Jawaharlal Nehru Technological

University Kakinada
III Year B. Tech. Petrochemical Engineering
II Sem.
Mass Transfer Operation I
DISTILLATION
EQUILIBRIUM STAGE CALCULATION
McCABE-THIELE METHOD

Presentation by

Prof. K. V. Rao
Academic Advisor / Visiting Professor
School of Petroleum Courses

McCabe-Thiele Method
It is a graphical method and
involves calculation of total number
of equilibrium stages required for a
given separation using material
balance and equilibrium relations.
The following notations shall be used :
y : mole fraction of more volatile component in vapour
phase
x : mole fraction of more volatile component in liquid
phase
V : molar flowrate of vapour, mole/time
L : molar flowrate of liquid, mole/time
F : molar flowrate of feed (vapor or liquid or mixed),
mole/time

Refer to the Figure that shows several plates

inside a distillation column. Assume that the
plates are numbered serially from the top down
and that the plate under consideration is the nth plate from the top. Then the plate
immediately above this plate is plate (n-1) and
the plate immediately below this plate is plate
(n+1).

There are four streams (2 vapor and 2

liquid) associated with this plate, each
with its own flow rate and concentration:
Total Molar
Flowrate

Composition
(Mole Fraction
MVC)

Vapor leaving
plate

Vn

yn

Liquid leaving
plate

Ln

xn

Vapor entering
plate

Vn+1

yn+1

Liquid entering
plate

Ln-1

xn-1

Stream

Ideal Plate/Tray/Stage
An ideal plate is one where the vapor
leaving the plate is in equilibrium with
the liquid leaving the same plate (see
the equilibrium diagram : xn and yn are
in equilibrium).

On each plate, the vapor rising to it and the liquid

flowing down to it are not in equilibrium. Thus there is
a concentration difference (driving force) for mass
transfer between the two phases
The system tends to reach equilibrium on each tray
because some of the less volatile component
condenses from the rising vapor into the liquid, thus
increasing the concentration of the more volatile
component in the vapor as it moves upwards, e.g. yn >
yn+1.
some of the more volatile component is vaporized
from the liquid on the tray, thus decreasing the
concentration of the more volatile component in the
liquid as it moves downwards, e.g. xn-1 > xn.

The changes in vapor and liquid phase mole

fractions are shown in the Figure. The combined
effect is a gradual increase in concentration of
the more volatile component in the vapor as it
moves up the column, and a gradual increase in
concentration of the less volatile component in
the liquid as it moves down the column. See the
Figure

Bubble Point Temperature

The temperature at which the first bubble of vapor is
formed.
Dew Point Temperature
The temperature at which the first dew of liquid is formed.
The vapor and liquid streams inside the column are
assumed to be saturated at their respective dew points
and bubble points corresponding to the position in the
column.
The heat released by one mole of vapor upon
condensation is approximately equal to the heat required
to vaporize one mole of the liquid: the number of
molecules passing from the vapor phase to the liquid
phase and vice versa will be approximately the same.

If the molar heats of vaporization are approximately

constant, we can assume that the flows of liquid and
vapour are nearly constant in each section of the
column, i.e.
L1 = L2 = L3 = ......... = Ln = constant
V1 = V2 = V3 = ......... =

Vn

constant

This is the important concept of constant molal

overflow.
Separation is achieved with the vapor rich in the
more volatile component leaving the top of the
column, and the liquid rich in the less volatile
component leaving the bottom of the column.
The temperature decreases as one moves up the
column, i.e. Tn+1 > Tn > Tn-1.

Calculation of Total Number of Equilibrium Stages

Procedure:
The VLE data must be available at the operating pressure of the
column.
Separation must be specified.
feed condition (temperature, composition), distillate and bottom
compositions; and the reflux ratio, which is defined as the ratio of
reflux liquid over the distillate product. This is shown in the Figure
below.

