Multi-component
Distillation
Mass Transfer Operations
Dr. Mostafa El-Nahas
Binary vs. Multi-
component Distillation
Review of Key Concepts
Outline Key Components
Multi-Component Flash
Distillation
Multi-Stage Multi-
Component Distillation
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Dr. Mostafa El-Nahas
Binary vs. Multi-component Distillation
Binary Distillation Multi-Component Distillation
Deals with mixtures containing only two Includes mixtures with more than two
components. components.
Significantly more complex due to the
Relatively simple process. increased number of interacting
elements.
Relationships between component
Design and analysis can be easily done
compositions, temperatures, and
using analytical methods.
volatilities become intricate.
Can achieve complete separation of both Separation of all components into pure
components. streams might not be achievable.
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Review of Key Concepts
Phase Equilibrium Flash McCabe-
Diagrams Relationships Calculations Thiele Method
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Key Components
• In multi-component distillation, where you're dealing with
mixtures containing more than two components,
identifying "key components" plays a crucial role in
simplifying the analysis and design process.
• Components are divided into:
➢ Light Key (LK)
➢ Heavy Key (HK)
➢ Non-Key Components (NKs)
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Key Components
• Both LK and HK must be present in the distillate and
bottom product.
• LK is the lightest component in the bottoms.
• HK is the heaviest component in the distillate.
• Concentrations of LK and HK in the distillate and
bottoms must be specified and are the basis of the
calculations.
• NKs are all other components and can appear either in
the distillate or bottoms or both, and often not
specified in terms of desired purities or recoveries.
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Key Components
Defining LK and HK simplifies calculations by focusing on the most critical
separation.
Knowing their volatilities and desired purities helps in selecting
appropriate design methods.
Enables the use of shortcut methods (Hengstebeck, Gilliland, Fenske-
Underwood) for estimating stages and reflux.
Provides a framework for understanding component behavior within the
column.
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Multi-Component Flash Distillation
• Flash Distillation is a Single Stage Multi-Component
Distillation Process.
• Multi-Component flash distillation calculations are
performed the same way as binary systems flash distillation.
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Multi-Component Flash Distillation
• Combining OMB, CMB, and equilibrium relation equations:
𝐿
+ 1 𝑥𝐹𝑖
𝑉
𝑦𝑖 = =1
𝐿
+1
𝑉. 𝑘𝑖
𝐿
+ 1 𝑥𝐹𝑖
𝑉
𝑥𝑖 = =1
𝐿
𝑘𝑖 +1
𝑉. 𝑘𝑖
𝑦𝑖 = 𝑘𝑖 𝑥𝑖
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Multi-Component Flash Distillation
Steps for calculations by trial and error:
(Operating temperature and pressure are known)
1. Calculate Ki values for each component
2. Assume L/V
3. Calculate ∑yi (or ∑xi)
4. If ∑yi ≠ 1, repeat your assumption of L/V
5. If ∑yi = 1, your assumption is correct
6. Check: ∑xi = 1
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Multi-Stage Multi-Component Distillation
Plate to Plate
Short Cut Methods
Calculations
Constant
Lewis Gilliland,
Relative Hengstebeck’s
Matheson Fenske,
Volatility Method
Method Underwood
Method
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1. Lewis Matheson Method
➢ Similar to Lewis method.
➢ Tray to tray calculations are done with the
assumption of constant molar flow rates of
liquid and vapour in each section.
➢ Top section tray to tray calculations are done
till xi ≤ xFi.
➢ Bottom section tray to tray calculations are
done till yi ≥ xFi.
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1. Lewis Matheson Method
Top Section:
➢ L: Liquid Molar Flow Rate
➢ V: Vapor Molar Flow Rate
Bottom Section:
➢ L’: Liquid Molar Flow Rate
➢ V’: Vapor Molar Flow Rate
Molar Latent Heats are the Same.
