Adiabatic distillation column

The most common separation process is multi-stage distillation. The principal plant
component is the distillation column, known also as a rectifier or a fractionating
column. Different types of distillation columns and separation techniques in general
use are described in textbooks on chemical engineering practice. Here analysis
using the exergy method will be illustrated on the type of multi-stage distillation
column shown in fig. (4.34) a reboiler and a partial condenser are used so that
product leaving the top of the column is a saturated vapour and product leaving the
bottom is a saturated liquid or saturated vapour. The distillation process takes place
under adiabatic conditions through the exchange of mass and heat between the
downward stream of liquid and the upward stream of vapour. All heating necessary
for the process takes place in the reboiler where a proportion of the less volatile
product, liquefied in the column, is evaporated. This vapour rises through the stages
providing the necessary heating, while the rest is drawn off as product. At the top of
the column, part of the vapour of the more volatile product is condensed and allowed
to fall through the stages providing the necessary cooling. The returned liquid is
known a reflux and the ratio of the mass flow rate of the reflux to that of the vapour
drawn off is called reflux ratio. In an adiabatic distillation process all the heating Qb,
is provided at temperature Tb, which corresponds to the maximum temperature of
the distillation process; all cooling Qt, is provided at Tt, which is the minimum
temperature.

Fig. (4.34) Schematic diagram of a distillation column.

The column can operate under two sets of conditions, is when the whole process
takes place at a temperature T>To and when T<To. The heat and exergy transfers
for the two cases are represented in T-S co-ordinates in fig. (4.35) the columns are
shown upside-down next to the T-S diagram so that the temperatures in the columns
correspond to those shown on the diagram. All quantities marked with’ refer ti the
operation of the column at T>To and those marked with to T<To. The subscripts B.
T and M refer to the bottom product, top product and mixture respectively.

The steady flow energy equation for a control region containing the distillation
column, neglecting changes in kinetic and potential energy, can be written as:
Qb –Qt = Ht + Hb – Hm ec. (4.106)

Where fig. (4.35) Qb represents heat transfer to the column and Qt from the column.
The exergy balance for the control region of either column is:
Ebo + Eto = Et + Eb – Em + I ec. (4.107)

Where Eto and Ebo may be positive or negative depending on which case is being
considered.
The quantity (Et + Eb – Em) on the RHS of (4.107) is the difference between the
combined exergy
of the product and that of the mixture. This quantity, and its determination (per mass
of the mixture) from an exergy-concentration diagram, is discussed above. The LHS
of (4.107) represents the next thermal exergy input to the column. For operation at
T>To, the exergy input to the reboiler is greater than the exergy rejected in the
condenser, so that the net thermal exergy input is (Ebo – Eto). For operation at sub-
environmental temperatures, this relationship is reversed and the net thermal exergy
input is given by (Eto’’ – Ebo’’). These relationships are shown on a T-S diagram fig.
where each quantity of thermal exergy, Eo, is represented as an area of a carnot
cycle, direct or reversed, which would be necessary to accomplish a given thermal
exergy transfer at the required temperature, in conjunction with the environment as
a source or sink of zero grade energy. Note that the net exergy input at T<To is much
greater than at T>To forgiven heat input Qa to the reboiler (or as the two are equal,
het output Qt from the condenser). Since all the auxiliary processes, such as heat
transfer and compression, associated with supply of the exergy to the column are
inherently more irreversible for T<To than T>To, it should be clear that the former is
the more exergy intensive type of process of the two.
Fig 4.35 Heat and exergy transfer in adiabatic distillation columns for the cases
when T>To and T<To