TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF THE PHILIPPINES

363 P. Casal St., Quiapo, Manila

CHEP 530D1
COMPUTER APPLICATIONS
IN
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

Crispulo G. Maranan
Instructor

Bautista, Keziah Lynn S.

No. 7
Binary Batch Distillation

Laboratory Exercise
February 22, 2014

129

Laboratory Exercise No. 7

Binary Batch Distillation
1. Objective(s):
The activity aims to solve a system of equations comprised of ordinary differential equations and
nonlinear algebraic equations using basic distillation of an ideal binary mixture.
2. Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs):
The students shall be able to:
2.1 solve a system of equations comprised of ordinary differential equations.
2.2 solve a system of equations comprised of nonlinear algebraic equations.
2.3 understand basic distillation of ideal binary mixture.
3. Discussion:
Distillation is the most widely used separation process in chemical engineering. It can handle a wide
variety of feeds and has the potential to produce very high purity products. At times, a petrochemical
plant appears to consist mainly of distillation columns involved in product purification. When a chemical
engineer faces a separation problem in process design, the usual first alternative is distillation.
In large chemical complexes, the distillations are continuous with the feed entering at some
point near the middle of the column and the product being taken off the top and the bottom.
Distillation is very flexible and there are schemes which include multiple feeds to the column and
the take-off of multiple products. However, a distillation column can produce only two products (the top
and the bottom) which are of high purity. Sequences of distillation columns are commonly used to
produce numerous high-purity products.
Batch distillation is also used commercially, often with processes producing relatively small
quantities of products or processes where the equipment is used for several different products. It is
widely used in the pharmaceutical industry.
The feeds to most distillation columns contain numerous components due to the complex nature
of the feed stocks (e.g., petroleum) or the inability to tailor chemical reactors to only produce the desired
products.
The simulation of continuous distillation for multi-component mixtures is well developed in
chemical engineering due to its commercial importance. The simulation is essential for rational process
design to estimate the size of distillation columns to produce desired quantities at expected purities.
The analysis of binary distillation is simpler and with certain assumptions can be done
graphically without the use of computer analysis. Graphical techniques were essential to chemical
engineers before the widespread availability of computers; they now serve as a convenient tool to
understand the basic concepts in distillation. This understanding can help the chemical engineer use a
computer simulation program more intelligently and to find efficient solutions to separation problems.
Distillation is classified as an equilibrium separation process since the gas and liquid phases
Bautista, Keziah Lynn S.
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Laboratory Exercise
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are expected to reach phase equilibrium on each contacting stage of the distillation column.(The other
major class of separations is rate-governed processes such as filtration, which depend upon the relative
rates of flow of the components under a driving force).
4. Resources:
Matlab
5. Procedure:
1. For a binary batch distillation process involving two components designated 1 and 2, the moles of
liquid remaining, L, as a function of the mole fraction of the component 2, x2, can be expressed by the
following equation

where k2 is the vapor liquid equilibrium ratio for component 2. If the system may be considered ideal, the
vapor liquid equilibrium ratio can be calculated from where Pi is the vapor pressure of component i and P
is the total pressure.
A common vapor pressure model is the Antoine equation which utilizes three parameters A, B, and C for
component i as given below where T is the temperature in C.

The temperature in the batch still follow the bubble point curve. The bubble point temperature is defined
by the implicit algebraic equation which can be written using the vapor liquid equilibrium ratios as
Consider a binary mixture of benzene (component 1) and toluene (component 2) which is to be
considered as ideal. The Antoine equation constants for benzene are A1 = 6.90565, B1 = 1211.033 and
C1 = 220.79. For toluene A2 = 6.95464, B2 = 1344.8 and C2 = 219.482 (Dean1). P is the pressure in mm
Hg and T the temperature in C.
The batch distillation of benzene (component 1) and toluene (component 2) mixture is being carried out
at a pressure of 1.2 atm. Initially, there are 100 moles of liquid in the still, comprised of 60% benzene and
40% toluene (mole fraction basis). Calculate the amount of liquid remaining in the still when
concentration of toluene reaches 80%.
2. Determine the input parameters of Procedure 1. Tabulate them.
3.Determine the process ( the mathematical expression involved) for Procedure 1.
4. Determine the output parameters of Procedure 1.
5.Create an m-file for Procedure 1.

Bautista, Keziah Lynn S.

No. 7
Binary Batch Distillation

Laboratory Exercise
February 22, 2014

131

Course: CHEP 530D1

Group No.:
Group Members:
Bautista, Keziah Lynn S.

