This method is based on the Lewis modification of

the Sorel method,

It assumes equimolal overflow in the rectifying
section, in the stripping section, and equimolal latent
heats,
L
0
is a saturated liquid
Column pressure and reflux ratio are fixed,
F
L
m
L
0
D
x
D

V
m+1
q
D

m
B
q
B

p
Overall mass balance:
F = D + B
p
L
1 p
V
+
ENVELOPE A
V
m+1
= L
m
+ D
V
m+1
y
m+1
= L
m
x
m
+ D x
D

D
1 m
m
1 m
m
1 m
x
V
D
x
V
L
y
+ +
+
+ =
(1)
(2)
(3)
This is an equation of a straight line on a plot of vapor
composition versus liquid composition, where (L
m
/V
m+1
) is
the slope and (Dx
D
/V
m+1
) is the intercept which passes
through the point (x
D
, x
D
) and (x
m
, y
m+1
),
v
1
v
2
L
1
L
0
D
x
D

A
F
L
m
V
m+1
v
1
q
D

m
Since all L values are equal and all V values are equal (due
to constant molal overflow assumption:
D
m
m
m
m
1 m
x
V
D
x
V
L
y + =
+ (4)
Equation (4) is the operating line or material balance line
for the rectifying section,
Since:
D
L
R
m
=
V
m
= L
m
+ D
1 R
R
1 D L
D L
D L
L
V
L
m
m
m
m
m
m
+
=
+
=
+
=
1 R
1
1 D L
1
D L
D
V
D
m m m
+
=
+
=
+
=
In term of R, equation (4) can be written as:
1 R
x
x
1 R
R
y
D
m 1 m
+
+
+
=
+ (5)
x x
D

1 R
x
intercept
D
+
=
1 R
R
slope
+
=
ENVELOPE B
B
1 p
p
1 p
p
1 p
x
V
B
x
V
L
y
+ +
+
=
(6)
(7)
(8)
B
q
B

1 p
V
+
p
L
1 N
V
+
N
L
p
p+1
B L V
p 1 p
=
+
B p p 1 p 1 p
x B x L y V =
+ +
Since all L values are equal and all V values are equal (due
to constant molal overflow assumption:
B
p
p
p
p
1 p
x
V
B
x
V
L
y =
+ (9)
Equation (9) is the operating line or material balance line
for the stripping section,
This is an equation of a straight line with slope
and intercept passing through (x
B
, x
B
) and
(x
p
, y
p+1
),
This line can be drawn from point (x
B
, y
B
) to point
or with slope
p p
V L
p B
V Bx
p B
V Bx , 0
p p
V L
qF L L
m p
+ =
F
L L
q
m p

=
( ) F q 1 V V
p m
+ =
(10)
(11)
(12)
and is calculated by material and enthalpy balance
relationship around the feed plate,
( ) ( ) qF D B V qF F V F q 1 V V
m m m p
+ + = + = =
B qF L V
m p
+ =
(13)
The problem is, how to calculate and ?
F
L
m
V
m
p
V
p
L
p
V
p
L
p
V p
L
q is the number of moles of saturated liquid formed on
the feed plate by the introduction of 1 mole of feed:
q = 1 : saturated liquid feed, x
F
= x
i

q = 0 : saturated vapor feed, x
F
= y
i

q > 1 : cold liquid feed, x
F
< x
i

q < 1 : superheated vapor, x
F
> x
i

0 < q < 1 : two-phase feed, x
F
> x
i

B qF L
x B
x
B qF L
qF L
y
m
B
p
m
m
1 p
+

+
+
=
+
Substituting eqs, (10) and (13) to eq, (9) yields:
(14)
This equation gives the slope of the operating line in
the stripping section as
There is an easier way to draw the operating line in the
stripping section, i,e, by using the q-line, which started
from point (x
F
, y
F
= x
F
),
( ) ( ) B qF L qF L
m m
+ +
Component material balance of the feed:
i p m i m p F
y V V x L L x F + =
i
p m
i
m p
F
y
F
V V
x
F
L L
x

+

=
( )
i i F
y 1 q x q x + =
( )
i i F
y 1 q x q x + =
1 q
x
x
1 q
q
y
F
i i

=
(15)
Eq, (12) is the equation of the q line having a slope of
q/(q 1) and terminating at x
F
on the 45 line and at
point (x
i
, y
i
),
Saturated liquid feed : q = 1 : slope =
Saturated vapor feed : q = 0 : slope = 0
Cold liquid feed : q > 1 : slope = +
Superheated vapor feed : q < 1 : slope =
Two-phase feed : 0 < q < 1 : slope =

