What is the impact of changes in the feed rate on distillation operations?
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Changes in the feed rate have a direct impact on the steam velocity; an increase in velocity can lead to entrainment, and in severe cases, to flooding. Adding feed within the operating load range is beneficial for increasing production. If the allowable load is exceeded, increasing the operating pressure can still help maintain production, but this approach has its limitations. When the feed rate is low, it becomes difficult to maintain equilibrium in the tower; the steam velocity decreases, plates are prone to leakage, and the distillation efficiency drops. During low-load operation, it is possible to increase the reflux ratio appropriately so that the system can operate at the lower end of its load range and thus maintain normal equilibrium.
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