Conventional Distillation Unit Research Articles

Carbon nanoparticle facilitated functional pyramid solar distillation unit for wastewater treatment

This paper proposes an efficient treatment of reverse osmosis reject (RO reject) and kitchen wastewater (KWW) in a locally developed single-stage functional pyramid solar distillation unit (FPSDU). The working mechanism of the designed and developed solar distillation unit, its specifications, treated water characteristics, novelty over conventional units, and economic analysis have been discussed in detail. The concept of coating glass beads is attempted for its functional application in solar still for generating photothermal heat. Carbon nanomaterials (CNP) coated glass beads were used as a heat storage medium. FPSDU produced approximately 6003 mL/m2day of treated water for KWW and 5868 mL/m2day for RO reject wastewater vis-a-vis output of 3000 mL/m2day for conventional solar distillation unit with an input of 7000 mL/m2day of wastewater in each case. This demonstrates that the FPSDU shows an improved performance than conventional distillation units, recovering about 85% of the treated water from KWW and RO reject wastewater as compared to 43% for conventional distillation units. The basin surface showed no signs of corrosion and the coating remained stable even after multiple cycles. The treated water met the criteria as per Indian standards, free with microbial contamination and can be used for different non-potable uses. Findings of the current research supports the improved effectiveness of FPSDU for RO reject and KWW treatment with immobilized carbon nanoparticles.

Numerical and Experimental Investigation of Zero-Gravity Distillation Units

Zero-gravity distillation (ZGD) represents an attractive method to perform small-scale distillation processes. In contrast to gravity in conventional distillation units, capillary forces, for example arising in metal foams, are used to guide the liquid phase. In this work, an experimental ZGD setup was constructed. A novel mathematical model was developed which allows the simulation of ZGD units. The model includes coupled momentum, heat and mass transfer equations for the liquid and vapor phases as well as heat conduction equation for the unit walls. The fluid dynamics is determined using the hydrodynamic analogy concept. The numerical simulations were successfully validated with the obtained experimental results.

Liquefaction biocrudes and their petroleum crude blends for processing in conventional distillation units

Various biocrudes were characterised by their distillation curves using simulated distillation. Biocrude and petroleum crude blends were generated and analysed to assess their compatibility for processing in conventional petroleum refineries. Distillation curves of biocrudes varied widely but were comparable to petroleum crude oil in shape and distillation range. Blending biocrude with petroleum crudes in the laboratory presented some challenges in miscibility; however, blending at higher than ambient temperatures, which more closely represents industrial practice, improved miscibility as shown in the FTIR spectra of blends, and close matching of the warmer blends to models. The distillation curve of the biocrude-petroleum crude blends followed the modelled blends in ASPEN Plus. Petroleum analysis and modelling methods were also demonstrated as reliable tools to analyse biocrudes and their blends with petroleum crude. The study verifies ASPEN's utility in modelling biocrude distillation for processing in refinery distillation columns either as a blend or separately.

Saving Primary Energy Consumption Through Exergy Analysis of Combine Distillation and Power Plant

Industrial heat pumps are heat-recovery systems that allow the temperature ofwaste-heat stream to be increased to a higher, more efficient temperature. Consequently, heat pumps can improve energy efficiency in industrial processes as well as energy savings when conventional passive-heat recovery is not possible. In this paper, possible ways of saving energy in the chemical industry are considered, the objective is to reduce the primary energy (such as coal) consumption of power plant. Particularly the thermodynamic analyses ofintegrating backpressure turbine ofa power plant with distillation units have been considered. Some practical examples such as conventional distillation unit and heat pump are used as a means of reducing primary energy consumption with tangible indications of energy savings. The heat pump distillation is operated via electrical power from the power plant. The exergy efficiency ofthe primary fuel is calculated for different operating range ofthe heat pump distillation. This is then compared with a conventional distillation unit that depends on saturated steam from a power plant as the source of energy. The results obtained show that heat pump distillation is an economic way to save energy if the temperaturedifference between the overhead and the bottom is small. Based on the result, the energy saved by the application of a heat pump distillation is improved compared to conventional distillation unit.

