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You have decided to perform batch distillation (no feed nor outlet streams) since it will allow the desired efficiency measurements without consuming a lot of chemicals. There is a supply of 1-propanol available, so you will distill a mixture of 1-propanol and water. Upon reading about this system, you have discovered that it forms an azeotrope, so you will need to make sure that your initial compositions won't lead to this condition in the column. The refractive index of light in a mixture of water and 1-propanol varies as the composition is changed, and you have decided to use this fact to enable you to measure the composition of samples from the distillation column. The column is fitted with thermocouples that will be used to measure the temperature. The lab column is made from glass, so you have made yourself a mental note to think about the safety aspects of the runs before you start. While you are an expert in the design of trays, it's been a while since you ran a complete distillation column, so you've decided to pull out a few texts and refresh your knowledge. You may use this pdf file to begin.
Figure 1. Diagram showing an arbitrary section of the distillation column. Mole balances are made on such a section to generate the operating line. |
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