Analysis of azeotropic distillation columns combined with pervaporation membranes

ELICECHE, ANA M.; HOCH, PATRICIA M.; ORTIZ, INMACULADA

COMPUTER AIDED CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

ELSEVIER

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2001 vol. 9 p. 387 - 392

1570-7946

The main objective of this work is the analysis and optimisation of azeotropic distillation columns, when a liquid side stream with the distributing non-key component is treated in a pervaporation membrane and the retentate is recycled to the column. The objective is to separate the pure distributing non-key component from the pervaporation membrane, thus helping to improve the purity in the top and/or bottom products. The operating conditions of the column such as reflux ratio, product and side draw flowrates and pressure are selected optimally to minimise the operating cost of the hybrid system. The simulation of the pervaporation membrane is implemented solving the differential-algebraic equation system of mass transport and energy balances. The optimisation of the operating conditions of the azeotropic distillation column in the hybrid distillation/pervaporation system for Methyl tert-Butyl Ether production is presented. Numerical results showing the reduction in operating cost for the case study are reported.