REMOVAL OF LIGHTS AND HEAVIES IMPURITIES
IN A SINGLE DISTILLATION COLUMN
A. C. DIMIAN , S. BILDEA
Department of Chemical Engineering,
University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Mailing address: Nieuwe Achtergracht 166
1018 WV Amsterdam
The Netherlands
E-mail: [email protected]
[email protected]
Abstract
The paper describes the design and control of an original compact distillation
system suitable to produce a high purity product from a mixture containing
very small amounts of light and heavy impurities. The set-up,
called Flash Compact System, consists of pre-flashing the initial feed
in vapour and liquid secondary feeds for a single distillation column,
where the high purity product is obtained as a side-stream. Separation
performance and energy consumption of the set-up are competitive with a
two column 'direct' sequence, as well as with the Petlyuk system, while
investment is significantly lower. A frequency based controllability analysis
followed by closed loop simulation evaluates suitable control alternatives.
Directional effects (magnitude and sign) in rejecting disturbances in impurities
are identified, but they can be properly managed. The results demonstrate
that the system is feasible for industrial applications.
Keywords: Conceptual Design, Distillation, Process Dynamics,
Integration between Design and Control,
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