Columns

Augsburg University of Applied Sciences | Faculty of Mechanical and Process Engineering
Brno University of Technology | Faculty of Mechanical Engineering |

Institute of Process and Environmental Engineering
Projektovn a zen proces (KPJ)

Conceptual Design of Distillation, Absorption
and Stripping Systems
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Marcus Reppich
Room D5/249
marcus.reppich@hs-augsburg.de
Important notice: These documents are to be used exclusively for study purposes, they are made available to
participants of the lecture Conceptual Design of Distillation, Absorption and Stripping Systems (Projektovn a
zen proces, KPJ) at the Institute of Process and Environmental Engineering at the Brno University of Technology only.
Cover image: Copyright by BASF SE
Conceptual Design of Distillation, Absorption and Stripping Systems

Timetable and Contents of Lectures and Exercises
Lectures
19.11.2013
P 09
Fundamentals of Binary Distillation
26.11.2013
P 10
Types of Distillation Columns
03.12.2013
P 11
Design of Distillation Columns
Exercises
19.11.2013
Assignment date
26.11.2013
C 10
03.12.2013
C 11
Design of a Multicomponent Distillation System Using the Process

Simulation Software CHEMCAD
10.12.2013
C 12
(group work of two students, elaboration of a final project

report)
13.12.2013
Due date

Tray Column Design
Characteristic dimensions
of industrial tray designs
Symbols
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
downcomer
tray support
sieve trays
man way
outlet weir
inlet weir
side wall of
downcomer
liquid seal
Aac
active area
Ad
downcomer area
Dc
column diameter
dcap, v, h
hw
bubble cup, valve,

hole diameter
tray spacing
height of downcomer clearance
weir height
lw
weir length
lL
length of liquid
flow path Source: A. Mersmann, M. Kind, J. Stichlmair: Thermal
relative free
area
Separation
Technology. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer 2011
H, z
hcl
| Prof. Dr. M. Reppich | Conceptual Design of Distillation, Absorption and Stripping Systems | 3 |
wG

Design Principles of Packed Columns: Tower with Structured Packing (A); Tower with
Structured-Packed Top Bed and Random-Packed Bottom Bed (B)
(A)
(B)
Symbols
liquid distributor
liquid collector
structured packing
support grid
man way
liquid re-distributor
Sources: A. Mersmann, M. Kind, J. Stichlmair: Thermal Separation Technology. Berlin,

Heidelberg: Springer 2011; D.W. Green (ed.): Perrys Chemical Engineers
Handbook, New York: McGraw-Hill 2008

Examples of Distillation Column Internals
Sieve Tray
Tunnel Cap Tray
Bubble Cap Tray
Struktured Packing
Source: GEA Wiegand GmbH, Ettlingen

Detail of Varioflex
valve tray
Source: Koch-Glitsch, Inc.
Floating valve tray with rectangular-shaped valves

(BDH valve)
Source: Sulzer Chemtech AG

Common Random Packings
Common random packing particles

made of metal, plastic, ceramic
Sorce: Koch-Glitsch, Inc.

Historical Development of Characteristic Random Packings
First Generation (Raschig Ring, Berl Saddle)

1895 to the 1950s
simple shapes with closed surfaces, robust
and stable design, cost-effective production
Third Generation (Net/Grid Structures, IMPT Ring)

late 1970s to the 1990s
framework structure, large free cross section,
low pressure drop, high efficiency
Second Generation (Pall Ring, Intalox Saddle)

late 1950s to the early 1970s
surfaces with cutted windows and bent tongues,
improved area distribution lowering pressure
drop and enhancing capacity
Fourth Generation (Raschig Super-Ring)

late 1990s until present
lower pressure drop and better mass transfer
efficiency

Common Types of Structured Packings
Structured packing of corrugated

metal sheets
Fitting structured packing elements Flexipac
Structured packings Mellapak

made of metal and plastic
to a large-diameter tower
Sources: Sulzer Chemtech AG; Koch-Glitsch, Inc.

