Category: Distillation

Simple Multicomponent
Distillation
This article shows application of Thiele and Geddes
method to solve simple multi-component distillation
problem in excel spreadsheet based on method of
convergence.
Antoine equation is used to calculate equilibrium
constant Ki.
Ki = exp(Ai - Bi / (T + Ci))/P
where, Ai, Bi & Ci are Antoine equation constants for a
component i, T & P are temperature and pressure at a
stage.
Feed Analysis

To start with bubble point pressure (PBubble) and dew

point pressure (PDew) are determined for feed mixture.

P < PDew, Mixture exists as superheated vapor.

P > PBubble, Mixture exists as sub-cooled liquid.
PDew < P < PBubble, mixture exist in vapor and
liquid phase.
For last case, PT Flash calculation is performed to
determine liquid (Lf) & vapor (Vf) fraction and molar
composition.
Stage-wise Calculation

Liquid and Vapor flow across column are determined as:

L (Above Feed Stage) = R.D
V (Above Feed Stage) = (1+R).D
L (Below Feed Stage) = R.D + Lf

V (Below Feed Stage) = (1+R).D - Vf

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Start of Iteration
A Linear temperature gradient is assumed across the
column. Ki values are calculated for all component on
each stage based on Antoine equation.
Method of Convergence
L/D ratios are calculated for all components from top to
stage above feed stage.
Top Stage
Total Condenser
LD(1,i) = L(1)/D
Partial Condenser
LD(1,i) = L(1)/(K(1,i).D)
where 1 indicates top stage, i denotes the component
and LD denotes L/D ratio.
Above Feed Stage
LD(j,i) = (LD(j-1,i) + 1).L(j)/(K(j,i).V(j))
where j represents the stage and i represents a single
component.

Similarly L/B ratios are calculated from bottom upto feed

stage
Bottom Reboiler
LB(bottom) = 1
L/B ratios from bottom upto feed tray is calculated as:
LB(j,i) = LB(j+1,i).K(j+1,i).V(j+1)/L(j+1)
For Feed Stage
Vfb(i) = V(f).K(f,i)/( L(f).LB(f,i) )
B/D ratio for feed plate is calculated as:

+ 1

bd(i) = ( LD(nf-1,i) + Lf.Xfi/(F.Zfi))/(Vfb(i)

+ Vf.Yfi/(F.Zfi))
where bd represent B/D ratio at feed plate.
Based on overall component material balance.
F.Xi = D.Xdi + B.Xbi
d(i) = D.Xdi
b(i) = B.Xbi
F.Xi = d(i) + b(i)
d(i) = D
A multiplier is defined as:
[b(i)/d(i)]corrected = [b(i)/d(i)]calculated
Above equation is rewritten as:
bd(i)co = .bd(i)ca
Function g() is defined as:
d(i)co = FXi/(1+.bd(i)ca)
g() = d(i)co - D
= i FXi/(1+.bd(i)ca) - D
Above equation is solved using Newton Raphson
method.
g'() = -i bd(i)ca.FXi/[1+.bd(i)ca]
New estimate of is made as following:

new = - g()/g'()
Iteration is done till there is negligible change in value of
. Converged value of is used to estimate d(i)co. Value
of b(i)co is calculated as following:
b(i)co = .d(i)co.bd(i)ca
Liquid mol fraction from top to stage above feed stage
are calculated:
X(j,i) = LD(j,i)ca.d(i)co / i LD(j,i)ca.d(i)co
Liquid mol fraction from feed to bottom tray are
calculated:
X(j,i) = LB(j,i)ca.b(i)co / i LB(j,i)ca.b(i)co
Bubble point temperature is calculated for each stage.
With this first iteration completes. In next iteration new
set of Ki values are calculated for each tray based on
updated temperature profile and all of the above steps
are repeated till there is no change in temperature
profile and value becomes 1.
Spreadsheet for Simple Multicomponent Distillation
References

Fundamentals of Multicomponent Distillation C.D.

Holland