Prediction of the Separation Performance of Ternary Packed Column Distillation Having Structured Packing Using Heat and Mass Transfer Model.

Abstract

A simulation model to study the separation performance of a ternary packed column distillation containing wire-gauze structured packing was developed using mass and heat transfer models. The mass transfer correlation applied is expressed in terms of dimensionless diffusion flux, previously generated from the experimental data of distillation using wire gauze structured packing. A two-function Newton-Raphson convergence method was found to apply well to the model. The simulation model was applied to analyze the effect of reflux ratio, external heat flux through the wall and the location of feed on the concentration of the products and the concentration profiles of the liquid stream within the column. It was also shown that removing heat from the system, in terms of wall heat flux, has great influence on the concentration profiles, especially in breaking possible pinch-conditions at low reflux ratios.