Comparsion of Tray and Packed Columns
Tray Columns
Packed Columns
cross flow of the two phases on the trays
countercurrent flow of the two phases
always used in columns of large diameters and

towers that have more than 20 to 30 equilibrium
stages,
in applications with liquid rates of 30 m/(mh) and
above, when liquid flowrate is high relative to vapor
flowrate
packings are generally more expensive than plates,

less expensive than tray columns for small column
diameter (D<0.6 m),
used in lower liquid-rate-applications (i.e. less than
50 m/(m h)
various tray types made of metallic materials

(D=50010000 mm)
more choices in materials of construction especially

in corrosive service (e.g. plastic, ceramic, metal
alloys, carbon),
random (D=50800 mm) or structured packings
(D=2011000 mm)
high liquid residence time
less liquid entrainment, low liquid holdup, especially

suitable for thermally sensitive material
pressure drop is rather high, typically 7 mbar per

equilibrium stage (not well suited for vacuum
services)
lower pressure drop, typically 0,1 to 0,5 mbar per

equilibrium stage (important in vacuum distillation)
dirty service (tray columns are easier to clean)
cleaning of a packing section is much too complicated and expensive
stable and robust operation of the separation

process, more flexible to variations in operating
conditions
foaming liquids can be handled more readily (less

agitation of liquid by the vapour)
due to novel developments of packing elements the

industrial use of packed columns is steadily
increasing

Overall View of a Distillation Unit
Condenser
Cooling Water
Distillate
Cooling Water
Feed
Distillate
Distillate
Cooler
Distillate
Pump
Steam
Reboiler
Pump
Feed
Feed Preheater
Bottom Product
Cooler
Bottom Product
Cooling
Water
Source: GVWU mbH, Norderstedt

Piping and Instrumentation Diagramm of a Distillation Unit
Source: Baerns, M. et al.: Technische Chemie. Weinheim: WILEY-VCH 2006


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Augsburg University of Applied Sciences | Faculty of Mechanical and Process Engineering

Brno University of Technology | Faculty of Mechanical Engineering |

Projektovn a zen proces (KPJ)

Conceptual Design of Distillation, Absorption and Stripping Systems

Fundamentals of Binary Distillation

Types of Distillation Columns

Design of Distillation Columns

Design of a Multicomponent Distillation System Using the Process

(group work of two students, elaboration of a final project

Types of Distillation Columns

bubble cup, valve,

Types of Distillation Columns

Sources: A. Mersmann, M. Kind, J. Stichlmair: Thermal Separation Technology. Berlin,

Types of Distillation Columns

Bubble Cap Tray

Source: GEA Wiegand GmbH, Ettlingen

Types of Distillation Columns

Source: Koch-Glitsch, Inc.

Floating valve tray with rectangular-shaped valves

Types of Distillation Columns

Common random packing particles

Types of Distillation Columns

First Generation (Raschig Ring, Berl Saddle)

Third Generation (Net/Grid Structures, IMPT Ring)

Second Generation (Pall Ring, Intalox Saddle)

Fourth Generation (Raschig Super-Ring)

Types of Distillation Columns

Structured packing of corrugated

Fitting structured packing elements Flexipac

Structured packings Mellapak

Sources: Sulzer Chemtech AG; Koch-Glitsch, Inc.

Types of Distillation Columns

cross flow of the two phases on the trays

countercurrent flow of the two phases

always used in columns of large diameters and

packings are generally more expensive than plates,

various tray types made of metallic materials

more choices in materials of construction especially

high liquid residence time

less liquid entrainment, low liquid holdup, especially

pressure drop is rather high, typically 7 mbar per

lower pressure drop, typically 0,1 to 0,5 mbar per

dirty service (tray columns are easier to clean)

cleaning of a packing section is much too complicated and expensive

stable and robust operation of the separation

foaming liquids can be handled more readily (less

due to novel developments of packing elements the

Types of Distillation Columns

Source: GVWU mbH, Norderstedt

Types of Distillation Columns

Source: Baerns, M. et al.: Technische Chemie. Weinheim: WILEY-VCH 2006

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