I’m seeking help from experts in distillation. Recently, our plant installed a new distillation tower, and the analysis of the composition at the bottom of the tower shows fluctuations
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Recently, in order to increase the production capacity of T101 (the original capacity was around 32 T/h, with a two-component feed to the tower), a new T102 tower has been installed. The reflux tank at the top of T101 is now used as the feed for T102. This approach is intended to improve the purification of component B in the reflux tank of T101, while component A from the bottom of T102 is extracted and combined with the original feed to be sent to T101. (Currently, the feed rate to T101 is around 42 T/h.) The current operating conditions of the towers are as follows: the composition B at the top of the new tower T102 is not up to standard, while the composition A at the bottom of tower T101 fluctuates frequently. May I ask the experts whether the old tower T101 is overloaded, resulting in disrupted gas-liquid exchange within the tower? During the operation, the pressure inside Tower T101 fluctuated quite significantly. Sometimes it is necessary to use nitrogen to boost the pressure.
The product is qualified now, and production needs to be increased; why are new devices connected in series instead of in parallel? The composition of the T101 feed is becoming heavier, and there are fluctuations due to overloading; first stabilize the pressure, then stabilize the temperature, making adjustments gradually.
To determine whether distillation is functioning properly, it is necessary to consider things within the framework of the original design parameters; under this condition, it generally operates normally. Without this framework, the device loses its normal functionality. If a problem arises during the debugging process, first determine the amount of liquid flowing downstream or the amount of steam rising. Then gradually increase the amount of the other type of vapor or liquid flowing downstream; start by examining the overall resistance, followed by purity analysis, in order to gradually establish the optimal conditions for distillation. By referring to the trend lines of the process parameters, adjustments can be made continuously to maintain a constant level. If there are problems during the process, contact the design unit to handle it.
In the flow diagram, the series connection of the towers is incorrect.
There is a problem with this series connection; why does the material at the bottom of tower 102 need to be sent back to the feed line of tower 101?
There is a problem with this series connection; why does the material at the bottom of tower 102 need to be sent back to the feed line of tower 101?
This post was last edited by smlx1978 on 2018-7-7 13:10. Don’t the top products from towers 101 and 102 flow back separately? It is not easy to control the quality and yield of the extracted product in this way. Reflowing is easier to control.
There’s a problem with your design – what about the reflux in the tower? Without reflux in the distillation section, how can there be gas-liquid contact? The product quality will definitely be poor. The 101 stripping section is likely overloaded; it’s possible that flooding of the tower has caused unstable tower pressure.
If nitrogen is added to the tower, everything will go haywire :L
Reprocessing isn’t an issue; the problem is that the feed rate is too high, which is a precursor to tower flooding