Use of approximate methods to determine minimum reflux ratio in distillation process

Abstract

The study of multicomponent distillation process require the solution of system of equations developed after mass balance, equilibrium, enthalpy balance, molar fraction analysis were classic methods developed after Lewis-Matheson and Thiele-Geddes studies used in conventional column studies . In many cases, the design of the multi-stage equipment requires a rigorous determination of parameters (i.e. temperature, pressure, flows and compositions of streams. Given the high no linearity of the equations it is necessary to solve the system by using iterative procedures, where the methods differ in the selection of the set of independent variables. In the present paper we aim to use approximate methods to determine the minimum reflux ratio, amount of theoretical zones and feed location in the process of distillation.