperature

Dew point calculation

Propane
Isobutane
N butane
Isopentane
N pentane
SUM

Moles
5
15
24
1
0.1
45.1

Trial 1
y
K value
Mole fr
T= 100
0.1109
3.8
0.3326
2.05
0.5322
1.6
0.0222
0.85
0.002217295
0.65
1

x trial
0.029175
0.162241
0.332594
0.026086
0.003411
0.553507

Trial 2
K value
T=60
2.3
1.1
0.85
0.5
0.4

Dew point of distillate is 60 degrees

Top of the column temperature is 60 degree
Determine bottom of column temperature
Bubble point calculation

Propane
Isobutane
N butane
Isopentane
N pentane

Moles
0.1
0.3
1
19
35
55.4

x
mole fraction
0.002
0.005
0.018
0.343
0.632
1

Bubble point of the the bottom is 120 degrees

Bottom of the column is 120 degrees.

Trial 1
K value
T=100

trial
y value
0
0
0
0
1.4 0.025271
0.7 0.240072
0.5 0.315884
0.581227

Trial 2
K value
T = 120
0
0
2.15
1.1
0.95

Summary : Top of the column operates at 60 degrees and bottom of the column operates at 120 degrees.
The temperature difference is 60 degress across the column.
Important assumption that we make is that the distillate condenser is a total condenser and does not sub cool

FIRST STAGE CALCULATIONS

Moles
Propane
Isobutane
N butane
Isopentane
N pentane
V=

17.5
52.5
84
3.5
0.1
157.85

y1
0.110865
0.332594
0.532151
0.022173
0.002217

We have L0,V1,y1,x0,x1
Unknowns are V2, L1 and y2
Assume L0 = L1
Assume V1 = V2
Find y2

Enthalpy
Propane
Isobutane
N butane
Isopentane
N pentane
Propane
Isobutane
N butane

H * L or H*V

12.5
37.5
60
2.5
0.1
112.75

L=

y2
0.064671
0.293
0.594029
0.04593
0.005913
1.003542 CHECK

Propane
Isobutane
N butane
Isopentane
N pentane

Energy balance
Stream
Temp

Moles

Vy2 + Lx0
y2

x0
0.110865
0.332594
0.532151
0.022173
0.002217
0

65 degree
K value
2.4
1.2
0.86
0.4
0.3

SUM

x1
0.046194
0.277162
0.61878
0.055432
0.007391
1.004959

=
=

Vy1 + Lx1
(L/V)* (x1 - x0)+ y1

Lo
60

L1
65

V1
65

V2
70

20400
23400
25200
27500
30000
2262
7783
13410

21000
24900
26000
28400
30700
970.0665
6901.33
16088.28

34000
41000
43700
52000
54800
3769
13636
23255

34800
41300
44200
52500
55000
2251
12101
26256

Isopentane
N pentane

610
67
24131

1574.279
226.9032
25761

1153
122
41935

2411
325
43344

We had assumed equimolar counterflow which has to be corrected.

We find values of V2 and L1
Energy balance
Input
2720750
+
V2*43114
Output
L1*25591
+
6619480
V2*43114
L1*25591
=
3898730

V2.

Mass Balance
-

(L1+45)*43114 17523

L1
L1
V2

L1

L1*25591 =
=
=
=

45.1

3898730
1958600
111.8
156.9

Iteration for correcting values of L1 and V2 instead of assumed value of L=L1=Lo and V=V1=V2

SECOND STAGE CALCULATIONS

V2
y2

V3
y3

Propane
Isobutane
N butane
Isopentane
N pentane

We assume
1)

y2
0.064671
0.293
0.594029
0.04593
0.005913

V2

V2
10.15
45.96
93.19
7.21
0.927557122
156.9

x1
L1
0.046194
5.16
0.277162
30.98
0.61878
69.16
0.055432
6.20
0.007391 0.826113
111.8

V3

2)
3)

L1
=
Temp of stage 2

L2
we take trial for 65 degree, 70 degree and 75 degree

From assumption 3, we can find x2 using y2 as in stage x2 and y2 are in equilibrium at 70 degree.(Dew point calc

Propane
Isobutane
N butane
Isopentane
N pentane

y2
0.064671
0.293
0.594029
0.04593
0.005913

Trial 1
K @ 70 C

From trials, K has to be 70 degrees.

We find y3 based in assumption 1 and 2.

2.5
1.3
0.9
0.5
0.4

x2
0.025868
0.225384
0.660032
0.091859
0.014782
1.017926

Trial 2
K @ 65
2.4
1.2
0.86
0.4
0.3

Required cut for the distillation

data required
Feed composition
Distillate composition
Bottom composition
K value (If not available, then vapour pressure)

Random low vaules are given instead of Zero

so that in stage calculations, they dont continue to
remain as zero !!

Note 1
Distillate is at 60 degrees.
First stage temp is assumed higher at
65 degrees to reflect increasing temp till
the bottom where temp is 120 degrees
5 degree incresase per stage is assumed

0.048202
0.302358
0.62606
0.044346
0
1.020966

Provided the condenser does not subcool and is a total condenser:

FUNDA
Top of the column is at dew point of the distillate composition
Bottom of the column is at the bubble point of the bottom composiiton

0
0
0.038809
0.377256
0.600181
1.016245

column operates at 120 degrees.

total condenser and does not sub cool

Reflux ratio ( L/D)

V
V
-

2.5
L

=
112.75 =

V
L

criteria

x1 and y1 are in equilibrium

x1 will be at the bubble point

=
=

D
45.1
157.85
112.75

L1
x1

L2
x2

r 65 degree, 70 degree and 75 degree

equilibrium at 70 degree.(Dew point calculation)

x2
0.026946
0.244166
0.690731
0.114824
0.019709
1.096377

Trial 3
K @75
2.75
1.4
1
0.5
0.4

0.023517
0.209285
0.594029
0.091859
0.014782
0.933472