McCabe-Thiele Diagrams: Example Problem
Try to solve this problem before watching the solution in the screencasts.
Example Problem 1
Acetone and ethanol are separated using a distillation column with a partial condenser and partial reboiler. An equimolar, sub-cooled liquid feed enters at 100 kmol/hr and condenses 1 mol of vapor for every 6 mol of feed. The separation requires a distillate vapor that is 95 mol% acetone and bottoms liquid that is 5 mol% acetone. The reflux is returned from the condenser to the column as a saturated liquid and the operation is run at (L/V) =1/4*(L/V)min. Assume constant molar overflow conditions. Perform the following:
- Plot the operating lines for the rectifying and stripping sections and the feed line.
- Determine the number of equilibrium stages required and number of trays if each tray has an efficiency of 1.
- Determine the optimal feed location.
- Determine the molar flow rates in and out of the condenser (V and D) and boiler (L and B).