x
F
x
D
x
B

q = 1
q > 1
0 < q < 1
q = 0
x
F
x
D
x
B

1 R
x
intercept
D
+
=
1 q
q
slope

=
x
F
x
D
x
B

x
1
, y
1

x
2
, y
2

x
3
, y
3

x
4
, y
4

x
1
, y
2

x
2
, y
3

x
3
, y
4

MINIMUM REFLUX
x
F
x
D
x
B

1 R
x
intercept
min
D
+
=
MINIMUM REFLUX
x
F
x
D
x
B

1 R
x
intercept
min
D
+
=
TOTAL REFLUX
x
F
x
D
x
B

EXAMPLE 2
Using the data of EXAMPLE 1, determine:
a. The number of equilibrium stages needed for
saturated-liquid feed and bubble-point reflux with
R = 2,5 using McCabe-Thiele graphical method
b. R
min

c. Minimum number of equilibrium stages at total
reflux.
SOLUTION
(a) The slope of the operating line in the rectifying section:
715 . 0
1 5 . 2
5 . 2
1 R
R
slope =
+
=
+
=
0.0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1.0
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
y
x
N = 11
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
x
y
(b)
Intercept = 45 . 0
1 R
x
min
D
=
+
R
min
= 1,18
(c)
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
x
y
N = 8
If a product of intermediate composition is required, a
vapor or a liquid side stream can be withdrawn,
This kind of column configuration is typical of the
petrochemical plants, where the most common running
unit operation is the fractional distillation,
This consists in splitting a mixture of various components,
the crude oil, into its components, Because of their
different boiling temperatures, the components (or so-
called fractions) of the crude oil are separated at different
level (i,e, plate) of the column, where different boiling
temperatures are present,
The fractions are then withdrawn from the plate where
they form, therefore the column presents numerous side
streams,
L
m
V
m
D, x
D

B, x
B
F, x
F
L
0

S, x
S
Rectifying section
Middle section
Stripping section
n
L
n
V
p
L
p
V
D, x
D

L
0

S, x
S
V
m+1
L
m
m
MATERIAL BALANCE IN RECTIFYING SECTION
Assuming constant
molar overflow, then
for the rectifying
section the operating
line is given by:
m
D
m
m
m
1 m
V
x D
x
V
L
y + =
+
(16)
D, x
D

F, x
F
L
0

S, x
S
Rectifying section
Middle section
n
L
1 n
V
+
MATERIAL BALANCE IN MIDDLE SECTION
Overall: D S L V
n 1 n
+ + =
+
D S n n 1 n 1 n
x D x S x L y V + + =
+ +
1 n
D S
n
1 n
n
1 n
V
x D x S
x
V
L
y
+ +
+
+
+ =
(19)
(18)
(17)
Component:
Since the side stream is normally removed as a liquid:
S L L
m n
=
m n
V V =
For constant molal overflow:
n
D S
n
n
n
1 n
V
x D x S
x
V
L
y
+
+ =
+
(20)
V
m

L
m

n
V
n
L
S L L
m n
=
m n
V V =
S
D S
x D x S
x y
D S
+
+
= =
which is the mean molar composition of the overhead
product and side streams,

Since x
S
< x
D
and , this additional operating line
cuts the line y = x at a lower value than the operating
line though it has a smaller slope,

Equation (20) represents a line of slope , which
passes through the point
n n
V L
m n
L L <
MATERIAL BALANCE IN STRIPPING SECTION
F, x
F
B, x
B
p
L
1 p
V
+
Overall: B L V
p 1 p
=
+
B n p 1 p 1 p
x B x L y V =
+ +
1 p
B
p
1 p
p
1 p
V
x B
x
V
L
y
+ +
+
=
(23)
(22)
(21)
Component:
For constant molal overflow:
(24)
p
B
p
p
p
1 p
V
x B
x
V
L
y =
+
Equation (24) represents a line of slope , which
passes through the point (x
B
, x
B
)
p p
V L
n
V
n
L
qF L L
n p
+ =
( )F q V V
p n
+ = 1
F
p
V
p
L
( )F q V V
n p
= 1
m
m
V
L
slope=
n
n
V
L
slope=
p
p
V
L
slope=
x
B
x
D
L
m
V
m
D, x
D

B, x
B
F
2
, x
F2
L
0

F
1
, x
F1
Rectifying section
Middle section
Stripping section
n
L
n
V
p
L
p
V
D, x
D

L
0

F
1
, x
F1
V
m+1
L
m
m
MATERIAL BALANCE IN RECTIFYING SECTION
Assuming constant
molar overflow, then
for the rectifying
section the operating
line is given by:
m
D
m
m
m
1 m
V
x D
x
V
L
y + =
+
(16)
D, x
D

F
2
, x
F2
L
0

F
1
, x
F1
Rectifying section
Middle section
n
L
1 n
V
+
MATERIAL BALANCE IN MIDDLE SECTION
Overall: D L F V
n n
+ = +
+ 1 1
D n n F n n
x D x L x F y V + = +
+ + 1 1 1 1
1
1 1
1
1
+ +
+

