Selection of Optimum Separation Sequence for Multicomponent Distillation

Abstract

This paper considers the process of multicomponent distillation. It is shown that energy consumption (per mole of mixture being separated) depends monotonously on efficiency if the capacity is constant and separation is reversible. Authors suggest the technique for selection of distillation sequence for which the total energy consumption in the cascade of columns reaches its minimum. This sequence is determined by values of thermal coefficients. Coefficients themselves depend on temperatures in the reboiler and condenser. This paper offers the algorithm for the calculation of these coefficients.

Keywords

• distillation
• multicomponent mixture
• thermal coefficient
• separation sequence
• maximum capacity
• minimum energy consumption