Methodology for

Complete McCabe-Thiele Solution

Determine all of the information stated in the problem including:

Configuration of the column

Condition of streams (saturated, superheated or subcooled)

Operating Pressure
Total, partial or no condenser
Total, partial or no reboiler
Location of feed stream(s)
Location of side stream(s)
Location of product stream(s)
Distillate
Bottoms
Feed
Reflux
Boilup

Flow rates and composition of streams

Distillate, xD and D
Bottoms, xB and B
Feed, zF and F
Reflux, L/V or L/D
Boilup, L/V or V/B

Methodology for
Complete McCabe-Thiele Solution
Determine equilibrium relationship
Use convenient equilibrium equation e.g.,
given relative volatility,
Curve fit equilibrium data at Pcol y vs x
Setup operating line equations and equilibrium
curves in proper format for stepping down or
stepping up the column

Methodology for
Complete McCabe-Thiele Solution

Assume CMO when applicable

Determine Top Operating Line

Determine Bottom Operating Line

Choose convenient TOL equation or derive

Utilize total and/or component mass balances to determine required variables
e.g., L, V, L/V, L/D in TOL if not given

Choose convenient BOL equation or derive

Utilize total and/or component mass balances to determine required variables
e.g., L, V, L/V, V/B in BOL if not given

Determine Feed Line

Choose convenient feed line equation or derive

Utilize total and/or component mass balances to determine required variables
e.g., F or zF, for feed if not given
Utilize total and/or component mass balances to determine required variables
e.g., L, V, L, V, LF, VF, for feed if not given
Use feed-stage relationships to determine q or f at feed conditions

Methodology for
Complete McCabe-Thiele Solution
Stepping Up the Column from the Reboiler

Equilibrium Curve
yEq = yEq(xEq) as normally expressed

Operating Line
xOL = xOL(yOL) solve operating line for x

Stepping Down the Column from the Condenser

Equilibrium Curve
xEq = xEq(yEq) solve equilibrium relationship for x

Operating Line
yOL = yOL(xOL) as normally expressed
4

Methodology for
Complete McCabe-Thiele Solution
Determine intersection of operating lines
and/or feed line to determine when to switch
from the TOL to the BOL by:
Solving simultaneous TOL, BOL, and/or feed line
equations using Mathcads Minerr function or
Solving TOL, BOL, and/or feed line equations
algebraically

Intersection of OLs and Feed Line

Intersection of Top and Bottom Operating Lines: How do we know when we pass the feed
stage? We can determine this by the intersection of the TOL and BOL, which is also the
intersection of both TOL and BOL with the feed line. Thus, we need to determine this
intersection, which from the simultaneous solution of TOL and the BOL equations, yields:

L
L
1 x B
1 xD
V
V

xI
L L

V V

Eq. (5-38) Intersection of OLs

yI

L
L

xI 1 xD
V
V

(Eq. B)

or, alternatively, from the simultaneous solution of the Feed Line and the TOL:

q 1 1 x D z F
V

xI
L
q 1 q
V

Intersection of TOL and FL

x
zF D q
L/D
yI
Eq. (5-38)
q
1
L/D

Methodology for
Complete McCabe-Thiele Solution
Plot the equilibrium curve, TOL, BOL, and
feed line
Check the equations and plot by verifying
that the:

TOL intersects y = x at xD
BOL intersects y = x at xB
Feed line intersects y = x at zF
OLs and feed line all intersect at xI and yI
7

Methodology for
Complete McCabe-Thiele Solution

Implement McCabe-Thiele algorithm and plot stages

Determine total number of equilibrium stages

Determine optimum feed stage

Determine any fractional stages

Answer specific questions, e.g., liquid and/or vapor

compositions for a given stage, number of stages above
reboiler, condenser, etc.

Keep in mind that a partial condenser and/or partial reboiler

are each counted as an equilibrium stage outside the column!
8

Stage Compositions Total

Condenser
QC

Total
Condenser

Equilibrium Curve

y1

xD
Operating Line
(x 0 x D y1 , y1 x D )

x0
Stage 1

(x1 , y1 )

y2

(x1 , y 2 )

x1
Stage 2

(x 2 , y 2 )

y3

(x 2 , y 3 )

x2

Stage 3

(x 3 , y 3 )

y 31

x3

(x j , y j )

y j 1 x j

Stage j

(x 3 , y 4 )

(x j , y j 1 )
9

Complete McCabe-Thiele Solution

Total Condenser
Equilibrium
Curve

(x1, y1)
(x0, y0)

