The Effect of Composition on the Performance of a Packed Distillation Column

Abstract

To investigate the reasons for variation in column performance with the composition of the test mixture, distillation experiments are carried out under similar conditions to those used by Liang et al., who reported remarkable variation in NOG with composition. The present results also indicate that NOG varies greatly with the composition of the test mixture. To take into account the effect of surface tension on the performance, the surface tension of this test mixture is measured up to near the boiling point. The result shows that the surface tension of this test mixture at the boiling point has a maximum value at a certain composition and that the surface tension characteristics change from negative to positive at this point. Good correlation between NOG and the stabilising index proposed by Moens was observed. © 1989, The Society of Chemical Engineers, Japan. All rights reserved.