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Distillation

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Module: Principals / Introduction

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Glossary

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boiling range

The span between the initial and the final boiling temperatures of a multi-component solvent.

distillation

A process which separates the lighter and heavier molecules from a liquid mixture by exploiting the difference in the molecules’ boiling points.

final boiling point

The temperature where a natural material or fraction finishes boiling.

initial boiling point

The temperature when the first bubble of vapor is formed from a liquid mixture.

latent heat

Heat input that causes a phase change without changing the temperature.

phase change

Matter changing from one state to another.

sensible heat

Heat input that causes a change in temperature and that can be measured.

total pressure

The sum of the vapor pressures for all the components in a mixture.

vapor pressure

The pressure exerted by a vapor above a liquid at a given temperature.

volatilization

A term used to describe the tendency of a substance to vaporize.

bottoms product

The heavier components or high boilers distilled from a mixture.

downcomer

Downspouts that allow the liquid to drop to lower tray levels in the column as liquid overflows the weir.

equilibrium

State that occurs when the rate of vaporization is equal to the rate of condensation in a system.

fractionation

The use of a column to help separate the components of a mixture.

overhead product

The lighter components or low boilers distilled from a mixture.

packed columns

Distillation columns which use various types of packing material to improve contact between the vapor and liquid.

reflux

The overhead system returning a portion of the overhead product to the upper portion of the column.

structured packing

Thin corrugated metal plates or meshes.

tray columns

Distillation columns which use trays to hold up the liquid to improve contact between the vapor and liquid.

weir

Device which holds liquid on a column tray.

Delta P

The difference in pressure from the bottom of the column to the top of the column

temperature profiles

The different temperatures at different locations in a distillation column.

binary column

Column which uses a feed mixture containing only two components.

forced reboiler

Reboiler that uses a pump to circulate the bottoms liquid through the heat exchanger and back to the column.

kettle reboiler

Reboiler that uses a weir to maintain the liquid level to cover the heated tube bundle.

multi-draw column

Column which takes multiple product streams from locations along the height of the tower.

reboiler

Specialized term for a heat exchanger used in the bottoms system of a distillation column to provide heat to the system.

side-draw column

Column which takes a product stream from a location along the height of the tower.

thermosyphon reboiler

Reboiler that uses natural circulation to move the liquid into the reboiler and back to the column.

vacuum distillation

The process of reducing the pressure above a liquid mixture to less than the vapor pressure of the liquid.

azeotrope

A mixture that occurs when two or more components boil at the same temperature if the mixture is at a certain concentration.

entrainer

A solvent that carries or pulls along another component in the distillation process.

extractive distillation

Process in which the entrainer pulls the heavier component of a mixture out of the column through the bottoms product.

ternary azeotropes

Azeotropes consisting of three components.

direct composition measurement

When the percentages of components of a product are directly observed.

energy balance

The heat input to the column must be approximately equal to the heat removed from the column.

indirect composition measurement

When a measured variable is used as an indicator of product composition.

material balance

The sum of all products exiting the column must be approximately equal to the feeds entering the column.

process lag

The time required for a change occurring in a process to reach a new equilibrium.

process upsets

Process variations falling outside the process control limits.

steady state operations

The process variable values are within the process control limits and do not change significantly over time.

burping

Vapor pressure becoming so great that it forces liquid up the column and out the overhead product line.

dumping

Liquid on all the trays flowing through to the bottom of the column.

flooding

Excessive buildup of liquid in a column causing liquid to be entrained in the vapor rising through the column.

overloading

A column operating above its maximum limits.

weeping

Vapor flow up through the column becoming too low to prevent liquid from flowing through the holes in a tray.

emergency shutdown

Procedure to rapidly shutdown a process if an emergency cannot be quickly remedied.

idling procedures

Procedures designed to suspend production in a column for a period of time, but the column continues to operate.

long-term shutdown

Process to safely maintain and prepare equipment and lines to remain unused for a long period of time.

pre-startup procedures

Procedures designed to ensure that the proper communications, equipment testing and commissioning have been completed prior to startup.

shutdown procedures

Procedures designed to stop the distillation process by gradually stopping the flow rates and cooling and heating sources.

startup procedures

Procedures designed to bring the distillation process up to full operation.

Learning Aids

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Principals - Learning Aid

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Principals Flash Cards

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Basic System Components - Learning Aid

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Process Measurement - Learning Aid

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Columns Reboilers Condensers - Learning Aid

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Towers, Reboilers, & Condensers Flash Cards

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Azeo and Extractive Columns - Learning Aid

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Azeotropic & Extractive Columns Flash Cards

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Control Systems - Learning Aid

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Distillation Control Systems Flash Cards

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Column Troubleshooting - Learning Aid

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Procedures and Exercises - Learning Aid

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Principals

Topics

1 . Introduction
2 . Heat
3 . Pressure
4 . Process Types
5 . Applications

Distillation

Topics

1 . Principals
2 . Basic System Components
3 . Process Measurement
4 . Towers, Reboilers, & Condensers
5 . Azeotropic & Extractive Columns
6 . Distillation Control Systems
7 . Column Troubleshooting
8 . Procedures & Exercises