Extending continuous conventional and extractive distillation feasibility insights to batch distillation
- Carnegie Mellon Univ., Pittsburgh, PA (United States)
- Aspen Technology, Inc., Cambridge, MA (United States)
Researchers have begun to study a batch column with simultaneous top and bottom products, sometimes called a middle vessel column. The column is similar to a continuous column in that it has both a rectifying and a stripping section. However, instead of a feed tray, the middle vessel column has a tray with a large holdup that acts like the still pot. Using ternary diagrams, the authors show that one can identify the feasible products and possible column profile regions for the batch rectifier, the stripper, and the middle vessel columns using methods developed for continuous distillation. Using insights developed for continuous distillation, they also compare extractive distillation using the batch rectifier and middle vessel column and show that these columns can theoretically recover all of the pure distillate product from an azeotropic feed. However, the batch rectifier requires a still pot of infinite size. It is possible to steer the still pot composition i the middle vessel column by adjusting column parameters such as the product and extractive agent flow rates. Theoretically, it thus becomes possible to recover all of the distillate product without the need for an infinite still pot.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 183005
- Journal Information:
- Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, Vol. 34, Issue 10; Other Information: PBD: Oct 1995
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Azeotropic distillation in a middle vessel batch column. 1: Model formulation and linear separation boundaries
Azeotropic distillation in a middle vessel batch column. 2: Nonlinear separation boundaries