Flash or Equilibrium Distillation in Separation Processes

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to Lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What is the primary purpose of using a flash or equilibrium distillation process?

  • To separate a liquid mixture into its individual components
  • To maintain constant flow rate of the feed
  • To rapidly vaporize a liquid mixture (correct)
  • To control the temperature and pressure of the distillation equipment

What is the relationship between the feed pressure and the pressure inside the flash drum?

  • The feed pressure must be lower than the drum pressure
  • The feed pressure must be below the critical pressure of the mixture (correct)
  • The feed pressure must be equal to the drum pressure
  • The feed pressure must be higher than the drum pressure

Which of the following is NOT a key factor to consider in the design of a flash distillation process?

  • Size of the flash drum
  • Pressure and temperature of the flash drum
  • Liquid and vapor compositions and flow rates
  • Viscosity of the feed mixture (correct)

How does the temperature of the feed entering the flash drum compare to the boiling point of the feed at the drum pressure?

<p>The feed temperature is higher than the boiling point at the drum pressure (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of pressurizing and heating the feed before it enters the flash drum?

<p>To increase the amount of the feed that vaporizes in the drum (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of the liquid-vapor separation that occurs in the flash drum?

<p>To produce two streams with different compositions (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the key characteristic of an azeotropic mixture?

<p>One component is more volatile than the other only at a particular concentration range (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the example given, if the feed mixture is subjected to flash distillation at 1 atm, what fraction of the feed must be vaporized to obtain a vapor composition of 75 mol% A?

<p>$\frac{2}{3}$ (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of azeotrope is formed when the boiling point of the mixture is higher than the boiling points of the individual components?

<p>Homogeneous maximum boiling azeotrope (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of azeotrope involves a liquid-liquid equilibrium region in the phase diagram?

<p>Homogeneous minimum boiling azeotrope in a system with miscibility gap (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In a flash distillation process, what is the primary factor that determines the vapor and liquid compositions leaving the separator?

<p>The vaporized fraction of the feed (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of increasing the separator pressure in a flash distillation process?

<p>To decrease the vaporized fraction of the feed (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In an equilibrium distillation process, what does the McCabe-Thiele diagram show?

<p>X vs. Y diagram (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In a vapor-liquid equilibrium (VLE) diagram, what does the slope of the operating line represent?

<p>Pressure (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of mixtures consist of one component that is more volatile than the other throughout the concentration range?

<p>Non-azeotropic mixtures (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does a material balance equation represent in flash distillation?

<p>Mass conservation (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In flash distillation, what does the balance equation 0 = 1 + 3 represent?

<p>Material balance between feed and products (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of the phase equilibrium data for Benzene-Toluene?

<p>Vapor-liquid distribution at equilibrium (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards are hidden until you start studying

Study Notes

Flash or Equilibrium Distillation

  • Flash distillation is a special operation within distillation where a liquid mixture is heated up and fed into a distillation equipment with a constant flow rate.
  • The system is called "flash" distillation because the vaporization is extremely rapid after the feed enters the drum.
  • Key factors to consider:
    • Pressure and temperature of the flash drum
    • The pressures must be chosen so that at the feed pressure, the feed is below its boiling point and remains liquid.
    • Size of the drum
    • Liquid and vapor compositions and flowrates
    • Pressure, temperature, and flowrate of the feed entering the drum
    • At the pressure of the flash drum, the feed is above its boiling point and some of it vaporizes.
    • Drum pressure must be below the critical pressure for the mixture so that a liquid phase can exist.

Azeotropic Mixtures

  • Azeotropic mixtures consist of one component that is more volatile than the other only at a particular concentration range.
  • Examples: Ethyl acetate – Ethanol, Chloroform - Acetone
  • Types of azeotropic mixtures:
    • Homogeneous minimum boiling azeotrope
    • Homogeneous minimum boiling azeotrope in a system with miscibility gap
    • Homogeneous maximum boiling azeotrope
    • Homogeneous maximum boiling azeotrope in a system with miscibility gap
    • Double azeotrope
    • Heterogeneous azeotrope

Material Balance and Vapor-Liquid Equilibrium

  • Overall material balance equation: 0 = 1 + 3
  • More volatile component balance equation: 0(- = 1( + 3'
  • Vapor-Liquid Equilibrium (VLE) Diagram or XY or YX Diagram describes the distribution of a chemical species between the vapor phase and a liquid phase.
  • Phase equilibrium data can be represented using diagrams such as McCabe-Thiele diagram, which shows both the y vs.x diagram and operating lines.

Types of Feed Material

  • Based on the phase diagrams, two types of mixtures can be classified:
    • Non-azeotropic mixtures: mixtures that consist of one component that is more volatile than the other in the entire concentration range (Example: Benzene – Toluene)
    • Azeotropic mixtures: mixtures that consist of one component that is more volatile than the other only at a particular concentration range.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Quiz Team

More Like This

SPM-700 Distillation Operator Training Manual
43 questions
Air Separation Process Quiz
10 questions
Flash Distillation: Process Separation
5 questions
Distillation: Principles and Process
23 questions
Use Quizgecko on...
Browser
Browser