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1.0 THE HEAT INTEGRATION
CHARACTERISTICS OF DISTILLATION
The complete distillation column runs
within two temperature levels one decided
by reboiler which consumes (QREB) and
other by condenser which rejects (QCOND)
heat to atmosphere. The heating and
cooling duties associated with a distillation
column are the reboiler and condenser
duties which is both the condenser and
the reboiler require smaller amounts of
heating and cooling for feed and product
streams.
1.1 THE APPROPRIATE PLACEMENT
OF DISTILLATION
Figure 1 Placement of distillation columns
(a) above the pinch temperature, (b) below
the pinch temperature and (c) across the
pinch temperature.
Figure 1(a),The reboiler requires an
additional QREB of heat from the process or
heating utilities and the condenser
releases QCOND of heat for use by the
process above the pinch temperature.
Figure 1(b),The reboiler removes QREB of
heat from the process and the condenser
releases an additional QCOND of heating to
the process or cooling utilities. The net
heats required above and below the
process remain at QHU and QCU,
respectively.
Figure 1(c), Increasing both the heating-
utility duty above the pinch temperature by
the reboiler duty, QREB, and the cooling-
utility duty below the pinch temperature by
the condenser duty, QCOND.
The condenser and reboiler should
operate on the same side of the pinch
temperature to maximize heat integration.
If both the reboiler and condenser are
integrated with the process, this can make
the column difficult to start up and control.
2.0 USE OF THE GRAND COMPOSITE
CURVE FOR HEAT INTEGRATION OF
DISTILLATION
The appropriate placement principle can
only be applied if the process has the
capacity to provide or accept the required
heat duties. For this purpose, the grand
composite curve can be used.
Figure 2(a): An inappropriately placed
distillation column
Figure 2(b): A distillation column that can
only be partially integrated
The reboiler and condenser is considered
as box. Therefore, this box can be
matched with the grand composite
representing the remainder of the process.
The grand composite curve would include
all heating and cooling duties for the
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process, including those associated with
separator feed and product heating and
cooling, but excluding reboiler and
condenser loads. A grand composite
curve is shown in Figure 2(a). The
distillation column reboilers, and
condenser duties are shown separately
and are matched against it. The reboiler
and condenser duties are on opposite
sides of the heat recovery pinch and the
column does not fit. In Figure 2(b),
although the reboiler and condenser
duties are both above the pinch, the heat
duties prevent a fit.
Figure 2(c) : A column appropriately
placed above the pinch
Figure 2 (d) : A column appropriately
placed below the pinch
The distillation columns shown in Figure
2(c) and 2(d) above is both fit. Figure 2(c)
shows a case in which the reboiler duty
can be supplied by hot utility. The
condenser duty must be integrated with
the rest of the process. Another example
is shown in Figure 2(d). This distillation
column also fits. The reboiler duty must be
supplied by integration with the process.
Part of the condenser duty in Figure 2(d)
must also be integrated, while the
remainder of the condenser duty can be
rejected to cold utility. Besides, if an
inappropriately placed distillation column
is shifted above the heat recovery pinch
by changing its pressure, the condensing
stream, which is a hot stream, is
shiftedfrom below to above the pinch. The
reboiling stream, which is a cold stream,
stays above the pinch. Then, if the
inappropriately placed distillation column
is shifted below the pinch, then the
reboiling stream, which is a cold stream, is
shifted from above to below the pinch. The
condensing stream stays below the pinch.
3.0 HEAT PUMPING IN DISTILLATION
AND CAPITAL COST CONSIDERATION
Various heat-pumping schemes have
been proposed as a means of saving
energy in distillation.For heat pumping to
be economic on a stand-alone basis, it
must operate across a small temperature
difference, which for distillation means
close boiling mixtures.
Capital cost changes should be
considered together, along with the energy
cost changes, in order to achieve an
optimum trade-off between capital and
energy costs. Distillation capital costs;
the classical optimization in distillation is to
trade-off capital cost of the column against
energy cost for the distillation by changing
the reflux ratio. Heat exchanger network
capital costs; the optimization of the
capital energy trade-off might undo part of
the savings achieved by appropriate
integration.
4.0 HEAT INTEGRATION
CHARACTERISTIC OF DISTILLATION
SEQUENCES
Two problems :
1. Distillation and heat integration
can be decoupled.
2. First developed without heat
integration and reboiler.
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Comparison
Non intergrated and intergrates shows
the energy saving can achieved non
integrated tend to turn out to be best
total cost . it must emphasized that this
decouple depends on the absent
constraints limiting the heat
integration.
Best outcome

The best few non integrated Figure (b) Thermally coupling the indirect
sequences tend to turn out to be sequences changes the load and levels
the best few integrated sequences
in term of total cost. single Solution
sequences lowest cost
Constraints can applied by
reducing the capital cost (the
overall heat load is reduced , and
heat must be supplied at the
highest temperature for the system
which there is trade off which the
load is reduced but the level
required to supply heat) from figure
4 (a)
In indirect sequences is thermally
coupled the heat load is reduces
but now all the heat rejected at the
lowest temperature, there is benefit
of reduced but a disadvantage of Figure 4 (C) two different sequences
heat rejection at more extreme
Try to make two different sequence and
levels as figure 4 (b)
see the same component .If there is
different sequences there is two effect on
separation. Causes as figure 4 (C)
1. An unnecessary load on the
separation, leading to higher heat
loads and vapor rates
2. A widening of the temperature
differences across columns since ,
light non key component causes a
decrease in condenser
temperature and heavy non key
Figure 4 (a) Thermally coupling the direct component causes and increase
sequences changes the load and levels reboiler.