Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
1
Distillation columns are made up of several components, each of which is
used either to transfer heat energy or enhance material transfer. A typical distillation
contains several major components:
I. A vertical shell where the separation of fluid components is carried
out
II. Column internals such as trays/plates or packings which are used to
enhance components separations
III. A reboiler to provide the necessary vaporization for the distillation
process
IV. A condenser to cool and condensed the vapor leaving the top of the
column
V. A reflux drums to hold the condensed vapor from the top of the
column so that liquid (reflux) can be recycle back to the column.
Operation and terminology; the liquid mixture that is to be processed is known
as the feed and this is introduced usually somewhere near the middle of the column to
a tray known as the feed tray. The feed tray divides the column into a top (enriching)
section and bottom (stripping) section. The feed flows down the column where it is
collected at the bottom in the reboiler. Heat is supplied to the reboiler to generate
vapor. The source of heat input can be any suitable fluid, although in most chemical
plants this is normally stream. In vapor raised in the reboiler is re-introduced into the
unit at the bottom of the column. The liquid removed from the reboiler is known as
the bottom product.
The vapor moves up the column, and as it exits the top of the unit, it is cooled
by a condenser. The condensed liquid is stored in a holding vessel known as the
reflux drum. Some of this liquid is recycled back to the top of the column and this is
called the reflux. The condensed liquid that is removed from the system is known as
the distillate or top product.
Thus, there are internal flows of vapor and liquid within the column as well as
external flows of feeds and product streams, into and out of the column.
2
Main Components of Distillation Column
Figure 1,
component separations.
• A condenser to cool and condense the vapour leaving the top of the column.
• A reflux drum to hold the condensed vapour from the top of the column so
Figure 1
3
Types of Distillation Column
1. Staged columns in distillation
Distillation may be carried out in staged or plate columns in which each plate
provides intimate contact between vapor and liquid in continuous countercurrent
flow. Each plate constitutes a single stage where there is simultaneous partial
condensation of vapor and partial vaporization of liquid. (Figure 2)
Figure 2
4
Various plates used for phase contacting are:
1.1 BUBBLE CAP PLATE
Bubble cap disperses the gas phase into liquid as fine bubbles; it prevents liquid
drainage through the gas passage at low gas rates. (Figure 3)
Figure 3
bubble caps columns can be operated with a wide range of vapour and flow
rates.
Bubble cap plates are now rarely used for installation because of
(1) their relatively high cost.
(2) High pressure drop.
Figure 4
5
A sieve plate is perforated plate that employs perforation for dispersing a gas
into a liquid on the plate.
It is metal sheet having hundreds of round perforations init of the ranging
between 3 to 12mm.
The total area of holes range from 5 to 15% of the plate area.
Figure 5
The valves are metal discs up to about 38 mm diameter and are held in the
plate by means of legs which restrict the upward motion of the caps.
The valve provides variable orifices for gas flow.
Packed columns are used for smaller diameter columns since it is expensive to
build a staged column that will operate properly in small diameters. Packed towers
have the advantage of a smaller pressure drop and are, therefore, useful in vacuum
fractionation. Another advantage of packed columns is that they can be used to
process corrosive materials. (Figure 6 – Random kinds of Packing)
6
Figure 6
Packing Objective
7
To ensure uniform resistance to vapour & liquid flow
throughout the bed.
Pall Rings are available in various sizes such as (mm) 16, 25,
38, and 50.
Figure 7
8
Figure 8
2.3 FLEXIRING
(Random Packing)
Figure 9
9
Predictable hydraulic and mass transfer behavior
Low cost
10