Concepts of

Distillation System

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 Concepts of Distillation System

Overview of Distillation System

a.) Mixture Feeding

• How to decide location of feed point in distillation column?

• What shall be feed temperature and phase condition?

• How feed mix is fed to distillation column?

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 Concepts of Distillation System

Overview of Distillation System

b.) Vapor Condensation

• How top generated vapors are condensed?

• How much vapors are generated for the condensation?

• What will be the effect of partial condensation on separated products?

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 Concepts of Distillation System

Overview of Distillation System

c.) Reflux

• Why reflux is required?

• What shall be reflux temperature and state?

• How much reflux shall be considered for distillation?

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 Concepts of Distillation System

Overview of Distillation System

d.) Column Heating

• Why heat supply is required?

• How heat is supplied in the distillation column?

• How much heat shall be supplied in the distillation system?

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 Concepts of Distillation System

Overview of Distillation System

e.) Column Draws (Top, Bottom, Side)

• How much quantities are drawn from the column?

• How various draws are drawn from the distillation system?

• What are the appropriate location and arrangement for column draws?

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 Concepts of Distillation System

Distillation Basics

What is the basic principle involved in the separation of

components from their liquid mixtures?

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 Concepts of Distillation System

Distillation Basics

What is the effect of Relative Volatility on distillation column

design?

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 Concepts of Distillation System

Distillation Basics

Why vapor and liquid contact is required?

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 Concepts of Distillation System

Distillation Basics

How to determine number of theoretical stages required for

the desired separation?

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 Concepts of Distillation System

Distillation Hardware

a.) Column Shell

What? Why? How Much? Column Column Column

Effect of Diameter Height Thickness
Plant Capacity  x 
Reflux Ratio   
Feed Mixture Components   x
Fluid Behavior (e.g. Foaming)   x
Column Pressure  x 
Column Internals x  x

• What is the effect on column shell details?

• Why column details change?
• How much will be the effect of changes in column dimensions?

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 Concepts of Distillation System

Distillation Hardware

b.) Column Internals (Packed)

• What are the advantages/ disadvantages of packing?

• How to ensure proper wetting of packing?
• What should be type and size of packing?

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 Concepts of Distillation System

Distillation Hardware

b.) Column Internals (Tray)

• What are the roles of downcomer, inlet/ outlet weirs?

• How different types of trays works?
• Why and what are the effects of tray spacing?

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 Concepts of Distillation System

Distillation Parameters

Parameters >>> Pressure Temperature Concentration Level Flow

Typical Values PT = ? TT = ? xT = ? - FFeed =?

PF = ? TF = ? xF = ? - FReflux=?
PB = ? TB = ? xB = ? LB = ? FTop=?
FBottom=?
FSide=?

Measurement     
Instrument

Controls Pressure Heating/ Reflux/ Draw Flow

Vacuum Cooling Heat Supply Rate Rate
Utility

• What are the typical values of various parameters expected?

• How various parameters are measured?
• How parameters are controlled in the distillation system?

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 Concepts of Distillation System

Distillation Troubleshooting

Fluid Specific Troubles •Liquid with suspended/ dissolved solids

• Liquid having trapped gases
• Liquid decomposing at high temperatures
• Foaming type liquids

Hardware Specific Troubles • Column Components

• Packed Column
• Tray Column
• Heat Exchanger
• Condensor, Reboiler, Product Coolers
• Piping
• Feed Line, Reflux Line, Reboiler Lines
• Pumps
• Feed, Reflux, Product (Top/Bottom) Draws

Manpower Specific Troubles • Process Design

• Mechanical Design
• Procurement
• Fabrication
• Erection
• Maintenance

• How different fluid behaviors cause distillation troubles?

• How various distillation components create troubles?
• At which stage, trouble may be introduced in distillation?

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 Concepts of Distillation System

Distillation Improvement

• How energy consumption in the distillation system can be

reduced down?

• How distillation hardware cost can be reduced?

• How utility consumption in the distillation system can be

minimized?

• How distillation plant stoppages can be minimized?

• How damages or breakdowns of distillation internals and

other hardware can be avoided?

• How distillation system can be made more operator friendly?

• How overall distillation system can be made manpower

independent?

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