Characteristics of H-x-y diagrams:

Let point M on figure (9.11) represents M mole of a mixture of enthalpy

HM and concentrations zM, and similarly N is the N mole of a mixture of properties
of HN, zN. Adiabatic mixing of M and N produce P moles of a mixture of enthalpy
Hp and concentrations zP.
A total material balance is
M + N = P………………………………… (9.12)
And balance for component A is
MzM + NzN =PzP………………………………………… (9.13)
As the enthalpy balance is
MHM + NHN = PHP………………………. (9.14)
Elimination of P between Equations (9.12) and (9.13) and between (9.12) and
(9.14) yields
M z N  zP H N  H P
  …………………. (9.15)
N zP  zM H P  H M

This is the equation of a straight line on the enthalpy-concentration plot, passing

through points (HM , zM ), (HN , zN ) and (HP ,zP ). Point P is therefore on the straight
line M N, located so that M / N =line N P /line PM. Similarly if mixture N were
removed adiabatically from mixture P, the mixture M would result.
Consider now mixture C (Hc , zc ) in Fig 9.12. It will be useful to describe
such in terms of saturated vapours and liquids, since distillation is mostly
concerned with such mixtures.C can be considered the result of adiabatically
removing saturated liquid D from saturated vapour E (DE is not a tie line), and
xD and yE can be located on the lower diagram as shown. But C can equally well
be considered as having been produced by adiabatically subtracting F from G , or
J from K, or indeed by such a combination of saturated liquids and vapours given
by any line from C which intersects the saturated-enthalpy curves.These, when
projected to the lower diagram, from the curve shown there.Thus any point C on
the H-x-y diagram can be represented by the difference between saturated
vapours and liquids and in turn also by a curve on the xy plot. For the combination
E-D=C, a material balance shows
D z C  y E lineCE
  ................................( 9.16 )
E z C  x D lineCD
This is the equation on the xy diagram of the chord of slope D / E drawn between
point (yE, xD ) and y = x = zC on the 45˚ line. Similarly, the ratios of F / G and J/
K would be shown by the slope of chords drawn from these points to y = x = zC.
Consideration of the geometry of the diagram will readily show the
following;
1. If the HGy and HLx curves are straight parallel lines (which will
occur if the molar latent heat of A and B are equal, if the heat
capacities are constant over a prevailing temperature range, and
if there is no heat of solution), then D / E = F / G = J / K for
adiabatic subtraction, since the line-segment ratios are then
equal, and the curve on xy representing C becomes a straight
line.
2. If the point C is moved upward, the curve on xy becomes
steeper, ultimately coinciding with the 45˚ line when C is at
infinity enthalpy.
3. If the point C is on HGy curve, the curve on xy becomes a
horizontal straight line; if C is on the HLx curve, the curve on
xy becomes a vertical straight
These concepts will be useful in understanding the application of these
diagrams.
Enthalpy concentration diagram equations
 
H L  CL t L  to M av  H S
*

H G  yC L , A M A t G  t o    A M A   1  y C L , B M B t G  t o    B M B 