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1. Lewis Matheson Method
Design Steps:
1. Material balance to calculate D & W
2. Using Reflux Ratio (R), get L & V
𝐿 = 𝐷𝑅 𝑉 = 𝐷(𝑅 + 1)
3. From feed conditions (q), get L’ & V’
𝐿′ −𝐿 𝑉 ′ −𝑉
𝑞 = 𝑞−1=
𝐹 𝐹
4. Solve Top Section and Bottom Section
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1. Lewis Matheson Method
Top Section (First Plate)
1. Assume total condenser conditions
𝑦1𝑖 = 𝑥𝐷𝑖 = 𝑥0𝑖
2. Knowing key components compositions,
assume (or calculate) xDi.
3. Calculate x1i:
a. Assume T1
0
𝑃1𝑖
b. 𝑘1𝑖 =
𝑃
c. 𝑥1𝑖 = 𝑦1𝑖 / 𝑘1𝑖
d. Check: σ 𝑥1𝑖 = 1
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1. Lewis Matheson Method
Top Section (First Plate)
4. OMB to get y2i
𝐿 𝐷
𝑦𝑛+1 𝑖 = 𝑥𝑛𝑖 + 𝑥𝐷𝑖 (n = 1)
𝑉 𝑉
Repeat steps 3 & 4 for the following plates
till reaching xni ≤ xFi
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1. Lewis Matheson Method
Bottom Section (Reboiler)
1. Partial vaporizer is considered as one
theoretical stage.
2. Knowing key components compositions,
assume (or calculate) xWi.
3. Calculate yri:
a. Assume Tr
0
𝑃𝑟𝑖
b. 𝑘𝑟𝑖 =
𝑃
c. 𝑦𝑟𝑖 = 𝑘𝑟𝑖 𝑥𝑊𝑖
d. Check: σ 𝑦𝑟𝑖 = 1
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1. Lewis Matheson Method
Bottom Section (Reboiler)
4. OMB to get x1i
𝐿′ 𝑊
𝑦𝑚 𝑖 = ′ 𝑥𝑚+1𝑖 − ′ 𝑥𝑊𝑖 (m = 0)
𝑉 𝑉
Repeat steps 3 & 4 for the following plates
till reaching ymi ≥ xFi
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1. Lewis Matheson Method
At Feed Entrance
➢ Match top and bottom feed streams check whether the
assumption of xDi and XWi is correct or not.
➢ If matches, the calculated NTS is correct.
➢ If not, repeat your assumption.
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2. Constant Relative Volatility Method
➢ Similar to Lewis Matheson method, assuming constant
relative volatility.
➢ Instead of determining the stage temperature and
compositions by trial and error, constant relative volatility is
used to get the equilibrium relation.
➢ The relative volatilities are referred to one key component
(heavy key).
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2. Constant Relative Volatility Method
For Ideal Systems
𝑃𝑖0
Relative volatility 𝛼𝑖 = 0 ,
𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑓
0
𝑃𝑖 : vapor pressure of component (i)
0
𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑓 : vapor pressure of reference component (HK)
𝑃𝑖0 /𝑃 𝑘𝑖
𝛼𝑖 = 0 =
𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑓 /𝑃 𝑘𝑟𝑒𝑓
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2. Constant Relative Volatility Method
𝑦𝑖 = 𝑘𝑖 𝑥𝑖
𝑘𝑖
𝑦𝑖 = 𝑘𝑟𝑒𝑓 𝑥𝑖 = 𝛼𝑖 𝑘𝑟𝑒𝑓 𝑥𝑖
𝑘𝑟𝑒𝑓
σ 𝑦𝑖 = 𝑘𝑟𝑒𝑓 σ 𝛼𝑖 𝑥𝑖 = 1
1
𝑘𝑟𝑒𝑓 = σ 𝛼𝑖 𝑥𝑖
𝜶𝒊 𝒙𝒊
𝒚𝒊 =
σ 𝜶𝒊 𝒙𝒊
By the same:
𝒚𝒊 /𝜶𝒊
𝒙𝒊 =
σ 𝒚𝒊 /𝜶𝒊
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2. Constant Relative Volatility Method
Top Section (First Plate)
1. Assume total condenser conditions
𝑦1𝑖 = 𝑥𝐷𝑖 = 𝑥0𝑖
2. Knowing key components compositions,
assume (or calculate) xDi.
