CFE 3713
Separation Process Engineering
Md. Jahirul Islam
Lecturer
Chemical and Food Engineering Department
Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology, Gazipur
Course Objectives
To enable the students, understand the fundamental
separation techniques used in chemical plant.
To provide basic knowledge of graphical and analytical
solution procedure of separation processes.
To develop problem solving skills in a structured way of
various separation processes.
© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam
Course Content
Introduction: Importance of separations, Concept of VLE
Vapor Liquid Equilibrium: Tabular and graphical representation of VLE data,
Bubble point and dew point calculations.
Flash Distillation: Binary flash distillation, Sequential and simultaneous
solution procedure, Size calculation.
Column Distillation: Developing a distillation cascade, Distillation equipment,
External column balance. Internal stage by stage balance, CMO, Lewis
method, McCabe-Thiele method, Feed line, Profiles, Advanced distillation
processes
Absorption and Stripping: Equilibrium and operating line formation, Column
diameter, Analytical solution- Kremser equation.
Extraction: Immiscible and partially miscible extraction, Countercurrent and
cross flow extraction
© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam
Course Learning Outcomes
(CLO)
After completion of this course, the students will be able to-
Explain how separation procedures are used in a chemical
plant.
Define concepts of equilibrium stages
List the steps in the structured problem-solving approach
and start applying them.
© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam
Assessment Methods
Class participation and attendance 10%
Class tests/Spot tests (3 out of 4) 20%
Examination at the end of semester 70%
Total 100%
© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam
Text Book and Author
© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam
Introduction
Separations are crucial in chemical engineering
Chemical plants commonly have from 40% to 70% of both capital
and operating costs in separations
© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam
Introduction
The equilibrium stage concept is applicable when the process can be
constructed as a series of discrete stages in which the two phases are
contacted and then separated
The two separated phases are assumed to be in equilibrium with each
other
For example, in distillation, a vapor and a liquid are commonly contacted
on a metal plate with holes in it. Because of the intimate contact between
the two phases, solute can transfer from one phase to another
© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam
Separation Processes to be
Covered
• Distillation
• Absorption/stripping
• Extraction
• Washing
• Leaching
© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam
Vapor-Liquid Phase Equilibrium
(VLE)
Objectives:
1. What is VLE
2. How to present VLE
3. How to obtain/calculate VLE
© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam
Concept of
Equilibrium
No Changes occur at the macroscopic level
with time
In phase equilibrium, the rate at which each
species is vaporising is equal to the rate at
which it is condensing
Tliq=Tvap; Pliq=Pvap, Ci,liq ≠ Ci,vap
Degrees of freedom from Phase rule ,
F= C-P+2=2
© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam
Sources and Form of Equilibrium
data
• Experimental data
– Table
– Graphical presentation
– De Priester Chart
• Relative Volatility
• Simple models for VLE
– Raoult’s law, Henry’s law constant
– Activity Coefficient
© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam
Experimental Data
• In principle, we
can always
experimentally
determine the
VLE data we
require
• The mole
fractions in
each phase
must sum to
1.0. Thus, for
this binary
system,
Degrees of freedom, F= C-P+2=2
© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam
Graphical
Ethanol/water Representation
Azeotrope: 0.8943 mol fraction, 0.955 wt fraction, 78.15°C
© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam
Enthalpy-composition
Diagram
Ethanol water at 1 kg/cm2
© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam
Enthalpy-composition
Diagram
Drawing isotherms on the enthalpy-composition diagram (A)
from the temperature composition diagram; (B) from the y-x
diagram
© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam
De Priester Chart
Modified DePriester chart (in S.I. units) at low temperatures
K values for lower
hydrocarbons
K= y/x
© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam
De Priester Chart
Modified DePriester chart (in S.I. units) at high temperatures
© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam
Relative Volatility
In order to separate a binary mixture using distillation process,
there must be a differences in volatilities of the components.
The greater the difference, the easier it is to do so. A measure
for this is termed the relative volatility.
For a binary mixture of A and B, therefore:
• Volatility of A= pA/xA
• Volatility of B = pB/xB
• Where p is the partial pressure of the component and x
is the liquid mole fraction
Relative volatility is the ratio of volatility of A (MVC) over
volatility of B (LVC) and a measure of separability of A and B.
© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam
Constant Relative Volatility
• If the value of α is
known and is
constant, we can use
it to obtain the
equilibrium curve.
This can be done by
rearranging the
equation for relative
volatility, to obtain the
function y = f(x) or x =
f(y).
© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam
Simple Models For Vapor liquid
Equilibrium
• Raoult's Law
• The two major assumptions required to reduce
VLE calculations to Raoult's law are:
– The vapor phase is an ideal gas.
– The liquid phase is an ideal solution
𝑦𝑖 𝑃 = 𝑥𝑖 𝑃𝑖𝑠𝑎𝑡 (i = 1,2,3 … . . , N)
© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam
Raoult's Law : Applicability
It can be applied only to species for which a vapor
pressure is known, and this requires that the
species be "subcritical," i.e., that the temperature
of application be below the critical temperature of
the species.
An important and useful feature of Raoult's law is
that it is valid for any species present at a mole
fraction approaching unity, provided only that the
vapor phase is an ideal gas. Chemical similarity of
the constituent species is not here a requirement.
© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam
Henry’s Law
• For a species present as a very dilute solute in the
liquid phase, that the partial pressure of the species
in the vapor phase is directly proportional to its
liquid-phase mole fraction. Thus, according to
Henry's
𝑦𝑖 𝑃 = 𝑥𝑖 𝐻𝑖 (i = 1,2,3 … . . , N)
© 2020-21 Md. Jahirul Islam