Hydrodynamic and tray efficiency behavior in parastillation column

Abstract

This work presents aspects of the parastillation process, which employs a unique distillation column where the vapor stream is divided into two equal parts and the falling liquid is alternately in contact with both vapor parts on a stage-by-stage basis. A laboratory-scale apparatus was used to study the parastillation column. Experiments were carried out under total and partial reflux conditions using an ethanolwater system. Experiments were conducted to analyze the effects of vapor flow rate and initial ethanol concentration in the reboiler on the hydrodynamic conditions. Limiting operating conditions were defined. Murphree separation efficiencies were calculated and discussed.