𝒚𝟏𝒊 /𝜶𝒊
3. Calculate: 𝒙𝟏𝒊 = σ 𝒚 /𝜶 , 𝛼𝑖 = 𝑘𝑖 /𝑘𝐻𝐾
𝟏𝒊 𝒊
4. OMB to get y2i
𝐿 𝐷
𝑦𝑛+1 𝑖 = 𝑥 + 𝑥 (n = 1)
𝑉 𝑛𝑖 𝑉 𝐷𝑖
Repeat steps 3 & 4 for the following plates till
reaching xni ≤ xFi
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2. Constant Relative Volatility Method
Bottom Section (Reboiler)
1. Partial vaporizer is considered as one
theoretical stage.
2. Knowing key components compositions,
assume (or calculate) xWi.
𝜶𝒊 𝒙𝑾𝒊
3. Calculate: 𝒚𝒓𝒊 = σ , 𝛼𝑖 = 𝑘𝑖 /𝑘𝐻𝐾
𝜶𝒊 𝒙𝑾𝒊
4. OMB to get x1i
𝐿′ 𝑊
𝑦𝑚 𝑖 = ′ 𝑥𝑚+1𝑖− ′ 𝑥𝑊𝑖 (m = 0)
𝑉 𝑉
Repeat steps 3 & 4 for the following plates till
reaching ymi ≥ xFi
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Shortcut Methods
• Most of the short cut methods were developed for the
design of separation columns for hydrocarbon Systems in
the petroleum and petrochemical system industries.
• They usually depend on assumptions for severely non-ideal
systems.
• From these methods:
➢ Pseudo Binary System Method (Hengstebeck’s Method)
➢ Gilliland, Fenske & Underwood
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3. Hengstebeck’s Method
➢ Pseudo-binary system.
➢ Reduces the multi-component system into a
binary system.
➢ Based on Mc-Cabe Thiele method.
➢ Used for preliminary design.
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3. Hengstebeck’s Method
Top Section
OMB: 𝑉 =𝐿+𝐷
For any component (i): 𝑣𝑖 = 𝑙𝑖 + 𝑑𝑖
𝑦𝑖 = 𝑘𝑖 𝑥𝑖
𝑣𝑖 𝑙𝑖
= 𝑘𝑖
𝑉 𝐿
𝑣𝑖 = 𝑘𝑖 𝑙𝑖 𝑉ൗ𝐿
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3. Hengstebeck’s Method
Top Section
To reduce the multicomponent system to an equivalent binary
system we must estimate the flow rates of the key components.
