A2 - Phenol Distillation: Process Data
A2 - Phenol Distillation: Process Data
A2 - Phenol Distillation
A new set of operating conditions has been proposed for an existing
distillation train to produce a 99.95 weight % pure phenol product
from a feed containing predominantly acetone, phenol, and water.
You have been asked to establish the feasibility of the new condi-
tions and to determine the material and heat balances.
Process Data
The separation is carried out in five distillation columns as shown in
the flowsheet in Figure A2-1.
Most of the acetone is removed in the vapor product from the first
column, T1, and the water is removed in column T3. The other
unwanted components are removed in columns T2 and T4.
The phenol product is the taken overhead from T5. To obtain the
required product purity, a considerable amount of phenol remains in
the bottom product of T5, and recycles back to T2.
Simulation Model
The performance specifications in Table A2.2 are imposed directly
on the relevant column. The reboiler and condenser duties are cal-
culated to satisfy the specifications.
The phenol loss in columns T2 and T4 is specified as the ratio of the
flow rate of phenol in the product to the rate in the feed to the flow-
sheet. All the reflux specifications are with respect to the feed to the
column rather than to the distillate rate.
Input Data
The simulation uses metric units with pressure as torr. Weight flow
rate and composition outputs are requested, as all specified rates are
in kg/hr.
The estimate for the recycle stream is supplied to reduce the calcu-
lation time.
The PROPTABLES=BRIEF option is used in all the columns to
limit the output to column summary only.
Results
The simulation meets all the specifications, and therefore verifies
the proposed operating conditions are feasible as long as the column
duties can be met.
Output
Results are included for flash drum F1, which maintains a constant
temperature and pressure of the recycle. The output for columns T1
and T5 and the stream weight rates and component weight rates are
shown. These give the required heat and material balances on the
flowsheet.
FEEDS 2
4
PRODUCTS MIXED 5
TEMPERATURE, C 114.000
PRESSURE, TORR 100.000
PRESSURE DROP, TORR 0.000
MOLE FRAC VAPOR 0.07345
MOLE FRAC LIQUID 0.92655
MOLE FRAC MW SOLID 0.00000
DUTY, M*KCAL/HR -0.03331
FLASH TYPE ISOTHERMAL
VALVE SUMMARY
VALVE ID V1
NAME VALVE
FEEDS 11
PRODUCTS VAPOR 14
LIQUID 13
TEMPERATURE, C 121.225
PRESSURE, TORR 100.000
PRESSURE DROP, TORR 180.000
MOLE FRAC VAPOR 0.12900
MOLE FRAC LIQUID 0.87100
MOLE FRAC MW SOLID 0.00000
Column T1 Output
Unit 1, 'T1', 'COLUMN 1'
TOTAL NUMBER OF ITERATIONS
CHEM METHOD 9
SPECIFICATIONS
Column T5 Output
Unit 7, 'T5', 'COLUMN 5'
TOTAL NUMBER OF ITERATIONS
CHEM METHOD 17
STREAM ID 10 11 12 13
NAME T3 BTMS T4 BTMS T4 OVHD T5 LIQ FD
PHASE LIQUID LIQUID LIQUID LIQUID
THERMO ID NRTL01 NRTL01 NRTL01 NRTL01
FLUID RATES, KG/HR
1 ACETONE 0.0320 9.4733E-09 0.0320 3.8993E-09
2 PHENOL 12238.6603 12190.9408 47.7200 10594.2777
3 MO 0.4047 1.4247E-06 0.4047 7.5550E-07
4 CUMENE 203.4113 0.0661 203.3452 0.0451
5 AMST 162.8172 8.5267E-03 162.8087 5.4524E-03
6 ACPH 682.2970 682.2957 7.5067E-04 623.2662
7 2P2P 31.8798 31.8797 3.2321E-06 29.6785
8 D-A-METHSTYR 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
9 PCPHENOL 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
10 H2O 8.7606E-04 1.4383E-14 8.7606E-04 2.0145E-15
TOTAL RATE, KG/HR 13319.5032 12905.1908 414.3122 11247.2729
TEMPERATURE, C 132.2447 149.4935 125.0302 121.2252
PRESSURE, TORR 160.0000 280.0000 280.0000 100.0000
ENTHALPY, M*KCAL/HR 0.9251 1.0309 0.0237 0.7124
MOLECULAR WEIGHT 95.8033 95.2775 115.6898 95.3357
WEIGHT FRAC VAPOR 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
WEIGHT FRAC LIQUID 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000