Adjustment of the reflux ratio in industrial distillation columns
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Question: How is the reflux ratio of distillation columns controlled in industry? Should it be adjusted using a self-controlled valve? Welcome, everyone, to ask your questions
There are flow meters for both extraction and reflux, which can display the flow rate; a ratio can then be calculated based on the definition of the reflux ratio.
This is for display, not control. Control regulating valve?
Inside the DCS, a ratio is calculated based on the flow rate; this ratio is known as the reflux ratio. By controlling the flow rate of the product stream or the reflux stream, it is possible to adjust the value of this reflux ratio.
The reflux ratio of the distillation tower is adjusted using control valves; a valve opening is set based on the requirement that the product obtained from the top or bottom of the tower be of acceptable quality, which corresponds to a certain amount of reflux. This reflux ratio is determined through sampling and analysis, and it exists within a specific range – within which the product should be of satisfactory quality
This post was last edited by Dugu Lingyun on 2018-12-5 at 14:16. The reflux flow is controlled by automatic control valves installed in the reflux pipeline; the input can be either the flow rate or the liquid level in the reflux tank – either option is acceptable. The adjustment of the reflux amount is determined based on the temperature of the reactor bottom and the tower trays. The closer the value is to the minimum reflux ratio, the more energy-efficient it is. There is now a system we call the “edge-control operating system”, which achieves economic and energy-saving results by measuring the output volume, product quality, and reflux flow, and by controlling the evaporation amount in the reactor bottom and the reflux ratio
Automatic control of the control valve. It is controlled based on the backflow setting logic, achieved by adjusting the opening degree of the control valve.