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Approximate flash calculation

To determine the phase of reactor effluent, in


some cases, we can use a sharp split
approximation procedure to avoid the trial
and error solution associated with flash
calculation.
The flash equation can be written as,

Overall balance
(1)
Component balance
(2)
Equilibrium
(3)

F=V+L
Fzi = Vyi + Lxi
yi = Ki xi

If Ki >> 1 eq 4 we see that


then Vyi = Fzi
(6)
And if Ki << 1 in eq 5 we see that
then
Lxi = Fzi

(7)

Let fi and fj be the component flows of light and


heavy materials respectively in (mol/hr)
Thus, as a first estimation of the vapor and liquid
flow rates, we can write
V = fi

for all component where K i > 10

L = fj

for all component where K j < 0.1

---(8)
---(9)

These expression are equivalent to a perfect split,


providing there are no component with Ki value
between 0.1 and 10
The perfect spilt expressions ignore the vapor
liquid equilibrium.
However, we can superimpose these
equilibrium relationships on our expressions for
the flows.
Thus, the liquid component in equilibrium with
a vapor component having a mole fraction
yi = fi /V = fi / fi
(10)
is
xi = yi / Ki = fi / Ki fi

(11)

The liquid flow of this component is then


li = Lxi = fi fj / Ki fi
(12)
Now we can go back and adjust vapor flow for this
loss
i = fi - li = fi ( 1 - fj / Ki fi )
(13)
The corresponding expressions for components that
are predominantly in the liquid phase are
i = Kj fjfi / fj
(14)
and
lj = fj ( 1 - Kj fi / fj )
(15)

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