Laboratory Exercise No.:7

Section: CH51FA1
Date Performed: February 22, 2014
Date Submitted: February 22, 2014
Instructor: Engr. Crispulo Maranan

6. Data and Results:

Commands and Results
Command Window
>> x_start=0.40;
>> x_final=0.80;
>> xspan=[x_start x_final];
>> [x L]=ode45('distillation', xspan, Lo);
>> plot(x,L,'r')
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0.4

0.45

0.5

0.55

0.6

0.65

0.7

0.75

0.8

M-file
%filename bubbles.m
% Binary Batch Distillation
clear
global A B C P T
A = [6.90565 6.95464];
B = [1211.033 1344.8];
C = [220.79 219.482];
P = 1.2*760;
Lo = 100;
% moles of toluene
x_start = 0.40;
Bautista, Keziah Lynn S.
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x_final = 0.80;
T = (80.1+110.6)/2;
xspan = [x_start x_final];
[x L] = ode45('distillation',xspan,Lo);
plot(x,L,'r')
title('Batch Distillation')
xlabel('Mole Fraction of Toluene')
ylabel('Moles of Liquid')
output = [x L];
save batch.dat output -ascii

Function File
%filename distillation.m
function dL_dx = distill(x,L)
global A B C P T x2
x2 = x;
T = fzero('vapor',T);
P_i = 10.^(A-B./(T+C));
k = P_i./P;
dL_dx = L/x2/(k(2)-1);

Function File
%filename vapor.m
function f = vapor(T)
global A B C P x2
x1 = 1-x2;
P_i = 10.^(A-B./(T+C));
k = P_i./P;
f = 1 - k(1)*x1 - k(2)*x2;

7. Conclusion:
Another function of matlab is solving binary batch distillation where we use different functions such as
command window, script file and function file to solve a common distillation problem.
8. Further Readings:
Ferraris, G. and Manenti, F. (2010). Interpolation and regression models for the chemical engineer:
solving numerical problems. Germany: Wiley-VCH Verlag
Filo, O. (2010). Information processing by biochemical systems: neural network type configurations.
New Jersey: Wiley.
Gopal, S. (2009). Bioinformatics: a computing perspective. India: McGraw-Hill Science/Engineering
Math.
Jaluria, Y. (2012). Computer methods for engineering with MATLAB applications (2nd ed.). Boca,
Raton,Florida: CRC Press.
Knopf, F. C. (2012). Modeling, analysis and optimization of process and energy systems.Hoboken,
New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons.
Velten, K. (2009). Mathematical modeling and simulation: introduction for scientists and engineers.
Singapore: Wiley-VCH.
Bautista, Keziah Lynn S.
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9. Assessment (Rubric for Laboratory Performance):

TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF THE PHILIPPINES
RUBRIC FOR MODERN TOOL USAGE
(Engineering Programs)
Student Outcome (e): Use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for
engineering practice in complex engineering activities.
Program: Chemical Engineering Course: CHE 530D1 Section: _______ ____Sem SY ________
Performance Unsatisfactory Developing
Satisfactory
Very Satisfactory
Score
Indicators
1
2
3
4
1. Apply
Fails to identify Identifies
Identifies
Recognizes the
appropriate any modern
modern
modern
benefits and
techniques, techniques to
techniques
techniques and constraints of modern
skills, and
perform
but fails to
is able to apply engineering tools and
modern
disciplineapply these
these in
shows intention to
tools to
specific
in performing performing
apply them for
perform a
engineering
disciplinedisciplineengineering practice.
disciplinetask.
specific
specific
specific
engineering
engineering
engineering
task.
task.
task.
2. Demonstrat Fails to apply
Attempts to
Shows ability to Shows ability to apply
e skills in
any modern
apply
apply
the most appropriate
applying
tools to solve
modern tools fundamental
and effective modern
different
engineering
but has
procedures in
tools to solve
techniques
problems.
difficulties to using modern
engineering problems.
and modern
solve
tools when
tools to
engineering
solving
solve
problems.
engineering
engineering
problems.
problems.
3. Recognize
Does not
Recognizes
Recognizes the Recognizes the need
the benefits recognize the
some
benefits and
for benefits and
and
benefits and
benefits and constraints of
constraints of modern
constraints
constraints of
constraints of modern
engineering tools and
of modern
modern
modern
engineering
makes good use of
engineering engineering
engineering
tools and
them for engineering
tools.
tools.
tools.
shows intention practice.
to apply them
for engineering
practice.
Total Score
Bautista, Keziah Lynn S.
No. 7
Binary Batch Distillation

Laboratory Exercise
February 22, 2014

134

Evaluated by:

Mean Score = (Total Score / 3)

Percentage Rating = (Total Score / 12) x 100%
______________________________________
_______________
Printed Name and Signature of Faculty Member
Date

Bautista, Keziah Lynn S.

No. 7
Binary Batch Distillation

Laboratory Exercise
February 22, 2014

135