Sequential simulation of packed distillation columns using rate-based model

Abstract

Though a packed column has continuous internal structure from top to bottom, the design procedure of the column handles it like the trayed column in both the equilibrium-stage design and the rate-based model design. The differential equation of material balance is good for the continuous phase of the packed column. But the counter flow of vapor and liquid streams makes solving the differential equation difficult. We propose a sequential solving procedure of the packed-column model using an iterative computation. The computed results for the systems of methanol/ethanol, ethanol/n-propanol and methanol/n-propanol were compared with the experimental results to examine the usefulness of the proposed procedure for the simulation of the packed column. The comparison indicates that the proposed procedure predicts satisfactory results of column profiles in the packed column.