+ =
n
F D
n
n
n
n
V
x F x D
x
V
L
y
(27)
(26)
(25)
Component:
For constant molal overflow:
n
F D
n
n
n
n
V
x F x D
x
V
L
y
1 1
1

+ =
+
(29)
Equation (29) represents a line of slope
n n
V L
Material balance around feed plate F
1
:
1 1
F q L L
m n
+ =
( )
1 1
1 F q V V
m n
=
F
1

V
m
L
m

n
L
n
V
(30)
(31)
( )
1 1
1 F q V V
n m
+ =
MATERIAL BALANCE IN STRIPPING SECTION
F
2
, x
F2
B, x
B
p
L
1 p
V
+
Overall:
B L V
p p
=
+1
B n
p
p
p
x B x L y V =
+
+
1
1
1 1
1
+ +
+
=
p
B
p
p
p
p
V
x B
x
V
L
y
(34)
(33)
(32)
Component:
For constant molal overflow:
(35)
p
B
p
p
p
p
V
x B
x
V
L
y =
+1
Equation (24) represents a line of slope , which
passes through the point (x
B
, x
B
)
p p
V L
Material balance around feed plate F
2
:
2 2
F q L L
n p
+ =
( )
2 2
1 F q V V
p n
+ =
F
2

p
L
p
V
(36)
(37)
n
V
n
L
( )
2 2
1 F q V V
n p
=
EXAMPLE 3
Benzene (1) is to be separated from toluene (2) in a distillation
column. Three feed streams are available:
No. of stream 1 2 3
Lb-mol/h 200 500 300
Benzene mole fraction 0.7 0.5 0.2
Fraction vaporized 0.25 0.0 0.5
q 0.75 1.0 0.5
A high-purity product containing 98-mol% benzene is required.
Toluene is to be recovered at 95 mol % purity. A total overhead
condenser is to be used. The column is designed to operate at
R = 1.25 R
min
, how many stages is required, and where should
be the feed streams?
T (K)
x
1
y
1
385 0.000 0.000
380 0.100 0.210
375 0.230 0.410
370 0.365 0.575
365 0.525 0.725
360 0.700 0.850
355 0.910 0.965
353 1.000 1.000
SOLUTION
D, x
D

B, x
B
F
2
, z
2
L
0

F
1
, z
1
Rectifying section
Middle section I
Stripping section
F
3
, z
3
Middle section II
Slope of feed lines:
1. Feed 1:
3
1 75 , 0
75 , 0
1
1
1
=

=
q
q
2. Feed 2:
=

=
1 1
1
1
2
2
q
q
3. Feed 3:
1
1 5 , 0
5 , 0
1
3
3
=

=
q
q
OVERALL MATERIAL BALANCE
300 500 200
3 2 1
+ + = + + = + F F F B D
1000 = +D B
COMPONENT MATERIAL BALANCE
3 3 2 2 1 1
z F z F z F Dx Bx
D B
+ + = +
( ) ( ) ( )( ) ( )( ) ( )( ) 2 . 0 300 5 . 0 500 7 . 0 200 98 . 0 05 . 0 + + = +D B
450 98 . 0 05 . 0 = + D B
(a)
(b)
Simultaneous solution of eqs. (a) and (b) results in:
D = 430.1 and B = 569.9
5 . 0
1
98 . 0
1
intercept
min min
=
+
=
+
=
R R
x
D
Minimum Reflux:
96 . 0
min
= R
Column is operated at R = 1.25 R
min
= 1.2
(see the following graph)
0.0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1.0
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
y
x
F
1

F
2

F
3

I
n
t
e
r
c
e
p
t

=

0
.
5

1. Rectifying section:
5455 . 0
1 2 . 1
2 . 1
1
slope =
+
=
+
=
R
R
h mol - lb 1 . 516 1 . 430 2 . 1
0
= = = RD L
h mol - lb 2 . 946 1 . 430 1 . 516
0 1
= + = + = = D L V V
2. Middle section I:
7433 . 0
2 . 896
1 . 666
slope = = =
V
L
h mol - lb 1 . 666 200 75 . 0 1 . 516
1 1
= + = + = F q L L
( ) h mol - lb 2 . 896 200 25 . 0 2 . 946 1
1 1
= = = F q V V
3. Middle section II:
3 . 1
2 . 896
1 . 1166
slope = = =
V
L
h mol - lb 1 . 1166 500 0 . 1 1 . 666
2 2
= + = + = F q L L
( ) h mol lb 2 . 896 200 0 . 0 2 . 896 1
2 2
= = = F q V V
4. Rectifying section:
76 . 1
2 . 746
1 . 1316
slope = = =
V
L
h mol - lb 1 . 1316 300 5 . 0 1 . 1166
3 3
= + = + = F q L L
( ) h mol lb 2 . 746 300 5 . 0 2 . 896 1
3 3
= = = F q V V
0.0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1.0
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
y
x
y
x
N = 25
1
2
4
3
6
5
9
7
8
10
11