Sarah hanis Abd Aziz

2015655794
EH243 3A
ASSIGNMENT 1
A fractionation column is an essential item used in distillation of liquid
mixtures in order to separate the mixture into its component parts based on
the differences in volatilities. Instead of using many continuous columns in
series, various products can be obtained from a single batch distillation
column with a single batch run. Example of the distillation column feed that
contains a very great number of components is crude oil. Since they have
different boiling points, the substances in crude oil can be separated
using fractional distillation. The crude oil is evaporated and its vapours
allowed to condense at different temperatures in the fractionating column.
Separation into pure components is impractical and such columns are
therefore designed to yield fractions which are groups of components within
a desired range of boiling points.

Figure above illustrates what happens in a distillation column. A liquid

mixture is fed into the distillation column. On entering the column, the
heated feed is partially vaporized and rises up the column. However, as it
rises, it cools by contacting the descending cooler liquid and partially
condenses so that, while part of vapor continues to flow upward, the
condensed portion is enriched in the less volatile components and flows
downward.

As

the

vapor

continues

to

flow

upward,

it

undergoes

partial condensation a number of times and each time becomes richer in the
more volatile components. Mass transfer takes place on the trays or around
the packings where the vapour and liquid came into contact.
The part of the feed liquid that did not vaporize on entering the
column, flows downward and is heated by contacting the upward flowing hot
vapor until it is partially vaporized. The resulting vapor flows upward and the
residual liquid is enriched in the less volatile components and flows
downward. As the liquid continues to flow downward, it undergoes
partial vaporization a number of times and each time becomes richer in the
less volatile components.
Distillation columns use various vapor and liquid contacting methods to
provide the required number of theoretical equilibrium stages. Such devices
are commonly known as "plates" or "trays". Each of these plates or trays is
at a different temperature and pressure. The stage at the tower bottom has
the highest pressure and temperature. Progressing upwards in the tower, the
pressure and temperature decreases for each succeeding stage. The vaporliquid equilibrium for each feed component in the tower adjusts to the
different pressure and temperature conditions at each of the stages. That
means that each component establishes a different concentration in the
vapor and liquid phases at each of the stages, and this result in the
separation of the components.