LAB 3: DISTILLATION COLUMN

Objectives:

1. To simulate distillation column in ASPEN HYSYS

2. To understand the usage of distillation column specification.

Process:
The production of methanol is carried out in a moderate-pressure sensitive loop by direct hydrogenation
of carbon dioxide, which generates a liquid product that contains a binary mixture of methanol and
water in approximately equal proportion (by wt%). To provide commercial methanol that is nearly free
of water, dehydration is achieved commonly by distillation.

Feed conditions of the process is 2700 kgmole/hr at 25oC and 7.2 bar. It is then split equally and fed to
two distillation columns, one at 7.2 bar and the other one at reduced pressure 5.2 bar. Design
specifications for both distillation columns are shown in the following table:

DC1 DC2
Number of stages 12 15
Feed inlet stages 6 4
Reflux ratio 1.1 1.2
Distillate rate (kgmole/h) 1000 900

Hint:
1. Use Peng Robinson property package
2. Use split ratio of 0.5
3. Use total condenser for both DC
4. Pressure drop in both DCs must be estimated.

Questions:

1. What are the mass flowrates of the feeds before entering DC1 and DC2?
2. What are the mass compositions of methanol and water at bottom and distillate for both DC?
3. Monitor the mass composition of methanol and water at bottom and distillate for both DC if the
reflux ratio is varied. Explain the variation.
4. Monitor the mass composition of methanol and water at the bottom and distillate of the
distillation columns if the number of stages is varied. Explain the variation.
5. Identify the best design specifications for both DC that can achieve 99% methanol. Record the
set values.
a. Use monitor specs, add column component fraction
b. Manipulate the number of stages and the reflux ratio values of the columns.
c. For DC2, set at the monitor the component fractions of both Methanol (0.99 at
distillate) and water (0.99 at bottom). Set active for methanol, and estimate for water.