Feed and reflux positions for azeotropic dehydration
Thread Content
For dehydration using the azeotropic dehydration method, is it better to feed the material into the tower or at the bottom of the tower? Is it better for the azeotrope reflux to occur on a tray below the feed tray or on the same tray as the feed?
Here, cyclohexene and water form an azeotrope; the feed enters at the top of the tower and the product exits at the bottom. The reflux tank contains a baffle to facilitate separate separation before feeding takes place
If the feed goes directly to the top of the distillation tower, aren’t the tray plates then pointless? The azeotropic dehydration reflux tank definitely needs to be allowed to settle and separate the water before refluxing. Is the location of the reflux pipe in your facility at the top of the tower, like in a regular distillation tower, or somewhere else?