ACTIVITY 4

Problem 1

A mixture of 40 mol% benzene and 60 mol% toluene is to be separated by distillation at atmospheric

pressure into products of 98% purity using a reflux ratio two times the minimum value. If the feed
enters at (a) 25 0C, (b) at its boiling temperature and (c) 100 0C, determine

1. Minimum reflux ratio (using McCabe-Thiele Method)

2. Feed condition and q-value
3. Number of equilibrium stages required for the separation (using Ponchon-Savarit Method)
4. Reboiler duty
5. Condenser duty

Given:

Required:

If feed enters at (a) 25 0C, (b) at its boiling temperature and (c) 100 0C, determine

1. Minimum reflux ratio (using McCabe-Thiele Method)

 2. Feed condition and q-value
3. Number of equilibrium stages required for the separation (using Ponchon-Savarit Method)
4. Reboiler duty
5. Condenser duty

Solution:

a. AT 25OC

1. Open the excel and draw the 45o line and equilibrium curve

2. Obtain the enthalpy values. Then calculate the q value

(𝐻𝐵 − 𝐻𝑓𝐵 )𝑥𝑓𝐵 + (𝐻𝑇 − 𝐻𝑓𝑇 )𝑥𝑓𝑇

𝑞=
(𝐻𝐵 − ℎ𝐵 )𝑥𝑓𝐵 + (𝐻𝑇 − ℎ𝑇 )𝑥𝑓𝑇
 (32.2271 − (−7.73960))(0.4) + (31.3739 − (−14.258))(0.6)
𝑞=
(32.2271 − 2.293423)(0.4) + (31.3739 − (−2.758735)(0.6)

𝑞 = 1.336263

The q>1, therefore the feed is subcooled liquid.

3. And draw the operating line using the obtained q-value touching the equilibrium curve. The
equation of the:
q x
y x- f
q -1 q -1
1.33626
y x  - 0.4
1.33626- 1 1.33626- 1
y = 3.9739x - 1.1895

Plot the operating line.

1
0.9
VAPOR CONCENTRATION OF

0.8
0.7
BENZENE YA

y = 3.9739x - 1.1895
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
LIQUID CONCENTRATION OF BENZENE XA

3. Now draw the enriching line, connect the point (xD,yD) to (xA, yA) touching the equilibrium curve.
Show the equation of q-line and enriching line. Solve for their intersection using solver. Solve for the
𝑦2 −𝑦1
slope of enriching line which is mmin using the the coordinates of xd and intersection solved.
𝑥2 −𝑥1

From there, Rmin is solved from the equation:

𝑅𝑚𝑖𝑛
𝑚𝑚𝑖𝑛 =
𝑅𝑚𝑖𝑛 + 1
 𝑦𝐷 −𝑦𝐴
𝑚𝑚𝑖𝑛 =
𝑥𝐷 −𝑥𝐴

𝑚𝑚𝑖𝑛
𝑅𝑚𝑖𝑛 =
1 − 𝑚𝑚𝑖𝑛

/g0
The xA and yA is the intersection of equilibrium curve and q-line, get the equation of the
equilibrium and q-line and solve for their intersection using solver. As for (xD, yD) = (0.98,0.98)

Equilibrium curve: y  - 0.4179x4  1.493x3 - 2.3611x2  2.2859x

q-line: y = 3.9739x - 1.1895

𝑦𝐷 −𝑦𝐴 0.98−0.6895500521
𝑚𝑚𝑖𝑛 = = =0.572725026
𝑥𝐷 −𝑥𝐴 0.98−0.472864

𝑚 0.572725026
𝑅𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 1−𝑚𝑚𝑖𝑛 =1−0.572725026=1.340411901
𝑚𝑖𝑛

Now Ractual is twice the Rmin.