(xI, yI)
(x2, y2)
(x1, y2)

y
(x3, y3)
(x2, y3)
(x4, y4)

Top
Operating
Line

(x3, y4)
Feed Line

(x5, y5)

(x4, y5)
(xB, xB)
xB = xN

Bottom
Operating
Line

xD = y1 = y0 = x0
10

Stage Compositions Total

Reboiler
Equilibrium Curve

Operating Line

Stage N- n

(x N n , y N n )

y N n x N n 1

(x N n 1 , y N n )

Stage N-3

(x N 3 , y N 3 )

(x N 3 , y N 2 )

y N 2 x N 3
Stage N-2

(x N 2 , y N 2 )

(x N 2 , y N 1 )

y N 1 x N 2

Stage N-1

(x N 1 , y N 1 )

yN

x N 1

(x N1 , y N )

Stage N

(x N , y N )

xN

(x N , x N )

xN

Total Reboiler

QR

xB

11

Complete McCabe-Thiele Solution

Total Reboiler
Equilibrium Curve

(xN-4, yN-4)
(xD, xD)
(xI, yI)

(xN-3, yN-3)
(xN-4, yN-3)

(xN-2, yN-2)

(xN-1, yN-1)

(xN-3, yN-2)
Top
Operating
Line

(xN-2, yN-1)

Feed Line

(xN, yN)
(xN-1, yN)

(xN, yN)

xB = xN

Bottom
Operating
Line

xD

12

Fractional Stage at Top of Column

y Eq

Equilibrium
Curve

x D y OL

xD
x D y OL
y OL

Operating
Line

Fractional Stage

xD

distance from y at x D (y x D ) to operating line x D y OL

distance from equil. curve to operating line

y Eq y OL

13

Fractional Stage at Bottom of

Column
Equilibrium
Curve
Operating
Line

x Eq x OL

x Eq

x OL

x B x OL

Fractional Stage
xB

distance from x at x B (x x B ) to operating line x B x OL

distance from equil. curve to operating line

x Eq x OL
14

Optimal Feed Stage Location

15

Summary of McCabe-Thiele
Method

16

McCabe & Thiele Method (1925)

Graphical method based on Lewiss method and
the fact that operating lines are straight lines on
the y-x diagram
Solve the equilibrium relationship from the y-x
equilibrium curve and the mass balance from
the operating lines.
17

Top operating line

Straight line with L/V as slope and (1-L/V) xD as yintercept

18

Top of the column = total condenser

y1=xD=x0
Equilibrium curve

x1
Operating line

y2

19

20

Knowing y2 one can proceed down the column

We step off stages
We can continue as long as we are in the rectifying section

21

The above procedure is called the McCabe & Thiele method

It produces a staircase construction

In the stripping section, one has to use a different operating line

slope

y-intercept

Applies to passing streams in the

stripping section
22

Start with liquid leaving the reboiler

xB=xN+1

Use equilibrium curve

yN+1
Use operating line

xN
We can continue this alternating process
between equilibrium curve and operating line
as long as we are in the stripping section
23

24

At feed stage one has to switch between top

operating line and bottom operating line

25

How to compute slope of bottom operating line

Obtain D and B from mass balances around entire

column

26

Useful for computer calculations

27

Feed line

28

Determine feed quality

Get slope of feed line

Feed line goes through point (x=z,y=z)

29

Intersection of two operating lines (xI,yI)

30

CMO assumption: flow rates will be constant in each

section
Value of q (feed quality) determine changes in flow
rates at feed stage

Summary END

31

32

Limiting Conditions Reflux Ratios

The external reflux ratio, L/D, is often a parameter that is
specified for column operation since it is perhaps the
easiest to change under column operation and changing
L/D often has a substantial effect on the overall column
behavior and separation.
There are two limiting conditions with respect to the reflux
ratio, L/D, that one obtains:

Total reflux ratio, D = 0, L/V = 1, and L/D

Minimum reflux ratio, (L/D)min.
One will often see an external reflux specification as a
multiple of the minimum reflux ratio, for example, L/D =
2(L/D)min, etc.
33

Total Reflux and Boilup

Limiting Condition
A column which has total reflux and boilup has no
feed the distillate, bottoms, and feed flow rates are
zero.
This is a limiting condition which provides one with
the minimum number of equilibrium stages that can
be obtained for a given column.
While one would not typically operate under such
conditions, total reflux and boilup are used for
starting up a column, for operating the column off-line
when other unit operations are off-line, and for
testing column efficiency.
34

