Example 1.

(chapter:4)
McCabe-Thiele method
A distillation column with a total condenser and a
partial reboiler is separating an ethanol-water
mixture. The feed is 20 mol% ethanol, feed rate is
1000 kmol/h, and feed temperature is 80F. A
distillate composition of 80 mol% ethanol and a
bottoms composition of 2 mol% ethanol are
desired. The external reflux ratio is 5/3. The reflux
is returned as a saturated liquid and CMO can be
assumed. Find the optimum feed plate location
and the total number of equilibrium stages
required. Pressure is 1 atm.
1

Find the optimum feed plate location and the total

number of equilibrium stages

Plan. Determine q from Eq. (4-17) and the

enthalpy-composition diagram at 1 atm. Plot the
feed line. Calculate L/V. Plot the top operating line;
then plot the bottom operating line and step off
stages.

Equation 4-17

Feed Line: To find q, first convert feed concentration, 20 mol%, to

wt % ethanol = 39 wt %. Two calculations in different units with
different data are shown

Exact Calculation

Approx Calc.

Data at p = 1 atm

(p = 1 kg/cm2)

from Brown et al. (1950)

using Figure 2-4

hF = 25 Btu/lb (80 F)

hF = 15 kcal/kg (30 C)

H = 880 Btu/lb (satd vapor) H = 485 kcal/kg (satd

vapor)
h = 125 Btu/lb (satd liquid) h = 70 kcal/kg (satd liquid)

Feed line intersects y=x line at feed concentration z=0.2. Feed

line is plotted in Figure 4-13
Top Operating Line

Intersection of top operating line and y = x (solve top operating line and
y = x simultaneously) is at y = x = xD. The top operating line is plotted
in Figure 4-13

Figure 4-13

Bottom Operating Line

We know that the bottom operating

line intersects the top operating line
at the feed line; this is one point. We
could calculate /
from mass
balances or from Eq. (4-25), but it
easier to find another point. The
intersection of the bottom operating
line and the y = x line is at y = x =
xB . This gives a second point

Result: The feed line, top operating line, and

bottom operating line are shown in Figure 4-13.
We stepped off stages from the bottom up (this is
an arbitrary choice). The optimum feed stage is
the second above the partial reboiler. 12
equilibrium stages plus a partial reboiler are
required.
7

Problem 2: (chapter:4)

A distillation column with two feeds is separating ethanol (E) and water
at a pressure of 1.0 atm. The column has a total condenser with
saturated liquid reflux and a partial reboiler. Feed 1 is a saturated liquid
and is 42 mol% ethanol. Feed 2 flow rate is F2 = 100 kmol/h. Feed 2 is
18 mol% ethanol and is a two-phase mixture that is 30% vapor. The
external reflux ratio is L/D = 1/2, and the distillate flow rate is D = 80
kmol/h. We desire a distillate mole fraction of xD = 0.66 mole fraction
ethanol and a bottoms that is xB = 0.04 mole fraction ethanol. You can
assume that CMO is valid. Equilibrium data are in Table 2-1.
Find the flow rates F1 and B.
Find the liquid and vapor flow rates in the middle section, L and V.
Determine and plot the operating lines. Be neat.
Find both optimum feed locations (above partial reboiler) and the total
number of equilibrium stages needed. Step off stages from the bottom
up. Be neat.

q
1
x
zF
q 1
1 q

Feed Line
L L (L L F ) L L F
q

F
F
F

L F
LF
L
q
0.7
F

F
q 1 LF F 1 LF F VF
0.3

Saturated Liquid Feed Given TF = Tbp

10

Two-Phase Feed Given f

11

Middle Operating Line:

write a mass balance around the top
or the bottom of the column. The
resulting equations will look different,
but they are equivalent

mass balance envelope around the

top of the column
F2 + V = L + D
F2z2 + V y = L x + DxD (MVC)
Solve this equation for y to develop
the middle operating equation,

