Question

Q1) Methanol (50 %) and water (50 %) mixture is fed into a distillation column. The feed
flowrate is 500 kmole/hr. 50 % of feed is vaporized. The column is well insulated and has a
total condenser. A reflux is set to 2 and returned to column as saturated liquid. The compositions
in the distillate and bottom are to be 95 % and 5 %, respectively. The column is at 1 atm. Instead
of a reboiler, saturated steam is directly used. Determine optimal feed location and number of
stages.
Table: Vapor-Liquid Equilibrium Data for Methanol (1) –Water (2) Mixture
T [K] x1 [mol/mol] y1 [mol/mol]
369.65 0.00840 0.10300
365.45 0.02580 0.22700
360.65 0.06800 0.39100
353.25 0.13700 0.56800
349.05 0.24000 0.68000
343.75 0.48000 0.79000
341.85 0.57200 0.82000
339.55 0.74100 0.90600

Answer 1