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An Engineering Approach to the Synthesis of Integrated Distillation Schemes for Systems Involving Difficult Separations
D. Jantes Jaramillo, G.T. Polley
Dept. of 91成人短视频 Engineering, University of Guanajuato, Mexico
The separations of iso-pentane and n-pentane and of iso-butane and n-butane are examples of what may be termed a difficult separation. They each not only require a large number of distillation stages but operation at elevated pressure if cooling water is to be used in the overhead condenser.
A standard problem that included both of these separations was proposed by Heaven (1969). This problem has been studied by Rathore et al (1974), Andrecovich & Westerberg (1982), Morari & Faith (1980), Meszaros & Fonyo (1986), Rajah & Polley (1995), Sobocam & Glavic (2002) and others. The details of the separation are given in Table 1.
Table 1. Heaven's Problem
Component |
Mole Fraction |
Molal Flow (kmol/hr) |
A: Propane |
0.05 |
45.36 |
B: i-butane |
0.15 |
136.08 |
C: n-butane |
0.25 |
226.80 |
D: i-pentane |
0.20 |
181.46 |
E: n-pentane |
0.35 |
317.52 |
Total |
1.00 |
907.20 |
Given the attention directed at this problem, the obvious questions are why look at it again? The answer is that all of the work published to date appears to have involved the examination of all of the possible separation schemes. Consideration of the engineering needs ahead of synthesis reduces this number from 14 to 2. Given this situation there is no need for sophisticated software to solve this problem. Standard flow-sheeting packages can be used.
In solving this problem the reflux ratios are initially set at 1.33 times the minimum value in order to reduce the column height for the difficult separations. In final refinement of the design the more common criterion of 1.1 times minimum value can be investigated.
Engineering Heuristics
Step 1. Identify the most difficult separation.
Step 2. Identify any other difficult separation.
Step 3. Identify Possible Schemes
Step 4. Identify Opportunities for Thermal Integration
Table 4. Summary Options
Scheme |
Column |
Pressure |
Heat Load |
No. Plates |
1 |
ABC/DE |
20 |
8.16 |
46 |
A/BC |
16.0 |
2.60 |
33 |
|
B/C |
6.5 |
9.04 |
76 |
|
D/E |
2 |
20.1 |
91 |
|
Q SAVING |
-7.78 |
|||
Summations |
32.12 |
246 |
||
2 |
A/BCDE |
15.6 |
4.25 |
34 |
BC/DE |
20 |
8.12 |
46 |
|
B/C |
6.5 |
9.04 |
76 |
|
D/E |
2 |
20.1 |
91 |
|
Q SAVING |
-7.8 |
|||
Summations |
33.71 |
247 |
Comparison with Result from the Literature
Step 5. Examination of Assumptions and Refinement of Design
Conclusions
In this paper an examination of how existing engineering tools can be used to identify thermally integrated distillation schemes for problems involving difficult separations.
The presence of difficult separations greatly reduces the number of separation schemes that can be considered to be viable.
References
Heaven D.L. M.S. Thesis, University of California, Berkeley, 1969
Andrecovich M.J. & Westerberg A.W. A simple synthesis method based on utility bounding for heat integrated distillation sequences', AIChEJ, 1985,31(3), 363-375
Sobocan G. & Glavic P. A simple method for systematic synthesis of thermally integrated distillation sequences, Chem. Eng. J, 2002,89,155-172
Meszaros I. & Fonyo Z. A new bounding strategy for synthsizing distillation schemes with energy integration, Comp. & Chem. Engng. 1986,10(6),545-550
Morari M. & Faith D.C. The synthesis of distillation trains with heat integration, AIChEJ, 1980, 26,916-928
Rathore R.N.S., Van Kormer K.A. & Powers G.J. Synthesis strategies for multi-component separation systems with energy integration, AIChEJ, 1974,20,491-501
Rajah W. & Polley G.T. Synthesis of practical distillation schemes, Trans.I.Chem.E. 1995, 73A,953-964
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