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Distillation Column
A distillation column is an equipment that separates a chemical mixture into its fractions, based on the difference in boiling points & volatilities. Distillation columns widely used in different industries for various applications.
In distillation process the components that have lower boiling points or are more volatile will be richer in vapor phase of a boiling mixture. Hence, the liquid phase will contain the less volatile material. The efficiency of a distillation column highly depends on the boiling points. If the difference in boiling points between two substances is great, complete separation may be easily achieved by a single stage, otherwise more than one stage is required.
Different types of high efficiency distillation columns are manufactured by Niroonamad Company.
Principally, different modes of distillation columns are based on the same operating principal. However, there are many kinds of distillation columns such as batch & continuous. Batch distillation is an un-steady state operation that typically used in small scale. It must be noted the feed to the column is introduced batch-wise. Firstly, the column is charged with a ‘batch’ and then after achieving the desired goal, a next batch of feed enters the column. Oppose to batch distillation, continuous distillation is a process in which a mixture is continuously fed into the column.
Distillation towers are made up different parts that mainly are used for mass & heat transfer. Generally, a typical distillation column consists of the following principal parts:
- A vertical shell that is used for the separation of the components
- Column internals like trays, packings that are used for the enhancement of contact surface.
- A re-boiler to provide the required heat for vaporization
- A condenser for cooling and condensing the rising vapors
The feed is introduced to a tray called feed tray. Actually, this tray creates two sections in a distillation column, rectification & stripping.
At the bottom of distillation column there is a re-boiler and the required heat for the vaporization of more volatile components are supplied by the re-boiler. The vaporized components rise to the top of the column and are cooled by a condenser. A part of this condensed liquid that exists the column is known as distillate or top product and a part of it that is recycled to the top of the column is called reflux.
