Advanced Distillation Technology:

A Basic for Process Simulation

Process Systems Design and Control Laboratory (PSDC Lab.)

School of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University

Advanced Distillation Technology (Single Column)

Heat Integration Assisted Distillation Technology

Choi Bonggu & Riezqa Andika

Heat Pump Assisted Distillation Technology

Single Column Side Stream Arrangements

Single columns side stream arrangements can be attractive for several processes
middle product is in excess and the other product is minor

B>50% of feed; C<5% of feed; BC>>AB

ABC
B(Vapor Side stream)
C

B(Liquid Side stream)

ABC

B>50% of feed; A<5% of feed; AB>>BC

C

Choi Bonggu & Riezqa Andika

Latest Advanced Distillation Technology

Technology

Choi Bonggu & Riezqa Andika

Mechanical Vapor Recompression (MVR)

MVR is a state of the art industrial system for binary distillation and being widely applied
in separation of close boiling point components. In MVR, top vapor is used as heat
transfer medium. Top stream directly go to the compressor and after that go to heat
exchanger to heat up the boil up stream.

Mechanical driven heat pump

Heat driven heat transformer

Heat driven heat pump

Source:
A. A. Kiss, S. J. F. Landaeta, C. A. I. Ferreira Towards energy efficient distillation technologies Making the right choice
A. A. Kiss Advanced Distillation Technologies: Design, Control and Applications

Choi Bonggu & Riezqa Andika

Heat-Integrated Distillation Column (HIDiC)

In an HIDiC, heat transfer occurs in the rectifying and stripping sections. The operation of both sections
is similar to adiabatic column which allows heat to enter or leave any particular stage along the
column section.

Source:
B. Suphanit Optimal heat distribution in the internally heat-integrated distillation column

Choi Bonggu & Riezqa Andika

HIDiC Principle
Heat transfer from rectification section to stripping by elevating rectifying section temperature through
compression of vapor from stripping section.

Source:
B. Suphanit Optimal heat distribution in the internally heat-integrated distillation column
A. A. Kiss, S. J. F. Landaeta, C. A. I. Ferreira Towards energy efficient distillation technologies Making the right choice

Choi Bonggu & Riezqa Andika

Thermally Coupled Distillation (TCD)

Why? prefractionator arrangement avoids remixing

A
A
ABC

A
B
C

ABC

B
C
C
C

Source:
N. V. D. Long, M. Lee - Improvement of natural gas liquid recovery energy efficiency through thermally coupled distillation arrangements

Choi Bonggu & Riezqa Andika

TCD Development
A
ABC

Requires 30% less energy

A
B
C

B
A

B
C

ABC

ABC

Less capital cost & total annual cost

ABC

A
B

A
B
C

C
C

Prefractionator Arrangement

Petlyuk Column

Source:
N. V. D. Long, M. Lee - Improvement of natural gas liquid recovery energy efficiency through thermally coupled distillation arrangements

Choi Bonggu & Riezqa Andika

Dividing Wall Column (DWC)

Petlyuk

Dividing Wall Column (DWC)

Vs.

No remixing
Reducing feed mismatch
Thermal efficiency benefit
Difficulties in operation

No remixing
Reducing feed mismatch
Thermal efficiency benefit
One column with balanced pressure

ABC

ABC

Reduced Energy

Capital Saving

Improved Yield/Quality

Smaller Plot Area

Stable Operation

Choi Bonggu & Riezqa Andika

10

DWC Development

B>30% of feed;
C<A in feed
Side Rectifier

Top Dividing Wall

Column

Direct Sequence

B>30% of feed;
C>A in feed

Petlyuk Column

Center Dividing Wall

Column

Indirect Sequence

Side Stripper

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Bottom Dividing Wall

Column

11

Structural Design of DWC

Structural similarity between sloppy configuration and DWC
The structure of each column is determined by using the well known Fenske-Underwood-Gilliland method.

R Rm 0.5688
N Nm
0.75 1

N 1
R

where N F

N F ,m
Nm

&

N F ,m

x
x
ln D , LK F , LK
xD , HK xF , HK

ln LK HK

large B in feed , ABBC

Choi Bonggu & Riezqa Andika

12

Industrial and Pilot Scale DWC

Source:
N. Aspiron, G. Kaibel Dividing wall columns: Fundamentals and recent advances(Montz)
PSDC Lab., Yeungnam University

Choi Bonggu & Riezqa Andika

13

DWC Internal Column

Source:
N. Aspiron, G. Kaibel Dividing wall columns: Fundamentals and recent advances (Montz)

Choi Bonggu & Riezqa Andika

14

Process Simulation Application

Propylene-Propane Separation - MVR

<Conventional column>

<MVR>, >90% energy savings

T: 7.09

Reboiler Duty
(MW)

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Conventional

MVR

49.18

4.950

16

BTX Separation - DWC

<Direct sequence>

<DWC>, 20-30% energy savings

<Indirect sequence>

Reboiler Duty
(kW)

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Direct seq.

Indirect seq.

DWC

1983.4

2279.2

1589

17

Butane Separation (Debutanizer) - DWC

<Indirect sequence>

<DWC>, 30% energy savings

Reboiler Duty (kW)

Conventional

MVR

9652

6774

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18

Thank You
Riezqa Andika

PSDC Lab., School of Chemical Engineering

Yeungnam University
Dae-dong 214-1, Gyeongsan 712-749
Republic of Korea (South Korea)
Website

: psdc.yu.ac.kr/www.yu.ac.kr