Distillation Sequences (distillation + sequence)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


A Short Note About Energy-Efficiency Performance of Thermally Coupled Distillation Sequences

THE CANADIAN JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, Issue 1 2006
Juan Gabriel Segovia-Hernández
Abstract In this work, we present a comparative study of the energy-efficiency performance between conventional distillation sequences and thermally coupled distillation arrangements (TCDS) for the separation of ternary mixtures of hydrocarbons under the action of feedback control loops. The influence of the relative ease of separation of the feed mixture and its composition was analyzed. The feedback analysis was conducted through servo tests with individual changes in the set points for each of the three product streams. Standard PI controllers were used for each loop. The results show an apparent trend regarding the sequence with a better dynamic performance. Generally, TCDS options performed better for the control of the extreme components of the ternary mixture (A and C), while the conventional sequences offered a better dynamic behaviour for the control of the intermediate component (B). The only case in which there was a dominant structure for all control loops was when the feed contained low amounts of the intermediate component and the mixture had similar relative volatilities. The Petlyuk column provided the optimal choice in such case, which contradicts the general expectations regarding its control behaviour. In addition, the energy demands during the dynamic responses were significantly lower than those observed for the other distillation sequences. TCDS options, therefore, are not only more energy efficient than the conventional sequences, but there are cases in which they also offer better feedback control properties. On présente dans ce travail une étude comparative de la performance d'efficacité d'énergétique entre les séquences de distillation conventionnelles et les configurations de distillation couplées thermiquement (TCDS) pour la séparation de mélanges ternaires d'hydrocarbures sous l'action de boucles de contrôle d'asservissement. L'influence de la facilité relative de séparation du mélange d'alimentation et de sa composition est analysée. L'analyse de rétroalimentation est réalisée grâce à des tests d'asservissement avec des changements individuels dans les points de consigne pour chacun des trois courants de produits. Des contrôleurs PI standards ont été utilisés pour chaque boucle. Les résultats montrent une tendance apparente pour la séquence ayant une meilleure performance dynamique. Généralement, les options TCDS sont meilleures pour le contrôle des composantes extrêmes du mélange ternaire (A et C), tandis que les séquences conventionnelles offrent un meilleur contrôle dynamique pour le contrôle de la composante intermédiaire (B). Le seul cas où il y a une structure dominante pour toutes les boucles de contrôle, c'est lorsque l'alimentation contenant de faibles quantités de la composante intermédiaire et le mélange ont la même volatilité relative. La colonne Petlyuk est le choix optimal dans un tel cas, ce qui contredit les attentes générales concernant son comportement de contrôle. En outre, les demandes d'énergie pendant les réponses dynamiques sont significativement plus faibles que celles observées pour les autres séquences de distillation. Ainsi, non seulement les options TCDS sont plus efficaces que les séquences conventionnelles, mais il y a des cas où elles offrent également de meilleures propriétés de contrôle d'asservissement. [source]


Analysis of Energy-Efficient Complex Distillation Options to Purify Bioethanol

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY (CET), Issue 4 2008
S. Hernández
Abstract Three complex extractive distillation options were studied for the purification of a dilute mixture of ethanol and water. The first option uses an extractive distillation column and the other two options use thermally coupled extractive distillation sequences. The results indicate that the fully thermally coupled extractive option can reduce energy consumption by ca. 30,% compared to the scheme that uses an extractive distillation column. This fully thermally coupled extractive distillation sequence can produce ethanol as distillate with a mass fraction of 0.995, the entrainer as the bottoms product and a mixture of ethanol and water as the sidestream. [source]


A matrix method for multicomponent distillation sequences

AICHE JOURNAL, Issue 7 2010
Vishesh H. Shah
Abstract We describe a simple-to-use "matrix" method for obtaining all the basic distillation configurations and additional thermally coupled configurations that separate a zeotropic multicomponent feed into essentially pure product streams. This provides an opportunity to rank-list the configurations for a given application subject to criteria of interest. The only information needed to generate the configurations is the number of components in the feed. We have successfully enumerated all the configurations for feeds containing up to eight components. The method can also be used to generate nondistillation and hybrid separation configurations, and even easy-to-retrofit configurations. We illustrate the use of this method by applying it to the highly energy-intensive problem of petroleum crude distillation. We have identified more than 70 new configurations that could potentially have lower heat duty than the existing configuration. A significant number of these could reduce the heat demand by nearly 50%. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 56: 1759,1775, 2010 [source]


