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Graphical Flash Distillation Guide

Graphical solution for Flash Distillation problems involves drawing an equilibrium curve and x=y line on a graph. Given information like feed amount, percentage flashed, and a composition, an operating line with slope of -L/V can be drawn that intersects the curves. This determines the compositions x and y of the liquid and vapor products. Alternatively, if given x or y, the operating line uses that point and intersects both curves to find all compositions.

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781 views2 pages

Graphical Flash Distillation Guide

Graphical solution for Flash Distillation problems involves drawing an equilibrium curve and x=y line on a graph. Given information like feed amount, percentage flashed, and a composition, an operating line with slope of -L/V can be drawn that intersects the curves. This determines the compositions x and y of the liquid and vapor products. Alternatively, if given x or y, the operating line uses that point and intersects both curves to find all compositions.

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testyourballsack
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Graphical solution for Flash Distillation problems

Terminology:
F = amount of feed being input
V = amount of vapor that comes out
L = amount of liquid that comes out
z = mole fraction of MVC in feed
x = mole fraction of MVC in liquid product L
y = mole fraction of MVC in vapor product V
Flash = Flash distillation is a single stage separation technique. A liquid mixture feed is pumped through
a heater to raise the temperature and enthalpy of the mixture. It then flows through a valve and the
pressure is reduced, causing the liquid to partially vaporize. Think of it as part of the liquid being boiled
in an instant.
Given: Amount of feed, percentage flashed (35% for this example), and either x, y or z
In most flash distillation problems (such as in the last problem of your homework due this Friday, Feb 1,
2013) the above values will be known and youll be asked to calculate the composition and flow rates of
the vapor and liquid product streams.
To determine V and L, you should know that V is simply the amount of vapor this means that its the
amount of feed multiplied by the percentage of the feed that was vaporized.
V = 0.35*F
Everything else will be liquid, so L = 0.65*F or simply L = F - V
To start off, you need to draw 2 lines on the graph. These will be the x = y line, and the equilibrium
curve. The points for the equilibrium will always be provided to you (in the exams, I think Lockett will
give you a graph with the equilibrium curve and the x = y line drawn if I remember correctly which Im
not too sure of, but even if he doesnt, it should take you less than a minute to do this).
Now you can either be given the feed composition, z, or the product composition, x or y. Lets assume
for now that you are given z, and you need to determine x and y.
To do this graphically, you need to draw the operating line on the graph. The equation for the operating
line is as follows: y = (-L/V)x + (F/V)z
You can solve to get the equation of the line and plot that on the graph or do it another way. Because
you know z, you know 1 point on the line already. This point on the line will be (z,z) it falls on the x=y
line. Now all you need to do is find the slope of the line which will be L/V. You have the slope and a
point so just draw the line. This line will intersect the equilibrium curve at a certain point. The point at
which line intersects the equilibrium curve will give you your values of x and y.
Now assume you dont know z, but know either x or y (part d of the last problem D2.17 in your
homework this week). Go to the graph and find the point on the equilibrium curve whose x or y
corresponds with the given x or y. You have your one point of the operating line now. As you did earlier,
find the slope of the line using slope = -L/V, and then plot the line. This line will obviously intersect the
equilibrium curve since you used a point on that curve to plot it, but it will also intersect the x = y curve.
The point at which it intersects the x = y curve, is the feed composition (x=y=z).




x=y
Z=x1=y1
y (comp of vapor product)
X (comp of liquid product)
y1
x1

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