𝐿𝑒 = 𝐿 − Σ𝑙𝑖
𝑉𝑒 = 𝑉 − Σ𝑣𝑖
Le & Ve: combined flow rates of key components in top
section
li & vi: flow rates of components lighter than key
components in the top section
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3. Hengstebeck’s Method
Top Section
𝑣𝑖 = 𝑙𝑖 + 𝑑𝑖
𝑣𝑖 = 𝑘𝑖 𝑙𝑖 𝑉ൗ𝐿
𝑘𝑖 𝑙𝑖 𝑉ൗ𝐿 = 𝑙𝑖 + 𝑑𝑖
𝑉 d i
𝑘𝑖 ൗ𝐿 = 1 +
li
𝑑𝑖
For HK: ≈0
𝑙𝑖
𝑳
𝒌𝑯𝑲 =
𝑽
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3. Hengstebeck’s Method
Top Section
𝑉 d i
𝑘𝑖 ൗ𝐿 = 1 +
li
𝑳
𝒌𝑯𝑲 =
𝑽
𝑙𝑖 𝑘𝑖 𝑉ൗ𝐿 − 1 = 𝑑𝑖
𝑑𝑖 𝑑𝑖 𝑑𝑖
𝑙𝑖 = = =
𝑘𝑖 𝑉ൗ𝐿 − 1 𝑘𝑖
−1 𝛼 𝑖 − 1
𝑘𝐻𝐾
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3. Hengstebeck’s Method
Bottom Section
OMB: 𝐿′ = 𝑉 ′ + 𝑊
′ ′
For any component (i): 𝑙𝑖 = 𝑣𝑖 + 𝑤𝑖
′ ′
𝑦𝑖 = 𝑘𝑖 𝑥𝑖
𝑣𝑖′ 𝑙
′ 𝑖
′
′
= 𝑘𝑖 ′
𝑉 𝐿
𝑙𝑖′ = 𝑣𝑖′ /𝑘𝑖′ 𝐿′ൗ ′
𝑉
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3. Hengstebeck’s Method
Bottom Section
To reduce the multicomponent system to an equivalent binary
system we must estimate the flow rates of the key components.
𝐿′𝑒 = 𝐿′ − Σ𝑙𝑖′
𝑉𝑒′ = 𝑉 ′ − Σ𝑣𝑖′
L’e & V’e: flow rates of key components in bottom section
L’i & v’i: flow rates of components heavier than key
components in the bottom section
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3. Hengstebeck’s Method
Bottom Section
′′
𝑙𝑖
= 𝑣𝑖 + 𝑤𝑖
′ ′ ′ 𝐿′
𝑙𝑖 = 𝑣𝑖 /𝑘𝑖 ൗ𝑉 ′
′ ′ 𝐿′ ′
𝑣𝑖 /𝑘𝑖 ൗ 𝑉 ′ = 𝑣𝑖 + 𝑤𝑖
1 𝐿′ 𝑤𝑖
′ ൗ𝑉 ′ = 1 + ′
𝑘𝑖 𝑣𝑖
𝑤𝑖
For LK: ≈0
𝑣𝑖
′
′ 𝑳
𝒌𝑳𝑲 = ′
𝑽
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3. Hengstebeck’s Method
Bottom Section
1 𝐿′ 𝑤𝑖
′ ൗ𝑉 ′ = 1 + ′
𝑘𝑖 𝑣𝑖
′
𝑳
𝒌′𝑳𝑲 = ′
𝑽
′ 1 𝐿′
𝑣𝑖 ′ ൗ𝑉 ′ − 1 = 𝑤𝑖
𝑘𝑖
𝑤𝑖 𝑤𝑖 𝑤𝑖 𝛼𝑖 𝑤𝑖
𝑣𝑖′ = = ′ =𝛼 =
1 𝐿′ 𝑘𝐿𝐾 𝐿𝐾
− 1 𝛼𝐿𝐾 − 𝛼𝑖
′ ൗ𝑉 ′ −1 ′ −1 𝛼𝑖
𝑘𝑖 𝑘 𝑖
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3. Hengstebeck’s Method
Top Section Bottom Section
𝑑𝑖 ′ 𝑤𝑖 𝛼𝑖
𝑙𝑖 = 𝑣𝑖 =
𝛼𝑖 − 1 𝛼𝐿𝐾 − 𝛼𝑖
′ ′
𝑣𝑖 = 𝑙𝑖 + 𝑑𝑖 𝑙𝑖 = 𝑣𝑖 + 𝑤𝑖
𝐿𝑒 = 𝐿 − Σ𝑙𝑖 𝐿′𝑒 = 𝐿′ − Σ𝑙𝑖′
𝑉𝑒 = 𝑉 − Σ𝑣𝑖 𝑉𝑒′ = 𝑉 ′ − Σ𝑣𝑖′
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3. Hengstebeck’s Method
To solve the reduced system using Mc-cabe Thiele:
Le/Ve: The slope of top section operating line
L’e/V’e: The slope of bottom section operating line
𝛼𝑥
Eqm. Relation: 𝑦= 𝜶 = 𝜶𝑳𝑲
𝛼−1 𝑥+1
𝑓𝐿𝐾
Feed Composition: 𝑥𝐹 =
𝑓𝐻𝐾 +𝑓𝐿𝐾
𝑑𝐿𝐾
Distillate Composition: 𝑥𝐷 =
𝑑𝐻𝐾 +𝑑𝐿𝐾
𝑤𝐿𝐾
Residue Composition: 𝑥𝑊 =
𝑤𝐻𝐾 +𝑤𝐿𝐾
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3. Hengstebeck’s Method
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4. Gilliland, Fenske, Underwood Method
A. Gilliland Equation
➢ Used for calculation of the number
of stages at operating reflux.