Saving Primary Energy Consumption Through Exergy Analysis of Combine Distillation and Power Plant

Industrial heat pumps are heat-recovery systems that allow the temperature of waste-heat stream to be increased to a higher, more efficient temperature. Consequently, heat pumps can improve energy efficiency in industrial processes as well as energy savings when conventional passive-heat recovery is not possible. In this paper, possible ways of saving energy in the chemical industry are considered, the objective is to reduce the primary energy (such as coal) consumption of power plant. Particularly the thermodynamic analyses of integrating backpressure turbine of a power plant with distillation units have been considered. Some practical examples such as conventional distillation unit and heat pump are used as a means of reducing primary energy consumption with tangible indications of energy savings. The heat pump distillation is operated via electrical power from the power plant. The exergy efficiency of the primary fuel is calculated for different operating range of the heat pump distillation. This is then compared with a conventional distillation unit that depends on saturated steam from a power plant as the source of energy. The results obtained show that heat pump distillation is an economic way to save energy if the temperature difference between the overhead and the bottom is small. Based on the result, the energy saved by the application of a heat pump distillation is improved compared to conventional distillation unit.

Recovery of key components of bilberry aroma using a commercial pervaporation membrane

Pervaporation, a membrane technology requiring low energetic demands, is considered to substitute the conventional distillation unit employed in the beverage industry in order to recover the key aroma compounds, and that would avoid the damages to the quality of the flavour profile. The analysis of the separation and recovery of some selected aroma compounds belonging to bilberry juice was made by employing a mathematical model previously developed for the pervaporation of VOCs. A PV hollow fiber module provided with a PDMS commercial membrane was considered. For each compound, the characteristic mass transfer parameters are the permeability of the membrane and the diffusion coefficient in the aqueous phase. Enrichment factors over 100 were achieved for the aroma compounds with higher permeabilities. The membrane thickness influence over the enrichment factor and flux of the bilberry impact aroma compound (E-2-Hexen-1-ol) was studied observing higher enrichment factors and lower fluxes with higher membrane thicknesses until an asymptotic value was reached. The predicted permeate composition achieved under the simulated conditions did not keep the same proportion of that in the feed composition. A sensorial analysis should be made to measure the product quality achieved.

Membrane distillation of [formula omitted] and [formula omitted] mixtures for the sulfur–iodine thermochemical process

The concentration of hydriodic and sulfuric acid aqueous solutions by membrane distillation (MD) was experimentally investigated. Two commercial hydrophobic membranes, with two different recirculation batch configurations, were tested: direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) with a polypropylene (PP) capillary membrane, and air-gap membrane distillation (AGMD) with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) flat-sheet membrane. Feed temperatures were 58 °C for DCMD and 80 °C for AGMD, with cooling water at 15 °C and 1 atm operating pressure in both cases. H 2 SO 4 concentration in the feed solution increased from 1.1 up to 7.0 mol/L with the DCMD and from 0.9 up to 10.1 mol/L with the AGMD. HI concentration increased from 0.3 up to 7.0 mol/L with the DCMD and from 0.3 up to 8.0 mol/L with the AGMD. The latter value is higher than the azeotropic concentration of the HI / H 2 O (7.57 mol/L) mixture and, hence, HI further separation from water can be easily achieved with conventional distillation units. Durability of PTFE membrane in acid solutions was assessed too.

Feasibility study of solar distillation plants in south pacific countries

Most South Pacific countries are located near the equator. Thus a sufficient amount of solar energy is available. The South Pacific countries consist of various small mountainous islands. In the present study, a review of various designs of conventional solar distillation units is presented. Based on its performance in terms of climatic conditions in PNG, an economic analysis has been carried out. It was observed that conventional distillation units can be used to provide drinking water in the absence of rain. It is recommended that:(1) FRP double solar distillation units are suitable for villages near the sea shore, and (2) a permanent structure of small concrete solar stills is suitable at higher latitudes.