Department of Petroleum Engineering & Petrochemical

Engineering
B.Tech III/IV Petrochemical Engineering, Semester-I (2015-
2016)
Subject- Mass Transfer I
Assignment on Distillation
Submission Date: 4 pm on 26-9-2015
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1. A fractionation column operating at 101 kPa is to separate 30 kglhr of a

solution of benzene and toluene containing 0.6 mass fraction toluene into
an overhead product containing 0.97 mass fraction benzene and a
bottoms product containing 0.98 mass fraction toluene. A reflux ratio of
3.5 is to be used. The feed is liquid at its boiling point, feed is on the
optimum tray, and the reflux is at saturation temperature.
a. Determine the quantity of top and bottom products.
b. Determine the number of stages required.
Equilibrium data in mole fraction benzene, 101 kPa
y : 0.0 0.21 0.37 0.51 0.64 0.72 0.79 0.86 0.91
0.96 0.98 1.00
x : 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9
0.95 1.00

2. A mixture of A (more volatile) and B is being separated in a plate

distillation column. In two separate tests run with a saturated liquid feed
of 40 mole% A, the following compositions, in mole percent A, were
obtained for samples of liquid and vapor streams from three consecutive
stages between the feed and total condenser at the top.
Stage Test 1 Test 2
V L V L
M+2 80.2 72.0 75.0 68.0
M+l 76.5 60.0 68.0 60.5
M 66.5 58.5 60.5 53.0
Determine the reflux ratio and overhead composition in each case,
assuming the column has more than three stages.

3. A saturated liquid mixture of 69.4 mole% benzene in toluene is to be

continuously distilled at atmospheric pressure to produce a distillate
containing 90mole% benzene, with a yield of 25 moles distillate per 100
moles of feed. The feed is sent to a steam-heated still (reboiler), where
residue is to be withdrawn continuously. The vapors from the still pass
directly to a partial condenser. From a liquid separator following the
condenser, reflux is returned to the still. Vapors from the separator, which
 are in equilibrium with the liquid reflux, are sent to a total condenser and
are continuously withdrawn as distillate. At equilibrium the mole ratio of
benzene to toluene in the vapor may be taken as equal to 2.5 times the
mole ratio of benzene to toluene in the liquid. Calculate analytically and
graphically the total moles of vapor generated in the still per 100 moles of
feed.

4. A saturated liquid mixture of benzene and toluene containing 50 mole%

benzene is to be distilled in an apparatus consisting of a still pot, one
perfect plate, and a total condenser. The still pot is equivalent to
one stage, and the pressure is 101 kPa.
The still is supposed to produce a distillate containing 75 mole% benzene.
For each of the procedures given, calculate, if possible,
a. Moles of distillate per 100 moles of feed. Assume a constant relative
volatility of 2.5.
The procedures are:
i. No reflux with feed to the still pot.
ii. Feed to the still pot, reflux ratio LID = 3.
iii. Feed to the plate with a reflux ratio of 3.
iv. Feed to the plate with a reflux ratio of 3. However, in this case,
a partial condenser is employed.
v. A preheater partially vaporizes the feed to 25 mole% vapor,
which is fed to the plate. The reflux ratio is 3.
vi. Solve part (b) using minimum reflux.
vii. Solve part (b) using total reflux.

5. A distillation unit consists of a partial reboiler, a column with seven

perfect plates, and a total condenser. The feed consists of a 50 mole%
mixture of benzene in toluene. It is desired to produce a distillate
containing 96 mole% benzene.
a. With saturated liquid feed fed to the fifth plate from the top, calculate:

i. Minimum reflux ratio (Lm ID)

ii. The bottoms composition, using a reflux ratio (L R/D) of twice the
minimum.
iii. Moles of product per 100 moles of feed.
b. Repeat part (a) for a saturated vapor feed fed to the fifth plate from
the top.
c. With saturated vapor feed fed to the reboiler and a reflux ratio (LIV) of
0.9, calculate i. Bottoms composition. ii. Moles of product per 100
moles of feed.

6. A mixture of 40 mole% carbon disulfide (CS 2) in carbon tetrachloride

(CCl4) is continuously distilled. The feed is 50% vaporized (q = 0.5). The
top product from a total condenser is 95 mole% CS 2, and the bottoms
product from a partial reboiler is a liquid of 5 mole% CS 2. The column
 operates with a reflux ratio LID of 4 to 1. The Murphree vapor efficiency is
80%.
a. Calculate graphically the minimum reflux, the minimum boilup ratio
from the reboiler V/B, and the minimum number of stages (including
reboiler).
b. How many trays are required for the actual column at 80% efficiency
by the McCabe-Thiele method?

The coordinates of the x-y diagram at column pressure for this mixture in
terms of CS2 mole fraction are:

7. Methanol (M) is to be separated from water (W) by distillation as shown

below. The feed is subcooled such that
q = 1.12. Determine the feed stage location and the number of theoretical
stages required.
8. A water-isopropanol mixture at its bubble point containing 10 mole%
isopropanol is to be continuously rectified at atmospheric pressure to
produce a distillate containing 67.5 mole% isopropanol. Ninety-eight
percent of the isopropanol in the feed must be recovered. If a reflux ratio
LID of 1.5 of minimum is to be used, how many theoretical stages will be
required? (a) If a partial reboiler is used? (b) If no reboiler is used and
saturated steam at 101 kPa is introduced below the bottom plate? How
many stages are required at total reflux?

9. Determine the optimum stage location for each feed and the number of
theoretical stages required for the distillation separation shown below
using the following equilibrium data in mole fractions:

10. Determine the number of theoretical stages required and the optimum
stage locations for the feed and liquid side stream for the distillation
process shown below assuming that methanol (M) and ethanol (E) form an
ideal solution. Use the Antoine equation for vapor pressures.