Limiting Conditions Total Reflux

At total reflux:

R L/D
L/V 1.0
LV
L/ V 1.0

Both operating lines, TOL and BOL, become the y = x

auxiliary line.
Operating a column under total reflux yields the
minimum number of equilibrium stages for a particular
column.
35

Total Reflux

36

Total Reflux
Minimum Number of Equilibrium Stages

37

Limiting Conditions Minimum Reflux

Minimum reflux, Rmin or (L/D)min, is defined as the
external reflux ratio at which the specified separation
could just be obtained with an infinite number of stages.

R min (L/D) min

(L/V) min

1 (L/V) min

We obtain an infinite number of stages if our operating

lines touch the equilibrium curve.
The point on the equilibrium curve that this occurs is
called a pinch point.
38

Two Types of Pinch Points

For many systems, the pinch point will occur where
the feed line crosses the equilibrium curve.
A second type of pinch point can occur in non-ideal
system where the operating line touches the
equilibrium curve before the intersection of the feed
line and the equilibrium curve.
One should always look at a system to determine if a
non-ideal pinch point occursJust dont blindly
assume it will be at the intersection of the feed line
and equilibrium curve.
39

Minimum Reflux
Infinite Number of Equilibrium Stages

40

Limiting Conditions Minimum Boilup

A minimum boilup ratio, (V/B)min, can be similarly
defined as the boilup ratio at which the specified
separation could just be obtained with an infinite
number of stages.

(V/B) min

(L/ V) max 1

Because of this relationship of the BOLs slope, L/V,

to the boilup ratio, V/B, we have a maximum L/V at
minimum boilup, V/B.
41

Possible Reflux Operating Conditions

42

Rule of Thumb
The best operating condition lies between
minimum and total reflux.
As a rule of thumb, the optimum reflux
ratio lies between 1.05 and 1.25 (L/D)min.
Too low of an L/D results in a large number
of equilibrium stages, while too high of an
L/D increases the reboiler duty as well as
the required diameter of the column.
43

Profiles for Binary Distillation

Ethanol-water column
As expected, the water concentration in both
liquid and vapor streams decreases monotonically
as we go up the column, while the ethanol
concentration increases. Since the stages are
discrete, the profiles are not smooth curves.

temperature decreases rapidly for the first few

contacts above the reboiler but is almost
constant for the last eight stages. This occurs
mainly because of the shape of the temperaturecomposition diagram for ethanol-water
Since we assumed CMO, the flow profiles
are flat in each section of the column. As
expected, L>V and V > L. Since stage 2 is
the feed stage, L2 is in the stripping section
while V2 is in the enriching section

Figure 4-14. Profiles for Example 4-3

44

Other Distillation Column Situations

-Partial Condensers

A partial condenser condenses

only part of the overhead stream
and returns this as reflux.

M.B: V = L + D
M.B on the more volatile component
Vy = Lx + DyD

Figure 4-20. Partial condenser; (A) balance envelope, (B) top operating line
If a vapor distillate is desired, then a partial condenser will be very convenient
45

Other Distillation Column Situations

-Partial Condensers
M.B on the more volatile component

Vy = Lx + DyD

Removing D and solving for y, we

obtain the operating equation
This is essentially the same as the equation for a top operating
line with a total condenser except that yD has replaced xD
The top operating line will intersect
the y = x line at y = x= yD.

Note: The major difference between this case and that for a total condenser
is that the partial condenser serves as the first equilibrium contact.
46

Other Distillation Column Situations

- Total Reboilers

A total reboiler vaporizes the entire stream sent to

it; thus, the vapor composition is the same as the
liquid composition
The mass balance and the bottom operating
equation with a total reboiler are exactly the
same as with a partial reboiler
Note: partial reboiler is an equilibrium contact where
as the total reboiler is not an equilibrium contact and
appears on the McCabe-Thiele diagram as the single
point y = x = xB.
Figure 4-21. Total reboiler
47

Side Streams or Withdrawal Lines

If a product of intermediate
composition is required, a
vapor or liquid side stream
may be withdrawn

Three additional variables such

as flow rate, S, type of side
draw (liquid or vapor), and
location or composition xS or
yS, must be specified.
Figure 4-22. Liquid side stream (A)
column, (B) McCabe-Thiele diagram
48

M.B
V = L + D+S
V- L = D+S
Equation 4-51

For the situation shown in Figure 4-22A, the middle

operating line equation is

The y = x intercept is
Equation 4-52
This point can be plotted if S, xS, D, and xD are known

A second point can be found where the side stream is

withdrawn.
A saturated liquid withdrawal is equivalent to a negative
feed of concentration xS.
Thus there must be a vertical feed line at x = xS. The top
and middle operating lines must intersect at this feed line.
49

For a liquid withdrawal,

a balance on the liquid gives

Eq.4-53

while vapor flow rates are unchanged, V = V

Thus slope, L/V, of the middle operating line can be determined if
L and V are known.
L and V can be determined from L/D and D, where D can
be found from external balances once xS is known.
For a vapor side stream
The feed line is horizontal at y = yS. A
balance on vapor flow rates gives

Eq.4-54

while liquid flow rates are unchanged. Again L/V can be

calculated if L and V are known
If a specified value of xS (or yS) is desired, the problem is trial and error. The top
operating line is adjusted (change L/D) until a stage ends exactly at xS or yS.

50

Intermediate Reboilers and

Intermediate Condensers

four operating lines

The intermediate reboiler

removes a liquid side stream
from the column, vaporizes it,
and reinjects the vapor into
the column.

An intermediate condenser
removes a vapor side
stream, condenses it, and
reinjects it into the column
Figure 4-23. Intermediate reboiler; (A) balance
envelopes, (B) McCabe-Thiele diagram
51

Intermediate Reboilers and

Intermediate Condensers
An energy balance around the column will show that QR
without an intermediate reboiler is equal to QR + QI with
the intermediate reboiler (F, z, q, xD, xB, p, L/D
constant).
Thus the amount of energy required is unchanged.
What changes is the temperature at which it is required.
Since xS > xB, the temperature of the intermediate
reboiler is lower than that of the reboiler, and a cheaper
heat source can be used

52

Stripping and Enriching Columns

Stripping column

Enriching column

McCabe-Thiele diagram for

stripping column

When only a stripping section is

used, the feed must be a
subcooled or saturated liquid. No
reflux is used. A very pure bottoms
product can be obtained but the
vapor distillate will not be pure

In the enriching or rectifying column,

on the other hand, the feed is a
superheated vapor or a saturated vapor,
and the distillate can be very pure but
the bottoms will not be very pure.

Note: Striping columns and enriching

columns are used when a pure distillate or
a pure bottoms, respectively, is not needed
53

Figure 4-24. Stripping and enriching columns

 Analysis of stripping and enriching columns is similar.

The stripping column shown in Figure 4-24A can be
thought of as a complete distillation column with zero
liquid flow rate in the enriching section.
Then the top operating line is y = yD. The bottom
operating line can be derived as
This is equation for a bottom operating equation with a
partial reboiler. Top and bottom operating lines intersect
at the feed line.
If the specified variables are F, q, z, p, xB, and yD, the
feed line can be plotted and then the bottom operating
line can be obtained from its intersection at y = x = x B
and its intersection with the feed line at y D.
54

Efficiencies
We have always assumed that the stages are equilibrium
stages.
To compare the performance of an actual stage to an
equilibrium stage, we use a measure of efficiency.
Many different measures of efficiency have been defined. Two
that are in common use are the overall efficiency and the
Murphree efficiency.
Overall efficiency, Eo
Partial condensers and partial reboilers are not included in
either the actual or equilibrium number of stages, since they
will not have the same efficiency as the stages in the column.
55

What variables would we expect to

affect column efficiency?
The hydrodynamic flow properties such as
viscosity and gas flow rate would affect the
flow regime and efficiency.
The mass transfer rate, which is affected by the
diffusivity, will in turn affect efficiency.
The column size can also have an effect.

56

 The most commonly used stage efficiencies for binary

distillation are the Murphree vapor and liquid
efficiencies.
The Murphree vapor efficiency is defined as
Eq. 4-57
Murphree vapor efficiency is
Eq. 4-58

where yj* is vapor mole

fraction in equilibrium with
actual liquid mole fraction xj

Figure 4-27. Murphree efficiency; (A) stage

nomenclature, (B) McCabe-Thiele diagram for EMV

57

 A Murphree liquid efficiency can be defined as

Eq. 4-59
which is the actual change in mole fraction divided by the
change for an equilibrium stage.
The Murphree liquid efficiency is similar to the Murphree
vapor efficiency except that it uses horizontal distances.
Note that EML EMV

58