New synthesis framework for the optimization of complex distillation systems

AICHE JOURNAL, Issue 3 2002
Piyush B. Shah
A new synthesis framework screens and examines complex distillation sequences. Conventional superstructure developments are replaced in favor of a novel representation that assumes the form of a supertask model. The supertask is based on simple tasks that accommodate for basic sequences. Hybrid tasks account for complex columns and sloppy splits. Discrete instances of simple tasks are combined with hybrid transformations to optimize operating conditions. The optimization problem is formulated as a simple MILP problem that is possible to solve to global optimality. The proposed representation can develop different nonconventional and novel designs featuring fully integrated columns, parallel sequences, and multiple-effect columns. The approach is illustrated with several literature and industrial problems. In all cases solutions are reported in the form of nonconventional designs that perform as optimal or near-optimal schemes. [source]


A Short Note About Energy-Efficiency Performance of Thermally Coupled Distillation Sequences

THE CANADIAN JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, Issue 1 2006
Juan Gabriel Segovia-Hernández
Abstract In this work, we present a comparative study of the energy-efficiency performance between conventional distillation sequences and thermally coupled distillation arrangements (TCDS) for the separation of ternary mixtures of hydrocarbons under the action of feedback control loops. The influence of the relative ease of separation of the feed mixture and its composition was analyzed. The feedback analysis was conducted through servo tests with individual changes in the set points for each of the three product streams. Standard PI controllers were used for each loop. The results show an apparent trend regarding the sequence with a better dynamic performance. Generally, TCDS options performed better for the control of the extreme components of the ternary mixture (A and C), while the conventional sequences offered a better dynamic behaviour for the control of the intermediate component (B). The only case in which there was a dominant structure for all control loops was when the feed contained low amounts of the intermediate component and the mixture had similar relative volatilities. The Petlyuk column provided the optimal choice in such case, which contradicts the general expectations regarding its control behaviour. In addition, the energy demands during the dynamic responses were significantly lower than those observed for the other distillation sequences. TCDS options, therefore, are not only more energy efficient than the conventional sequences, but there are cases in which they also offer better feedback control properties. On présente dans ce travail une étude comparative de la performance d'efficacité d'énergétique entre les séquences de distillation conventionnelles et les configurations de distillation couplées thermiquement (TCDS) pour la séparation de mélanges ternaires d'hydrocarbures sous l'action de boucles de contrôle d'asservissement. L'influence de la facilité relative de séparation du mélange d'alimentation et de sa composition est analysée. L'analyse de rétroalimentation est réalisée grâce à des tests d'asservissement avec des changements individuels dans les points de consigne pour chacun des trois courants de produits. Des contrôleurs PI standards ont été utilisés pour chaque boucle. Les résultats montrent une tendance apparente pour la séquence ayant une meilleure performance dynamique. Généralement, les options TCDS sont meilleures pour le contrôle des composantes extrêmes du mélange ternaire (A et C), tandis que les séquences conventionnelles offrent un meilleur contrôle dynamique pour le contrôle de la composante intermédiaire (B). Le seul cas où il y a une structure dominante pour toutes les boucles de contrôle, c'est lorsque l'alimentation contenant de faibles quantités de la composante intermédiaire et le mélange ont la même volatilité relative. La colonne Petlyuk est le choix optimal dans un tel cas, ce qui contredit les attentes générales concernant son comportement de contrôle. En outre, les demandes d'énergie pendant les réponses dynamiques sont significativement plus faibles que celles observées pour les autres séquences de distillation. Ainsi, non seulement les options TCDS sont plus efficaces que les séquences conventionnelles, mais il y a des cas où elles offrent également de meilleures propriétés de contrôle d'asservissement. [source]


Analysis of Energy-Efficient Complex Distillation Options to Purify Bioethanol

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY (CET), Issue 4 2008
S. Hernández
Abstract Three complex extractive distillation options were studied for the purification of a dilute mixture of ethanol and water. The first option uses an extractive distillation column and the other two options use thermally coupled extractive distillation sequences. The results indicate that the fully thermally coupled extractive option can reduce energy consumption by ca. 30,% compared to the scheme that uses an extractive distillation column. This fully thermally coupled extractive distillation sequence can produce ethanol as distillate with a mass fraction of 0.995, the entrainer as the bottoms product and a mixture of ethanol and water as the sidestream. [source]