Separation Processes

Lecture Objectives Simple Equilibrium Stage p Operations

Flash Distillation

Separation Processes
To be able to define and describe the flash distillation process; To be able to calc late bubble and de points calculate b bble dew of a multicomponent feed; To be able to derive and apply the working equation for multicomponent flash distillation and be able to apply the equation in specific cases.

Course Slides of Prof. Alberto A. Laurito w/ modifications by MF Benjamin

Separation Processes
What is Flash Distillation?
It is a simple distillation process where a liquid multicomponent feed is partially p g q p vaporized and the resulting liquid-vapor mixture is separated in a flash drum at a specified pressure and temperature. Partial The vapor is passed through a total condenser to obtain the distillate; while the liquid portion becomes the residue. F, xFi Heater Vapor

Separation Processes
Isothermal Flash Distillation
V, yVi Total Condenser

P, T Flash Drum

D, xDi

L, xLi

Separation Processes
Nomenclature
F = feed rate V = overhead rate L = bottoms rate D = distillate rate P = operating pressure xFi = fraction of I in F yVi = fraction of I in V xLi = fraction of I in L xDi = fraction of I in D T = operating temperature

Separation Processes
Basic Equations
1. Over-all Material Balances: F = V + L but V = D F=D+L

2. 2 Component Balance: F xFi = V yVi + L xLi = D xDi + L xLi 3. Equilibrium Relation: yVi = Ki xLi 4. f relation: f = V/F = D/F and L/F = 1 f

f = fraction of F that is vaporized (or distilled) Ki = Equilibrium Constant = f (P,T)

Separation Processes
Working Equations
xFi xLi = 1 + f (Ki - 1) where f is a fraction, Ki = f (P,T) Calculation Check: xLi = 1.0 If f = 0, start of vaporization = Bubble Point If f = 1, complete vaporization = Dew Point for f to be a fraction, the flash drum must operate between the bubble and dew points

Separation Processes
Bubble Point Algorithm
Given Data: xFi and P or T Required: Bubble Point T or P, yFi Assume T or P (use pure boiling pts as guide) A ( b ili t id ) Evaluate Ki using P and T Solve yFi = Ki xFi (1st bubble composition) Check if Sum of yFi is equal to 1.0 If Yes, assumed T or P and yFi are correct If Not, assume another T or P and repeat

Separation Processes
Dew Point Algorithm

Separation Processes
Typical Flash Distillation Problems

Given Data: yFi and P or T Required: Dew Point T or P, xLi Assume T or P (use pure boiling pts as guide) Evaluate Ki using P and T Solve xLi = yFi/Ki (last bubble composition) Check if Sum of xLi is equal to 1.0 If Yes, assumed T or P and xLi are correct If Not, assume another T or P and repeat

Given xFi, f, P or T Unknown T or P, xLi, and xDi Assume T or P Evaluate Ki Solve xLi and check if Sum will equal one Repeat trial if needed

Given xFi, P and T Unknown xLi, and xDi Evaluate Ki Assume f (fraction) Solve xLi and check if Sum will equal one Repeat trial if needed

Separation Processes
Practice Problem
A liquid mixture containing 20 mole% benzene (B), 30 mole% toluene(T), and 50 mole% o-xylene (X) shall be flash distilled at g y , 1 atm. Assuming ideal system, determine: a. Bubble and dew points of mixture b. Flash drum temperature and mole% composition of the products in order that 40% of the feed will be distilled c. Mole% of the feed to be distilled and the mole% compositions of the products if flash drum temperature is 125oC. d. Percent recovery of benzene in operations (b) and (c)

Solution for Bubble Point

Separation Processes

Bubble Point (TB) Use the individual normal boiling points (1 atm) of the components as the initial trial for the bubble point of the mixture
Component Benzene Toluene O-xylene A 6.9057 6.9546 6.9989 B 1211.033 1344.800 1474.679 C Boiling Point 220.7900 80.100 219.4820 110.625 213.6880 144.409

Component Benzene Toluene O-xylene

xfi 0.20 0.30 0.50

Boiling Point Trial Tb 80.100 121.412 110.625 144.409

Separation Processes
Solve for Kis using the trial bubble point and check if the yfi = 1.0. If not assume another value for TB Formulas: Ki = Po/PT yFi = Ki xFi
Component Benzene Toluene O-xylene xfi 0.20 0.30 0 30 0.50

Separation Processes
Final Trial: 112.266oC = Bubble Point
Po 1860.055 796.087 796 087 298.343 Ki 2.447 1.047 1 047 0.393 yfi yfi 0.489 0.314 0 314 0.196 1.000

Trial 1: 121.412oC
Component Benzene Toluene O-xylene xfi 0.20 0.30 0.50 Po 2326.527 1022.630 396.458 Ki 3.061 1.346 0.522 yfi yfi 0.612 0.404 0.261 1.277

OK!