➢ A simple empirical method used for
preliminary Estimates.
➢ Requires knowledge of the minimum
reflux ratio and the minimum 𝑵 − 𝑵𝒎𝒊𝒏
number of stages. 𝑵+𝟏
𝟎.𝟓𝟔𝟔
𝑁−𝑁𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝑅−𝑅𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝑹 − 𝑹𝒎𝒊𝒏
➢ A plot of Vs. . = 𝟎. 𝟕𝟓 𝟏 −
𝑹+𝟏
𝑁+1 𝑅+1
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4. Gilliland, Fenske, Underwood Method
B. Fenske Equation
➢ Used for calculation of the minimum number of stages.
𝑥𝐷𝐿𝐾 𝑥𝑊𝐻𝐾
ln
𝑥𝐷𝐻𝐾 𝑥𝑊𝐿𝐾
𝑁𝑚𝑖𝑛 =
ln 𝛼𝐿𝐾,𝐻𝐾 𝑎𝑣𝑔
𝒙𝑫𝑳𝑲 : LK composition in the Distillate 𝜶𝑳𝑲,𝑯𝑲 𝒂𝒗𝒈
𝒙𝑫𝑯𝑲 : HK composition in the Distillate
Average Relative
𝒙𝑾𝑳𝑲 : LK composition in the Residue
Volatility
𝒙𝑾𝑯𝑲 : HK composition in the Residue
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4. Gilliland, Fenske, Underwood Method
C. Underwood Equation
➢ Used for calculation of the minimum reflux ratio.
𝛼𝑖 𝑥𝐹𝑖
1−𝑞 =
𝛼𝑖 − 𝜃
𝛼𝑖 𝑥𝐷𝑖
𝑅𝑚𝑖𝑛 + 1 =
𝛼𝑖 − 𝜃
𝜶𝒊 : Relative volatility of component (i) wrt HK
𝜽: Value between relative volatilities of light and heavy keys
𝑹𝒎𝒊𝒏 : Minimum reflux ratio
𝒙𝑫𝒊 : Composition of component (i) in the Distillate
𝒙𝑭𝒊 : Composition of component (i) in the Feed
𝒒: Value depends on the feed conditions
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4. Gilliland, Fenske, Underwood Method
D. Location of Feed Tray
➢ Critical to column efficiency.
𝟐
𝑵𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒙𝑯𝑲𝑭 𝑾 𝒙𝑳𝑲𝑾
𝐥𝐨𝐠 = 𝟎. 𝟐𝟎𝟔 𝐥𝐨𝐠
𝑵𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒑 𝒙𝑳𝑲𝑭 𝑫 𝒙𝑯𝑲𝑫
𝑁𝑅𝑒𝑐𝑡 : Number of stages in rectifying section
𝑁𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑝 : Number of stages in stripping section
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Thank You
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