Regarding the operation of distillation columns
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In distillation operations, if the column is operated at an overload condition, increasing the pressure and reducing the reflux helps to improve the column’s processing capacity! What is the principle? Could everyone explain it?
Reply to 1# bluesky0113: I don’t think increasing the pressure will help improve the tower’s processing capacity; on the contrary, reducing the reflux rate is beneficial for enhancing that capacity. However, attention must be paid to the quality of the product at the top of the tower
On a practical level, increasing pressure and reducing backflow can boost processing capacity. By increasing the pressure, the gas phase density inside the tower rises; by checking the formula for the kinetic energy factor, it can be seen that the processing capacity should increase. Reducing the reflux amount, in other words, means \"creating more space\", which allows more of the top liquid to be distilled off. However, an existing tower cannot have its pressure changed arbitrarily; in large facilities, approval from a workshop engineer is required, otherwise you will be held responsible for it ； Even large companies do not allow arbitrary reduction of the return flow. So the discussion above is theoretical.