Not OK

Solution for Dew Point

Separation Processes
Component Benzene Toluene O-xylene yfi 0.20 0.30 0 30 0.50

Separation Processes
Final Trial: 129.128oC = Dew Point
Po 2784.485 1250.357 1250 357 498.020 Ki 3.664 1.645 1 645 0.655 xli xli 0.055 0.182 0 182 0.763 1.000

Dew Point (TD) To solve for the dew point, assume a temperature higher than the bubble point for the first trial. Check if xLi = 1.0, if , not, assume another TD Formulas: Trial 1: 120oC
Component Benzene Toluene O-xylene yfi 0.20 0.30 0.50 Po 2249.288 984.715 379.818 Ki 2.960 1.296 0.500 xli xli 0.068 0.232 1.000 1.300 Not OK

Ki = Po/PT

xLi = yFi/Ki

OK!

Flash Drum Temperature

Separation Processes
Component Benzene Toluene O-xylene xfi 0.20 0.30 0 30 0.50

Separation Processes
Final Trial: T = 120.553oC using given f = 0.4
Po 2279.304 999.431 999 431 386.266 Ki 2.999 1.315 1 315 0.508 xli xli 0.111 0.266 0 266 0.622 1.000

Flash Drum Temperature (T) To solve for the flash drum temperature, assume a temperature between the bubble point and the dew point for , , the first trial. Check if xLi = 1.0, if not, assume another T Formulas: Trial 1: 120oC Ki = Po/PT
xfi 0.20 0.30 0.50

xLi = xFi/[1 + f(Ki 1)]

o

using given f = 0.4

P 2249.288 984.715 379.818 Ki 2.960 1.296 0.500 xli xli 0.112 0.268 0.625 1.005 Not OK

OK!

Component Benzene Toluene O-xylene

Compositions

Separation Processes

Fraction of Feed Distilled

Separation Processes

Formulas: xDi = xLi Ki %Rec = DxDi/FxFi*100 = fxDi/xFi*100

Component Benzene Toluene O-xylene xfi 0.20 0.30 0.50 xli 0.111 0.266 0.622 Ki 2.999 1.315 0.508 xdi
xfi 0.200 xdi 0.333

Percent of Feed that was distilled (f) Using the given flash drum temperature (125oC) assume a value for f. Check if xLi = 1.0, if not, assume another f
xdi 0.333 0.350 0.316 1.000
%REC 66.600

Formulas:

Ki = Po/PT

xLi = xFi/[1 + f(Ki 1)]

Po 2531.798 1124.107 441.385

Trial 1: f = 0.6 using given T = 125oC

Component Benzene Toluene O-xylene xfi 0.20 0.30 0.50 Ki 3.331 1.479 0.581 xli xli 0.083 0.233 0.668 0.984

Component T Benzene 120.553

f = D/F 0.400

Not OK

Separation Processes
Final Trial: f = 0.668 using given T = 125oC
Component Benzene Toluene O-xylene xfi 0.20 0.30 0.50 Po 2531.798 1124.107 441.385 Ki 3.331 1.479 0.581 xli xli 0.078 0.227 0.694 1.000

Compositions

Separation Processes

Formulas: xDi = xLi Ki %Rec = DxDi/FxFi*100 = fxDi/xFi*100

Component Benzene Toluene O-xylene xfi 0.20 0.30 0.50 xli 0.078 0.227 0.694 Ki 3.331 1.479 0.581 xdi
xfi 0.200 xdi 0.261

OK!

xdi 0.261 0.336 0.403 1.000

%REC 87.018

Component T Benzene 125.000

f = D/F 0.668

Separation Processes
Assignment
A liquid mixture containing 35 mole% n-pentane (A), 35 mole% n-hexane(B), and 30 mole% n-heptane (C) shall be flash distilled at 2585 Torrs. Determine: a. Bubble and Dew points of mixture b. Flash drum temperature and mole% composition of the products in order that 50% of the feed will be distilled c. Percent Recovery of n-pentane