Tutorial 14 Continuous Distillation - Feed Condition (q) vs Minimum Reflux
A column is to be designed to separate acetone-methanol mixture at 1 atm. The feed contains 40 mole% acetone and 60 mole% methanol, and it enters the column as a vapour-liquid mixture of 30% liquid and 70% vapour.
The bottoms is to contain 10 mole% acetone and 90 mole % methanol, and the distilate 70 mole% acetone and 30 mole% methanol. A reflux ratio equals to 3 times the minimum is to be used. Determine the number of theoretical trays required for the separation.
Repeat the calculations for minimum reflux and theoretical trays (at 3 times minimum) required if the feed is a cold liquid with q = 2.0.
Compare your results and comments.
Equilibrium data for acetone-methanol
at 1 atm are given below:
