CH2407 Process Equipment Design II

www.msubbu.in

Design of Distillation
ww
w
Column
.m
sub
bu
.in
Dr. M. Subramanian

Associate Professor
Department of Chemical Engineering
Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar College of Engineering
Kalavakkam – 603 110, Kanchipuram (Dist)
Tamil Nadu, India
msubbu.in[AT]gmail.com
27-Sep-2011 M Subramanian
 Steps Involved
1. Specify the degree of separation required: set product
specifications.

2. Select the operating conditions: batch or continuous;

operating pressure.

ww
3. Select the type of contacting device: plates or packing.
w.m
sub
4. Determine the stage and reflux bu requirements: the number
.in
of equilibrium stages.

5. Size the column: diameter, number of real stages.

6. Design the column internals: plates, distributors, packing

supports.

7. Mechanical design: vessel and internal fittings.

27-Sep-2011 M Subramanian
 Reflux Considerations

• Reflux ratio (R):

ww
• The number of stages required
w.m for achieving a given
separation depends on R sub
bu
.in
• Total reflux - all the condensate is returned to the column
as reflux. No feed, and no product taken out.
– Though not a practical operating condition, it is a useful guide
to get the likely number of stages that will be needed

27-Sep-2011 M Subramanian
 ww
w.m
sub
bu
.in

27-Sep-2011 M Subramanian
 ww
w.m
sub
bu
.in

27-Sep-2011 M Subramanian
 Bubble-cap Tray

ww
w.m
sub
bu
.in

27-Sep-2011 M Subramanian
 ww
w.m
sub
bu
.in

Bubble cap

27-Sep-2011 M Subramanian
 Bubble-cap in Operation

ww
w.m
sub
bu
.in

27-Sep-2011 M Subramanian
 Plate Spacing

• Ranges from 0.15 – 1 m

• For columns above 1 m dia, plate spacing of 0.3 – 0.6 m is

normally used; 0.5 m can be taken as the initial estimate
ww
w.m
sub
• A larger spacing will be neededbu.between certain plates to
in
accommodate feed and side-streams arrangements, and for
man-ways

27-Sep-2011 M Subramanian
 Tray Area

ww
w.m
sub
bu
.in

27-Sep-2011 M Subramanian
 Tray types by liquid paths

ww
w.m
sub
bu
.in

27-Sep-2011 M Subramanian
 Tray types by liquid paths (contd.)

ww
w.m
sub
bu
.in

27-Sep-2011 M Subramanian
 ww
w.m
sub
bu
.in

27-Sep-2011 M Subramanian
 Downcomer - designs

Vertical apron

Inclined apron
ww
w.m
sub
bu
.in
Inlet weir

Recessed well

27-Sep-2011 M Subramanian
 Column Diameter

• The principal factor which decides is vapor flow rate

• The vapour velocity must be below that which would cause

excessive liquid entrainment or a high-pressure drop
ww
w.m
• Maximum allowable superficial sub vapor velocity based on
liquid entrainment and pressure bu drop consideration:
.in
(Souders and Brown equation)

27-Sep-2011 M Subramanian
 Souders and Brown equation

ww
w.m
sub
bu
.in

27-Sep-2011 M Subramanian
 ww
w.m
sub
bu
.in

27-Sep-2011 M Subramanian
 ww
w.m
sub
bu
.in

27-Sep-2011 M Subramanian
 ww
w.m
sub
bu
.in

27-Sep-2011 M Subramanian