The equation of the enriching line is:

Ractual xD
y x
Ractual  1 Ractual  1

y = 0.7283x + 0.2662

4. For determination of number of stages using Ponchon Savarit method, enthalpy-concentration

must be plotted first. With this, another set of enthalpy values are needed using the data (temperature
and concentration of B-T solution) from Geankoplis.
 Equation for Hv or Hfeed and hl or hfeed:

Hv=yAHAB + yBHBT

hl=xAhAB + xBhBT

The tabulated value gives a graph:

35 y = -1.03x4 + 1.3266x3 - 0.7459x2 - 1.9638x + 33.246

30

25

20
ENTHALPY

15

10

5
y = 0.1215x5 + 0.441x4 - 2.7695x3 + 6.1395x2 - 3.9375x + 0.0183
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2
-5
CONCENTRATION

The equations of the enthalpy of saturated liquid (hl) and of the enthalpy of saturated vapor (Hv) will
be of use in getting the Hv and hl at x= 0.98.
 Now to plot the operating line, get the highet coordinates of the line (xD, y) where your y is:
QC
y  hl   Hv  R ( Hv  hl )
D

Use newly solved Hv and hl in solving the y then plot the operating line;

Through solver, obtain the Hv and hl values then plot the obtained values.
Graph of hl and Hv

For the graph of number of stages:

COORDINATES FOR NUMBER OF

STAGES
0.98 113.8424
0.98 0

0.957488 30.98065
0.98 113.8424

0.919409 31.10497
0.98 113.8424

0.861962 31.28009
0.98 113.8424

0.786908 31.49026
0.98 113.8424
0.704459 31.70253
0.98 113.8424

0.629319 31.88382
0.98 113.8424

0.544641 32.07887
0.02 -93.8354

0.438409 32.31542
0.02 -93.8354

0.324727 32.56362
0.02 -93.8354

0.221244 32.78691
0.02 -93.8354

0.139402 32.96095
0.02 -93.8354

0.081266 33.08215
0.02 -93.8354

0.042938 33.1604
0.02 -93.8354

0.01886 33.20871
0.02 -93.8354

0 0
0.02 -93.8354
 150

100

50
ENTHALPY
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2
-50

-100

-150
CONCENTRATION

Graphing both Hv and hl together with number of stages gives:

150

100

50
ENTHALPY

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2

-50

-100

-150 CONCENTRATION

x45line  0.02
Therefore, number of stages: 13 
x45line  xEq.line

0.0429  0.02
13 
0.0429  0.0192
13.966
Condenser duty

The condenser duty can be determined by

QC
hD   D
D
OMB: F = D + W
Component Balance: F XF = D XD + W XW

Assume: 100 kg mole / h feed rate

(100) (0.4) = D (0.98) + (100 – D) (0.02)

D = 39.583 kg mole / h or D = 11 mol/s

W= 89 mol/s

Solving for Qc,

QC
D  hD 
D
QC  D(D  hD )

QC  (11)(113.5560  (0.03399))

Qc = 1249.49 KW

Reboiler duty

The reboiler duty can be calculated using

 QR
hW   R
W

QR  (hW  R)W

QR  (0.0581654  (93.597))89

QR = 8356.9963 KW

b. AT BOILING POINT = 95.5°C

Repeating the same procedure, graph the phase equilibrium diagram then get the equations

1. The feed enters the distillation unit at its boiling point, which means it is in saturated liquid
condition. The the value of q at saturated liquid is 1, q=1.

2. Determination of Rmin.

Equilibrium curve: y = -0.4179x4 + 1.493x3 – 2.3611x2 + 2.2859x

q-line (vertical line): y = 1

 1
y = -0.4145x4 + 1.4853x3 - 2.355x2 + 2.2841x + 0.0002

Vapor concentration of benzene, ya

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
Liquid concentration of benzene, xa

Taking the equation of the equilibrium curve, and substituting x with xD gives y coordinate of
q-line or the yA, while xA=xD= yD=0.4. Now that (xD, yD) and (yA, xA) is known, mmin is already
solvable which will be then used is solving Rmin. Solving for Rmin gives:

Rmin = 1.618652026

3. Plotting the enthalpy-concentration diagram and solving for the operating line.
Using solver, solve for the values of H_l line and H_v line.

Graph hl line and Hv line.

35
30
25
20
ENTHALPY

15
10
5
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
-5
CONCENTRATION

Plot the number of stages.

