Study of Energy Efficient Distillation Columns Usage for Multicomponent Separations through Process Simulation and Statistical Methods

Abstract

This paper studies the optimal design conditions for the fully thermally coupled distillation columns, FTCDC, through process simulation with Aspen HYSYS and statistical methods. A fractional factorial design was used in order to screen the main operational and structural factors that minimize the total cost. Following the process characterization a steepest descent method was iteratively performed in the direction of total cost optimization. The best combination of levels of structural and operational variables obtained by the designed experiments allowed to a reduction of 9.6 % in the total costs. The factors’ levels obtained in steady state simulation were then tested in dynamic simulation. It is important to carry out the dynamic simulation to test the conditions obtained by steady state simulation in a more realistic way because it is well known that FTCDC systems are difficult to control and operate.