DISTILLATION

I.

Theory
Distillation unit operation is also referred to as fractionation or fractional distillation. Separation of
constituents is based upon differences in volatility. The vapor phase contacts a liquid phase and mass is
transferred simultaneously. The liquid is at its bubble point while the vapor in equilibrium is at its dew
point. The net effect is an increase in concentration of the more volatile component in the vapor and of
the less volatile component in the liquid. Vaporization and condensation both involve the latent heats of
vaporization of the components and thus, heat effects must be considered in distillation calculations.
The feed enters the column somewhere in the middle and flows down to a sieve tray or stage. Vapor
enters the tray and bubbles through the liquid flows across. It continues up to the next tray where it is
again contacted with a down flowing liquid. The final vapor product coming overhead is condensed and a
portion of the liquid product (distillate) is removed. The remaining liquid from the condenser is returned
(refluxed) as a liquid to the top tray. The liquid leaving the bottom tray enters a reboiler, where it is
partially vaporized and the remaining liquid is withdrawn as liquid product. The vapor from the reboiler is
sent back to the bottom stage or tray.

Figure 1 Process flow of a fractionating tower containing sieve trays

Flash Distillation

Continuous Distillation (Rectification)

II.

Equations
Material Balances on Plate Columns
Assumption: The McCabe-Thiele method of calculation for the number of theoretical stages assumes
that there must be equimolar overflow through the tower between the feed inlet and the top tray and the
feed inlet and the bottom tray.
Total Material Balance:
Component balance:

V n+1 + Ln1=V n + Ln

V n+1 y n+1 + Ln1 x n +1=V n y n+ L n x n

Enriching Section the upper part of the tower above the feed entrance where the binary components A
and B is enriched so that the distillate is richer in A than the feed. (F = Feed; D = Distillate; B = Bottoms;
all in mol/h)
Total MB:

F=D+B

Component MB:

F x F =D x D + B x B

Relative Volatility is a measure of the differences in volatility between 2 components, and hence their
boiling points. It indicates how easy or difficult a particular separation will be. The relative volatility of
component i with respect to component j is defined a

yi
x
aij = i
yj
xj
Where
yi = mole fraction of component i in the vapour
xi = mole fraction of component i in the liquid
The dew-point is the temperature at which the saturated vapor starts to condense.
The bubble-point is the temperature at which the liquid starts to boil.
Vapor Pressure-Temperature data for pure components