The number of theoretical stages required for a given

separation is then the number of triangles that can be
drawn between these operating lines and the
equilibrium curve. The last triangle on the diagram
represents the reboiler.
To obtain the number of theoretical trays using the
McCabe-Thiele Method, we shall use the section analysis
that is first carried out by partitioning the column into 3
sections: rectifying, feed and stripping sections as
shown the figure below:

The McCabe-Thiele Method involves the steps given

below to determine the number of theoretical stages:

Analysis of the Rectifying section, and determine the

ROL using xD and R
Analysis of the Feed section, and determine the feed
condition (q)
Determination of the feed line (q-line) using xF and q
Locate the intersection point between ROL and q-line
Analysis of the Stripping Section, and determine the
SOL using (4) and xB
1.Rectifying Section Operating Line (ROL)
Consider the rectifying section as shown in the Figure
below. (System shows a total condenser and the
reflux is at bubble point)

Material balance around the envelope : IN = OUT

OMB:

Vn+1 = Ln + D

CMB:

Vn+1 yn+1 = Ln xn + D xD

Thus, we have
(Ln + D) yn+1 = Ln xn + D xD
Under constant molal overflow assumption:
L1 = L2 = .......... Ln-1 = Ln = Ln+1 = L = constant

V1 = V2 = .......... Vn-1 = Vn = Vn+1 = V = constant

The subscripts can be dropped. Thus, the equation
simplifies to:
(L + D) yn+1 = L xn + D xD
Re-arranging in the form y = f(x), we have

Introducing Reflux Ratio R = L / D,

This is the Operating Line Equation for the rectifying

section, or ROL in short.

Characteristics: Straight Line Equation

slope R/(R+1), constant for given value of R
Intercept (1/(R+1) xD, constant for given R and
purity of distillate xD
The operating line passes through the point
(xD , xD) on the 45o diagonal line.
The operating line connects the concentrations
of the more volatile component in the vapor
and liquid between 2 adjacent phases.
By plotting the operating line on the
equilibrium curve, we can graphically construct
a "staircase" to determine the number of
theoretical stages required for the separation in
the rectifying section.

from (xD, y1) on the

diagonal (note: y1
= xD), draw a
horizontal line to
the left until it
touches
the
equilibrium curve:
this gives the point
(x1, y1).
From this point (x1,
y1) draw a vertical
line down to the
ROL: this gives the
point (x1, y2). In
this manner we
had obtained one
triangle
(no.1)
where
the
horizontal distance
is (xD - x1) and the
vertical distance is
(y1 - y2). One

The difference (xD

- x1) represents
the decrease in
the concentration
of
the
more
volatile
component in the
liquid phase as its
moves down one
tray, i.e. from tray
1 to tray 2. The
difference (y1 - y2)
represents
the
increase in the
concentration of
the more volatile
component in the
vapor phase as its
moves up one
tray, i.e. from tray
2 to tray 1. See

2. Introduction of Feed : the q-line

Consider the section of the distillation column ( see the
example,
consider
Figure below) at the tray where As
the an
feed
is introduced
(known as the feed tray location),the
sayFigure
tray f :above whereby
the feed is a cold liquid. In
this case, all the liquid
feed will go to the
stripping
section.
In
addition,
because
the
feed is cold, it will also
condense some of the
rising vapor. As a result,
the amount of liquid flow
in the stripping section L'
is much larger than the
liquid flow in the rectifying
section L. The vapour flow
in the rectifying section V,
is lower than the vapour
flow in the stripping
Fig. Case a. Cold
section V' because of the
Feed
condensation
into
the

Similar evaluation can be carried out for the other feed conditions

operating line (or

simply the q-line) can
be
obtained
by
performing a material
balance around the
feed tray. Plotting of
the q-line requires
the q-value and the
feed
MVC
mole
fraction, xF. As shown
above, q = 1.0 for
saturated liquid and
q = 0.0 for saturated
vapour. For vapourliquid mixture, q =
fraction of feed that
is liquid. For other
conditions, we need
to calculate the qvalues. The feed tray
location
can
be
identified once the

Feed Section Operating Line (q-line)

liquid flow = q F moles/hr; vapour flow = (1-q) F

moles/hr
Overall material balance:
L' = L + q F
V = V' + (1-q) F
Component balance for the more volatile component: (
See the Figure below)