12

13

Problem 3: (chapter:2)
A feed mixture containing benzene, toluene and p-xylene to
an isothermal flash at T=110 degree Celsius and P=760
mmHg. Feed composition is 30 mole% benzene, 30 mole%
toluene and 40 mole% p-xylene. Feed flow rate
is100kmol/hr. Determine V/F, xi and yi for i=1,2 and 3;
compute also V and L. Use Rachford-Rice equation and take
initial guess V/F=0.28.
Hint: only one iteration is required.
Assume the following K-values:
K-values

benzene
2.375

toluene
0.9818

p-xylene
0.4403

14

Rachford-Rice equation with Newtonian convergence routine

xi =

zi
V
F

1+ K i -1

V
f =
F

K i -1 z i

i =1

V
1+ K i -1
F

d fk
=d V/F
V

F

k+1

=0

K i -1 z i
2

1+ K i -1 V/F

i=1

V
=
F

and yi =K i x i

i = 1, C

d fk

d
V/F

- fk

15

16

17

18

Problem 4: (chapter:4, D1)

A continuous, steady-state distillation column with a total
condenser and a partial reboiler is separating methanol from
water at one atmosphere (see Table 2-7 for data). The feed rate
is 100 kmol/h. The feed is 55 mol% methanol and 45 mol%
water. We desire a distillate product that is 90 mol% methanol
and a bottoms product that is 5 mol% methanol. Assume CMO.
If the external reflux ratio L/D = 1.25 plot the top operating line.
If the boilup ratio V/B = 2.0 plot the bottom operating line.
Step off stages starting at the bottom with the partial reboiler.
Use the optimum feed stage. Report the optimum feed stage
and the total number of stages.
Plot the feed line. Calculate its slope. Calculate q. What type of
feed is this?
19

20

21

Problem(chapter 3)

a.
b.

A distillation column with two feeds is separating ethanol from

water. The first feed is 60 wt % ethanol, has a total flow rate of
1000 kg/h, and is a mix of liquid and vapor at 81C. The second
feed is 10 wt % ethanol, has a total flow rate of 500 kg/h, and is
liquid at 20C. We desire a bottoms product that is 0.01 wt %
ethanol and a distillate product that is 85 wt % ethanol. The column
operates at 1 kg/cm2 and is adiabatic. The column has a partial
reboiler, which acts as an equilibrium contact, and a total
condenser. The distillate and reflux are saturated liquids. Find B and
D in kg/h, and find Qc and QR in kcal/h. Use data in Figure 2-4. Do
both parts a and b.
External reflux ratio, Lo/D = 3.0
Boilup ratio, V/B=2.5
Date from data in Figure 2-4:
hD is a saturated liquid at xD= 0.85 wt. frac. From Fig. 2-4, h D=~ 45
kcal/kg
H1 is saturated vapor at xD=y1=0.85, H1 ~ 310 kcal/kg
22

Q R Dh D Bh B Fh F QC

23

24

Example 3-1. External balances for

binary distillation
A steady-state, countercurrent, staged distillation
column is to be used to separate ethanol from
water. The feed is a 30 wt % ethanol, 70 wt %
water mixture at 40C. Flow rate of feed is 10,000
kg/h. The column operates at a pressure of 1
kg/cm2. The reflux is returned as a saturated
liquid. A reflux ratio of L/D = 3.0 is being used. We
desire a bottoms composition of xB = 0.05 (weight
fraction ethanol) and a distillate composition of xD
= 0.80 (weight fraction ethanol). The system has a
total condenser and a partial reboiler. Find D, B,
Qc, and QR.
25

Example 3-1:Solution
Define. The column
and known
information are
sketched in the
following figure.
Find D, B, Qc, QR.

