Analysis of entropy production rates for design of distillation columns

Journal Article · Fri Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1995 · Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ie00048a011· OSTI ID:183064

Ratkje, S K; Sauar, E; Hansen, E M; Lien, K M; Hafskjold, B ^[1]

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1. Norwegian Inst. of Tech., Trondheim (Norway)

The entropy production rate for a distillation column is at a minimum when the driving forces for separation are uniformly distributed along the column. This theoretical result was derived for separation of binary mixtures having linear flux-force relations with coefficients which vary with temperature and composition. The entropy production rate was first calculated numerically for separation of an ideal and a nonideal mixture. The application of the principle, called the principle of equipartition of forces, was then demonstrated by analyzing the effect of distributed heating in a column with an ideal mixture. A reduction in the entropy production rate per m{sup 3} of product formed of up to 7% was found for the system plus surroundings, after seeking equipartition of forces with minimum changes in the apparatus.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 183064
• Journal Information: Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, Vol. 34, Issue 9; Other Information: PBD: Sep 1995
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
02 PETROLEUM
10 SYNTHETIC FUELS
DISTILLATION EQUIPMENT
DESIGN
ENTROPY
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
THERMODYNAMICS
HEAT LOSSES
MASS TRANSFER
HEAT TRANSFER
TOLUENE
BENZENE
ETHANOL
WATER
SEPARATION PROCESSES