Mixture separation in distillation column with semicylindrical structured packing

Abstract

This paper presents investigation results on separation of a binary mixture in distillation columns of semi-cylindrical cross-section with structured packing. The effect of vapor and liquid flow rates, packing height on separation efficiency, pressure drop, distribution of local liquid flow rates, temperature, and mixture composition as under the structured packing so in different positions inside the column was studied experimentally. An increase in the ratio of the molar flow rates of the liquid and vapor phases L/V results in a decrease in the height equivalent to the theoretical plate HETP. Increasing of the height of the structured packing leads to deterioration in the efficiency of the mixture separation. To analyze the effect of the shape of the column cross-section on the separation efficiency, the similar experiments were carried out in a round column. The main regularities in the influence of the structured packing height, ratio of liquid and vapor flow rates, and other operating parameters obtained for the round column are also valid for the column with a semi-cylindrical cross-section.