COORDINATES FOR PLOTTING NUMBER OF STAGES

0.98 131.0586424
0.98 0

0.956382602 30.98436262
 0.98 131.0586424

0.914601855 31.12017414
0.98 130.8977203

0.848926253 31.31798643
0.98 131.0586424

0.760841466 31.55920034
0.98 131.0586424

0.663667167 31.80212087
0.98 131.0586424

0.576983627 32.0052661
0.98 131.0586424

0.486535848 32.20904388
0.02 -86.9864

0.381210786 32.44072213
0.02 -86.9864

0.275834264 32.66944368
0.02 -86.9864

0.184643763 32.86512025
0.02 -86.9864

0.114685807 33.01279223
0.02 -86.9864
 0.065616183 33.11428716
0.02 -86.9864

0.033265982 33.17989441
0.02 -86.9864

0.012778131 33.22078726
0.02 -86.9864

Graph of number of stages

150

100

50
ENTHALPY

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2

-50

-100
CONCENTRATION

Plot the operating line, hl and Hv line and the number of stages.
 150

100

50

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2

-50

-100

The graph shows 14 stages

Condenser duty

The condenser duty can be determined by

QC
hD   D
D

Solving for the value of Qc

QC  D(D  hD )

Qc = 1442.02 KW
Reboiler duty

The reboiler duty can be calculated using

QR
hW   R
W

QR  (hW  R)W

QR = 7736.61 KW

c. AT 100°C

The same procedure graph the phase equilibrium diagram then get the equations

1. At 100oC and benzene concentration, xA=0.4, the feed condition falls in saturated mixture
region, based on temperature-concentration diagram. For this type of feed, the lever rule is
used to solved for q-value:

n vap c b

n liq b a
n vap
q 
n vap  n liq

q =0.709777
 therefore, q is a fraction or partially vaporized

2. Determination of Rmin

Equilibrium curve: y  - 0.4179x4  1.493x3 - 2.3611x2  2.2859x

q-line: y = -2.4456x + 1.3782

1
VAPOR COMPOSITION OF BENZENE yA

0.8

0.6

0.4 y = -2.4456x + 1.3782

0.2

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
LIQUID COMPOSITION OF BENZENE XA

Use the same process for solving Rmin based from the previous conditions, which then gives:

Rmin = 1.963152233

3. Plotting the enthalpy-concentration and operating line.

 200

150 y = 242.75x - 85.516

100

50

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2
-50

-100

Using solver, solve for the values of hl line and Hv line.

Plot the hl line and Hv line.

 35

30

25

20

15

10

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2
-5

COORDINATES FOR PLOTTING NUMBER OF STAGES

COORDINATES FOR PLOTTING NUMBER OF STAGES

0.98 152.3747817
0.98 0

0.955355936 30.98780374
0.98 152.3747817

0.909914977 31.13489354
0.98 152.3747817

0.835975364 31.35501921
0.98 152.3747817

0.73467294 31.62663439
0.98 152.3747817
0.622992087 31.89867996
0.98 152.3747817

0.525695387 32.12156908
0.98 152.3747817

0.332985059 32.54569576
0.02 -80.661

0.332985059 32.54569576
0.02 -80.661

0.237193453 32.75267744
0.02 -80.661

0.157012315 32.92377965
0.02 -80.661

0.096489084 33.05067274
0.02 -80.661

0.054161334 33.13765182
0.02 -80.661

0.026065874 33.19432807
0.02 -80.661

0.008049676 33.2301444
0.02 -80.661
 200

150

ENTHALPY 100

50

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2

-50

-100
CONCENTRATION

Plot the operating line, hl and Hv line and the number of stages.
 200

150

100
ENTHALPY

50

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2

-50

-100
CONCENTRATION

Therefore, the number of stages is:

Condenser duty

The condenser duty can be determined by

QC
hD   D
D

Solving for the value of Qc

 Qc = 1676.496 KW

Reboiler duty

The reboiler duty can be calculated using

QR
hW   R
W

QR = 7173.65 KW