6.4.7 Factors Affecting Distillation Column Operation 1. Vapor Flow Conditions

6.4.
7 Factors affecting distillation column operation

1. Vapor flow conditions
Adverse vapor flow conditions can cause:


Foaming
Foaming refers to the expansion of liquid due to passage of vapour or gas. Although it provides high
interfacial liquid-vapour contact, excessive foaming often leads to liquid build-up on trays. In some
cases, foaming may be so bad that the foam mixes with liquid on the tray above. Whether foaming
will occur depends primarily on physical properties of the liquid mixtures, but is sometimes due to
tray designs and condition. Whatever the cause, separation efficiency is always reduced.
Entrainment
Entrainment refers to the liquid carried by vapour up to the tray above and is again caused by high
vapour flow rates. It is detrimental because tray efficiency is reduced: lower volatile material is
carried to a plate holding liquid of higher volatility. It could also contaminate high purity distillate.
Excessive entrainment can lead to flooding.
Weeping/Dumping
This phenomenon is caused by low vapour flow. The pressure exerted by the vapour is insufficient to
hold up the liquid on the tray. Therefore, liquid starts to leak through perforations. Excessive
weeping will lead to dumping. That is the liquid on all trays will crash (dump) through to the base of
the column (via a domino effect) and the column will have to be re-started. Weeping is indicated by a
sharp pressure drop in the column and reduced separation efficiency. 69
Flooding
Flooding is brought about by excessive vapour flow, causing liquid to be entrained in the vapour up
the column. The increased pressure from excessive vapour also backs up the liquid in the down
comer, causing an increase in liquid hold-up on the plate above. Depending on the degree of
flooding, the maximum capacity of the column may be severely reduced. Flooding is detected by
sharp increases in column differential pressure and significant decrease in separation efficiency.
2. Reflux conditions
Minimum trays are required under total reflux conditions, i.e. there is no withdrawal of distillate. On
the other hand, as reflux is decreased, more and more trays are required.
3. Feed conditions
The state of the feed mixture and feed composition affects the operating lines and hence the number
of stages required for separation. It also affects the location of feed tray.
4. State of trays
Remember that the actual number of trays required for a particular separation duty is determined by
the efficiency of the plate. Thus, any factors that cause a decrease in tray efficiency will also change
the performance of the column. Tray efficiencies are affected by fouling, wear and tear and
corrosion, and the rates at which these occur depends on the properties of the liquids being
processed. Thus appropriate materials should be specified for tray construction.
5. Column diameter
Vapor flow velocity is dependent on column diameter. Weeping determines the minimum vapor flow
required while flooding determines the maximum vapor flow allowed, hence column capacity. Thus,
if the column diameter is not sized properly, the column will not perform well. 70
6.4.11 Standard Design Steps of Distillation Column
6.4.8 Preliminary Calculations

Material Feed Feed (%) Top Top (%) Bottom Bottom
balance (kmole/hr) ((kmole/hr (kmole/hr) (%)
Componen )
ts
Water 99.37 60.33 9.94 94.41 89.43 58
Formaldeh 64.69 39.27 0 0 64.68 41.95
yde
Methanol 0.6534 0.4 0.59 5.58 0.065 0.042
Total 164.71 100 10.525 100 154.186 100
F= D + W
Nature of Feed
Feed is entering in the column as a saturated liquid at T=100OC & P=141 kPa
Standard Design Steps of Distillation Column
• Calculation of minimum number of Plates.
Calculation of minimum Reflux Ratio Rm.
• Calculation of actual reflux ratio.
• Calculation of theoretical number of stages.
• Calculation of diameter of the column.
• Calculation of weeping point.

• Calculation of entrainment.
• Calculation of pressure drop.
• Calculation of the height of the column

6.4.7 Factors Affecting Distillation Column Operation 1. Vapor Flow Conditions

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

6.4.7 Factors Affecting Distillation Column Operation 1. Vapor Flow Conditions

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

6.4.7 Factors Affecting Distillation Column Operation 1. Vapor Flow Conditions

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

6.4.

7 Factors affecting distillation column operation

6.4.8 Preliminary Calculations

• Calculation of minimum number of Plates.

Calculation of minimum Reflux Ratio Rm.

• Calculation of actual reflux ratio.

• Calculation of theoretical number of stages.

• Calculation of diameter of the column.

• Calculation of weeping point.

• Calculation of pressure drop.

• Calculation of the height of the column

You might also like