26

Example 3-1:Solution
Explore.
Two unknowns in the mass balances, B and D,
How to solve: Either solve Eqs. (3-1) and (3-2)
simultaneously, or use Eqs. (3-3) and (3-4).
For the energy balances: enthalpies must be
determined. (read from the enthalpycomposition diagram, Figure 2-4).
Then Qc can be determined from the balance
around the condenser
QR from the overall energy balance.
27

Example 3-1:Solution
Plan. Use Eqs. (3-3) and (3-4) to find D and B, Eq. (3-14) to
determine Qc, and Eq. (3-15a) to determine QR

Eq. (3-3)
Eq. (3-4)
Eq. (3-14)
Eq. (3-14)

28

Example 3-1:Solution
Do It. From Eq. (3-3),
From Eq. (3-4), B = F D = 10,000 3333 = 6667 kg/h
From Figure 2-4 the enthalpies are
hD(xD = 0.8, saturated liquid) = 60 kcal/kg
hB(xB = 0.05, saturated liquid) = 90 kcal/kg
hf(z = 0.3, 40 C) = 30 kcal/kg
H1(y1 = xD = 0.8, saturated vapor) = 330 kcal/kg
From Eq. (3-14),
From Eq. (3-15a), QR = DhD + BhB FhF QC
QR = (3333)(60) + (6667)(90) (10,000)(30)
(3,599,640) = 4,099,650 kcal/h
29

Problem: D2
A distillation column separating ethanol
from water is shown. Pressure is 1
kg/cm2. Instead of having a reboiler,
steam (pure water vapor) is injected
directly into the bottom of the column to
provide heat. The injected steam is a
saturated vapor. The feed is 30 wt %
ethanol and is at 20 C. Feed flow rate is
100 kg/min. Reflux is a saturated liquid.
We desire a distillate concentration of 60
wt % ethanol and a bottoms product that
is 5 wt % ethanol. The steam is input at
100 kg/min. What is the external reflux
ratio, L/D?
30

31

Problem: D5
A distillation column is separating ethanol from
water at a pressure of 1 kg/cm2. A two-phase
feed of 20 wt% ethanol at 93C is input at 100
kg/min. The column has a total condenser and a
partial reboiler. The distillate composition is 90 wt
% ethanol. Distillate and reflux are at 20C.
Bottoms composition is 1 wt % ethanol. Reflux
ratio is L0/D = 3. A liquid side stream is
withdrawn above the feed stage. Side stream is
70 wt % ethanol, and side stream flow rate is 10
kg/min. Find D, B, Qc, and QR. Data are in Figure
2-4.
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33

D6: two feed case

We are separating a mixture of acetone and ethanol in a

distillation column operating at one atmosphere pressure.
The column has a total condenser and a partial reboiler. The
distillate is 90 mol% acetone, and the bottoms is 10 mol%
acetone. The reflux is returned as a saturated liquid. Use a
boilup ratio of V/B = 2.0. Two feeds are fed to the column.
The first feed has a flow rate of 75 kmol/h, it is a saturated
liquid, and it is 60 mol% acetone. The second feed has a
flow rate of 100 kmol/h, it is a two-phase mixture that is
60% vapor, and it is 40 mol% acetone. Use the optimum
feed location for each feed. Assume CMO. Equilibrium data
are in Problem 4.D7.
Find the distillate and bottoms flow rates, D and B.
Plot the two feed lines and the three operating lines.
Step off stages and find the optimum feed location for each
feed stream and the total number of equilibrium stages
required.

34

-0.60

V/B = 2.0

35

36

A distillation column is separating a 30% methanol70% water

feed. The feed rate is 237 kmol/h and is a saturated liquid. The
column has a partial reboiler and a partial condenser. We desire a
distillate mole fraction of yD,M = 0.95 and a bottoms mole
fraction of xB,M = 0.025. Assume CMO is valid. Data are in Table
2-7 and Problem 3.E1.
a.Find Nmin.
b.Find (L/V)min and (L/D)min.
c.If L/D = 2.0 (L/D)min, find the optimum feed plate location and
the total number of equilibrium stages required.
d.Determine the boilup ratio used.

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