Problem 1

Temp of Steam
(4.4 atm)
(Celsius)
Temp of Incoming
Stream
(Celsius)
Temp of Outgiong
Stream
(Celsius)
Log mean Temperature
Differnce
h - Heat transfer
coefficient (W/m^2*s)
Q = h*A*T
Q - Energy put into
reboiler (kJ/hr)
Q - Energy put into
reboiler (kJ/s)
Q - Energy put into
reboiler (J/s)
A = Q/(h*T)
Area of Reboiler (m^2)

Heat of vaporization
(kJ/kg steam)
Low Pressure Steam
Required (kg)

147
121.3
121.5
25.59986979

2000
1.15E+08
3.20E+04
3.20E+07
624.4606415

2121
5.43E+04

Problem 2 PART A
D501

R=2

R=3

R=5

0.9985
0.1941
0.8053
0.0006

0.9986
0.1948
0.8047
0.0005

0.9986
0.1962
0.8035
0.0003

QH507

1.11E+0
8
1.05E+0
7
7.05E+0
6
1.92E+0
6
8.13E+0
5
1.54E+0
7
1.14E+0
8
1.50E+0
4
7.17E+0
7
6.27E+0
5

1.11E+0
8
1.03E+0
7
7.05E+0
6
2.82E+0
6
8.13E+0
5
1.54E+0
7
1.15E+0
8
1.47E+0
4
7.14E+0
7
6.29E+0
5

1.11E+0
8
9.87E+0
6
6.98E+0
6
4.64E+0
6
8.13E+0
5
1.55E+0
7
1.17E+0
8
1.40E+0
4
7.11E+0
7
6.32E+0
5

Total
Energy

2.96E+0
7

2.94E+0
7

2.94E+0
7

515 EtOH
510 EtOH
510 H2O
510 CO2

QH512
QRB502
QH503
QCD501
QH506
QH509
QRB501
QT507-8
QCD502

Problem 2 PART B
D502
R=3
515
EtOH
511
EtOH
511H2O
511CO2

R=3.
8

R=5

0.9974

0.9985

0.9985

0.689
0.3092
0.0018

0.7989
0.1992
0.0019

0.8002
0.1979
0.0019

QH512

1.15E+
08
2.82E+
06
2.53E+
06
6.24E+
07
7.88E+
05
2.78E+
04
1.01E+
07
5.87E+
05
1.44E+
07
1.11E+
08

1.15E+
08
2.82E+
06
1.04E+
07
7.16E+
07
8.13E+
05
1.49E+
04
7.11E+
06
6.28E+
05
1.54E+
07
1.11E+
08

1.15E+0
8
2.82E+0
6
3.29E+0
7
9.41E+0
7
8.13E+0
5
1.48E+0
4
7.07E+0
6
6.29E+0
5
1.54E+0
7
1.11E+0
8

Total
Energy

2.87E+
07

2.94E+
07

2.94E+0
7

QRB501
QCD501
QRB502
QCD502
QH506
QT507-8
QH503
QH507
QH509

We noticed that an increase in the reflux ratio of the system increased the
purity of the final product but also increased the energy necessary to
complete the process. The amount of distillate sent back through the
column is increased with an increasing reflux ratio which is what allows for

the increase in purity both in the overhead product stream as well as the
final ethanol product.

Problem 3 - Flowrate of Stream

510
FLOW RATE
(Kg/h)

40,000

47630

55000

0.9957

0.9986

0.9975

0.1985

0.1948

0.1661

QRB501
QCD501
QRB502
QCD502
QH506
QT507-8
QH503
QH507
QH509
QH512

1.01E+08
2.82E+06
4.49E+07
8.92E+07
7.12E+05
-4.01E+04
1.36E+07
5.36E+05
1.32E+07
1.11E+08

115100000
2817000
1.05E+07
71580000
812600
-14940
7110000
628100
15430000
111300000

1.31E+08
2.82E+06
2.06E+06
7.80E+07
7.93E+05
-2.61E+04
9.66E+06
5.92E+05
1.46E+07
1.11E+08

Total Energy

2.77E+07

2.94E+07

2.87E+07

EtOH 515
(mol Frac)
EtOH 510
(mol Frac)

Increasing the flow rate in the 510 stream resulted in a decrease in the mol
fraction of ethanol. The increased flow rate did not allow for the separation

to occur resulting in a decrease in purity. There was no proportionality to the

increase since we were not adjusting the number of trays to compensate for
the increase in flow rates.

Problem 4

Changing the Overhead flow rate from the second column showed a
decrease in the ethanol concentration in the stream since the diluted
stream contained proportionally more water. This increase did not have a
desirable effect on the overall system performance since we also observed
an increase in the energy consumption, although there seemed to be a
plateau effect on the energy consumption.

Problem 5

As the condensation pressure increased the reboiler pressure was increased

to maintain the pressure drop. This resulted in a tray temperature increase
since the column pressure is changed and a direct result in the volatilities of
the various components. Refluxing the components becomes increasingly
difficult as the pressure is increased. This difficulty in reflux results in more
energy required to complete the separation.

Problem 6

We noticed a substantial difference in ethanol recovery in the 508 steam

with the addition of a recovery unit. This makes sense since the primary
function of a recovery unit is to recover more product. This is supported by
the constant nature of the final ethanol purity and leads to the conclusion
that the change is completely from the recovery unit.