Lecture Lecture 13. 13.

Approximate Approximate Multicomponent Multicomponent Approximate Approximate Multicomponent Multicomponent

Methods (1) Methods (1)
[Ch. 9] [Ch. 9]
Approximate Methods
Fenske-Underwood-Gilliland (FUG) Method
Selection of Two Key Components
Column Operating Pressure Column Operating Pressure
Fenske Equation for Minimum Equilibrium Stages
Distribution of Nonkey Components at Total Reflux
Approximate Methods for Approximate Methods for
Multicomponent Multicomponent Separation Separation Multicomponent Multicomponent Separation Separation
Use of approximate methods
- Preliminary design
- Parametric studies : establish optimal design conditions
- Process synthesis studies : determine optimal separation
sequence
Ob i i i i i l i i f i h d - Obtaining an initial approximation for a rigorous method
Fenske-Underwood-Gilliland (FUG) method
- Approximate method for simple distillation
- Manual calculation : if physical properties are independent of
composition
- Computer-aided calculation : included in most process design
programs programs
Variable Specification for Variable Specification for
Distillation Distillation Distillation Distillation
Distillation with one inlet
No. of specifications
Distillation with one inlet
stream, total condenser,
and partial reboiler
Feed flow rate 1
Feed mole fractions C-1
Feed temperature 1 Feed temperature 1
Feed pressure 1
Adiabatic stages (excluding reboiler) N-1
Stage pressures (including reboiler) N
Split of light key component 1
Split of heavy key component 1 p y y p
Feed stage location 1
Reflux ratio (as multiple of R
min
) 1
R fl t t 1 Reflux temperature 1
Adiabatic reflux divider 1
Pressure of total condenser 1
Pressure at reflux divider 1
2N+C+9
Algorithm for FUG Method Algorithm for FUG Method
Start (Specified feed)
Specify splits of
t k t
Specify splits of
t k t two key components two key components
Estimate splits of
nonkey components
Estimate splits of
nonkey components
Determine column pressure Determine column pressure Determine column pressure
and type of condenser
Determine column pressure
and type of condenser
Flash the feed
at column pressure
Flash the feed
at column pressure
Repeat only if
estimated and
calculated
Bubble/Dew point calculations
Adiabatic flash procedure
Calculate minimum
theoretical stages
Calculate minimum
theoretical stages
Calculate splits of
nonkey components
Calculate splits of
nonkey components
splits of nonkey
components
differ considerably
Fenske equation
Fenske equation
nonkey components nonkey components
Calculate minimum
reflux ratio
Calculate minimum
reflux ratio
Calculate actual theoretical Calculate actual theoretical
q
Underwood equations
Gilliland correlation
stages for specified R stages for specified R
Calculate feed stage
location
Calculate feed stage
location
Gilliland correlation
Kirkbride equation
Calculate condenser and
reboiler duties
Calculate condenser and
reboiler duties
Exit
Energy-balance equations
Selection of Two Key Components Selection of Two Key Components
S l ti f di till ti l Selection of distillation columns
including a deisobutanizer and a
debutanizer
Component Splits for Alkylation Component Splits for Alkylation
Reactor Effluent Reactor Effluent Reactor Effluent Reactor Effluent
In practice, the deisobutanizer p ,
is usually placed first
Column Operating Pressure Column Operating Pressure
Factors to determine column pressure
- Condition of condenser
If distillate temperature is less than 120 (49), a refrigerant,
rather than cooling water, is used
Reflux drum pressure
T 215 i (1 48 MP ) t t l d i d d - To 215 psia (1.48 MPa): total condenser is recommended
- 215 psia-365 psia (2.52 MPa): partial condenser is appropriate
C di i f b il - Condition of reboiler
Column bottom temperature should not exceed decomposition or
near-critical conditions
- Pressure drops
Condenser: 0-2 psia
near critical conditions
Condenser: 0-2 psia
Column: 5 psia or 0.1 psi/tray
Fenske Fenske Equation for Minimum Equation for Minimum
Equilibrium Stages (1) Equilibrium Stages (1) Equilibrium Stages (1) Equilibrium Stages (1)
Distillation column operation at total reflux
For steady-state operation without heat loss
(heat input to reboiler)=(heat output from condenser)
V L =
( p ) ( p )
From material balance
, ,
1
1
N N
i N i N
V L
y x

=
=
, , , 1 1 1 i i i
y K x =
Equilibrium relations for stage 1
, , , 2 1 1 i i i
x K x =
, , 1 2 i i
y x =
Equilibrium relati ns f r stage 2
, , , 2 2 2 i i i
y K x =
Equilibrium relations for stage 2
, , , 2 1 1 i i i
K K x =
Fenske Fenske Equation for Minimum Equation for Minimum
Equilibrium Stages (2) Equilibrium Stages (2) Equilibrium Stages (2) Equilibrium Stages (2)
Equilibrium relations for stage N
, , , , , , 1 2 1 1 i N i N i N i i i
y K K K K x

=
, , , , , , 1 2 1 1 j N j N j N j j j
y K K K K x

=
| |
, ,
, ,
1
1 2 1
1
i N i
N N
j N j
y x
y x
o o o o

| |
=
|
|
\ .

, , 1 i N i N
y x
+
=
, ,
, , 1 j N j N
y x
+
=
min
, , 1 1
N
j i N
k
x x
o
+
| | | |
=
| |
| |
[
, ,
1
1 1
k
k
i j N
x x
o
=
+
| |
| |
\ . \ .
[
Relative enrichments of any two components
i and j over a cascade of N theoretical stages
Fenske Fenske Equation for Minimum Equation for Minimum
Equilibrium Stages (3) Equilibrium Stages (3) Equilibrium Stages (3) Equilibrium Stages (3)
If an average relative volatility is used
, , 1 1 j i N
N
x x
x x
o
+
| | | |
=
| |
| |
\ . \ .
, ,
log
1 1 j i N
x x
x x
+
(
| | | |
( | |
| |
(
\ . \ .

, , 1 1 i j N
x x
+
| |
\ . \ .
, ,
min
,
log
1 1 i j N
i j
x x
N
o
+
| |
(
\ . \ .

=
Fenske equation
More convenient form using distillate and bottoms flow More convenient form using distillate and bottoms flow
rates (d and b)
log ( / )( / ) d d b b
(

Geometric mean
min
log ( / )( / )
log
i j j i
m
d d b b
N
o
(

=
/
, ,
( ) ( )
1 2
1 m i j N i j
o o o
(
=

The Fenske equation is exact only if (1) o does not vary and/or
(2) the mixture forms ideal solutions
Distribution of Distribution of Nonkey Nonkey Components Components
at Total Reflux at Total Reflux at Total Reflux at Total Reflux
Once N
min
is known, the Fenske equation can be used to
calculate molar flow rates d and b for nonkey components
min
( )
N
i r
d d
o
| | | |
| |
min
,
( )
i r
i r m
i r
b b
o =
| |
\ . \ .
i : a nonkey component
f d b
i : a nonkey component
r : the reference component (or the heavy key component)
i i i
f d b = +
i
f
b

min
min
,
( / )( )
( / )( )
1
i
i
N
r r i r m
N
f
b
d b
f d b
o
o
=

min
,
,
( / )( )
( / )( ) 1
i r r i r m
i
N
r r i r m
f d b
d
d b
o
o