THEORY

Distillation is based on the fact that the vapour of a boiling mixture will be richer in the
components that have lower boiling points. Therefore, when this vapour is cooled and
condensed, the condensate will contain more volatile components. At the same time,
the original mixture will contain more of the less volatile material. Distillation columns
are designed to achieve this separation efficiently. Distillation is a method of
separating mixtures based on differences in volatilities of components in a boiling
liquid mixture. Distillation is a unit operation, or a physical separation process, and
not a chemical reaction.

Commercially, distillation has a number of applications. It is used to separate crude

oil into more fractions for specific uses such as transport, power generation and
heating. Water is distilled to remove impurities, such as salt from seawater. Air is
distilled to separate its components notably oxygen, nitrogen, and argon for
industrial use. Distillation of fermented solutions has been used since ancient times
to produce distilled beverages with a higher alcohol content. The premises where
distillation is carried out, especially distillation of alcohol, are known as a distillery.

A valve is a device that regulates, directs or controls the flow of a fluid (gases, liquids,
fluidized solids, or slurries) by opening, closing, or partially obstructing various
passageways. Valves are technically pipe fittings, but are usually discussed as a
separate category. In an open valve, fluid flows in a direction from higher pressure to
lower pressure.