Rectifying section : V y = L x + D xD
Stripping section : V' y = L' x - B xB
At the feed point where the two lines operating lines intersect:
( V - V' ) y = ( L - L' ) x + D xD + B xB
we have:
V - V' = ( 1 - q ) F
L - L' = - q F
In addition, from component balance around the entire column:
F xF = D xD + B xB
Thus, ( 1 - q ) F y = - q F x + F xF
Re-arranging in the form y = f(x), we have:

For a given feed condition, xF and q are fixed, therefore the q-line is
a straight line with slope -q / (1-q) and intercept xF / (1-q).
If x = xF , then y = xF.
i.e. the q-line passes through the point (xF, xF) on the 45o diagonal.
Different values of q will result in different slope of the q-line. See the
Figure below.
Note that the q-line passes through the point (xF, xF) on the 45o
diagonal for all values of q.

The q-values
If the condition of the feed is known to be either saturated
liquid or saturated vapour, then the value of q is either 1
or 0. However, if we are not certain of the feed condition,
then we must calculate the value of q. We can do so by
deriving a formula for q using enthalpy balance around
the feed plate f. This is shown in the Figure below

With: Energy In = Energy Out, we have

F HF + L HL,f-1 + V'

HV,f+1

= L'

HL,f

+V

HV,f

where
HF = enthalpy of feed, evaluated at TF
HV = enthalpy of vapour, and
HL = enthalpy of liquid
Assume that HL,f-1 = HL,f = HL, and, HV, f+1 = HV,f = HV
Then,
F HF + L HL + V' HV = L' HL + V HV
F HF = (V - V') HV + (L' - L) HL
F HF = (1 - q ) F HV + q F HL
HF = H V - q H V + q H L
q (H - H ) = H - H

Values of HF, HV and HL can be obtained from enthalpyconcentration diagram for the mixture concerned.
A typical example is shown in the Figure below. Note
the regions for vapour only, liquid only, and vapourliquid mixture.
We now have the equation for calculating q:

Not all mixtures have

the
enthalpyconcentration
diagram conveniently
available. Nor is such
information
easily
obtained. Thus, value
of
q
cannot
be
calculated using the
previous formula. The
equation for q can be
re-written as:

Alternatively, from the formula, q can be interpreted as

the heat required to convert 1 mole of feed from its
entering condition to a saturated vapour; divided by the
molal latent heat of vaporization. The above relationship
can be illustrated using the temperature-enthalphy
Based
on
this
diagram shown in the Figure below:
definition,
we
can
derive the formula for
the case whereby q >
1 (cold liquid feed)
and
q
<
0
(superheated vapour
feed).
Thus, we have for
cold liquid feed,

for
superheated
vapour feed

3. Analysis of Stripping Section

Analysis of SOL is presented below using the Figure below
which shows the stripping section of a distillation column.
The re-boiled vapor in equilibrium with bottoms liquid
leaving the column.
Material balance : IN =
OUT
Assuming constant molal
overflow
L'm = L'm+1 = .... = L' =
constant
V'm = V'm+1 = ..... = V'
= constant
Material
MVC : L'balance:
xm = V' ym+1 + B
Overall : L' = V' + B'
xB
Substituting,
and
rearrange in the form y =
f(x), we obtain

Again, dropping the subscripts "m+1" and "m" we

have:

Substituting V' = L' - B: we have the stripping operating line (S

This is straight line with slope ( L' / L' - B) and intercept ( B

xB / L' - B )
In addition, when x = xB , y = xB, i.e. the operating line
passed through

( xB, xB ) on the 45o diagonal line.

Using the equilibrium diagram, the stripping section

operating line can be drawn and the number of theoretical
stages in the stripping section can be done in the same
manner.
Reminder: The last "stage" on the graphical construction

Usually the SOL is the last line to draw, after both ROL
and q-line are drawn. Fixing the ROL and the q-line
automatically fixes the SOL.
On the completed design (equilibrium diagram): The
number of triangles drawn = Number of theoretical
trays + 1 Reboiler (last triangle).

feed plate location can

also be determined. In
the example above, it is
Tray #3.

Thank You