DistillCalcs

This project is designed to model the distillation process for separating binary mixtures. The project include two main program files to be executed:

1. Rectification_Usage – a file for calculating the rectification process.
2. Simple_Distillation_Usage – a file for calculating simple distillation.

Rectification

"Rectification_Usage" allows you to calculate the following distillation column parameters:

• Number of theoretical stages
• Feed stage
• Minimum reflux ratio
• Distillate and bottoms composition
• Distillate and bottoms flow rate for a given feed mixture flow rate

Simple_Distillation

"Simple_Distillation_Usage" allows you to determine the composition and flows of the bottoms and distillate of simple distillation depending on the degree of removal of the volatile component from the feed mixture.

Instructions for use

To successfully run the program, the following Python libraries must be installed:

• NumPy
• Matplotlib
• SciPy

Quick Start

Download the repository archive and unzip it.

• Double-click "Rectification_Usage.py" to run the rectification calculation using the current settings in this file.
• Double-click "Simple_Distillation_Usage.py" to run the simple distillation calculation using the current settings in this file.

Setting up distillation parameters

Rectification (file: "Rectification_Usage.py")

1. Find the file containing the VLE data for the components of interest in the "data" folder.
2. Copy the name of this file to the "equlibrium_data_fileName" variable.
3. Specify the mole fraction of component #1:
   • xd=... - in distillate
   • xf=... - in feed
   • xw=... - in bottom product
4. Specify:
   • Gf=... - feed mass flow rate
   • R_UD=... - user-defined working reflux ratio (enter R_UD=0 if you want to use the empirical formula to calculate R)

Simple distillation (file: "Simple_Distillation_Usage.py")

1. Find the file containing the VLE data for the components of interest in the "data" folder.
2. Copy the name of this file to the "equlibrium_data_fileName" variable.
3. Specify the mole fraction of component #1 in the feed mixture:
   • xf=...

Creating a document for storing VLE data*

1. Create a text document in the "data" folder.
2. In the first two rows, enter the molecular masses of components #1 and #2:
   • M_1=...
   • M_2=...
3. Enter the VLE data, starting with the third row:
   • equilibrium mole fractions of component #1 in the liquid in the first column
   • equilibrium mole fractions of component #1 in the vapor in the second column

*An example of filling out a file is presented in file "ethanol_water_equilibrium_1atm.txt".

Sources:

• the VLE data presented in the "date" folder was obtained from the DWSIM program using the "Utilities" option and the "NRTL" property package.