Multiple steady states in heterogeneous azeotropic distillation

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1996 · Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ie940493e· OSTI ID:183033

Bekiaris, N; Meski, G A; Morari, M ^[1]

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1. California Inst. of Tech., Pasadena, CA (United States)

In this article, the authors study multiple steady states in ternary heterogeneous azeotropic distillation. They show that in the case of infinite reflux and an infinite number of trays, one can construct bifurcation diagrams on physical grounds with the distillate flow as the bifurcation parameter. Multiple steady states exist when the distillate flow varies nonmonotonically along the continuation path of the bifurcation diagram. The authors show how the distillate and bottom product paths can be located for tray or packed columns, with or without decanter and with different types of condenser and reboiler. They derive a necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of these multiple steady states based on the geometry of the product paths. They also locate in the composition triangle the feed compositions that lead to these multiple steady states. They show that the prediction of the existence of multiple steady states in the case of infinite reflux and an infinite number of trays has relevant implications for columns operating at finite reflux and with a finite number of trays.

• OSTI ID: 183033
• Journal Information: Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, Journal Name: Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 35; ISSN 0888-5885; ISSN IECRED
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
AZEOTROPE
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMICAL FEEDSTOCKS
DISTILLATES
DISTILLATION EQUIPMENT
FLUID MECHANICS
HEAT EXCHANGERS
PROCESS CONTROL
STEADY-STATE CONDITIONS