Design and Construction of Distillation Column

As part of my chemical engineering subject "Design and Construction of Equipment", I designed a distillation column to separate a mixture of ethanol and p-xylene. This project focused on applying distillation theory and engineering principles to a real-world separation problem.

Key aspects of my work included:

• Performing McCabe-Thiele analysis to determine the number of ideal and real stages required for separation
• Calculating vapor and liquid flow rates throughout the column
• Determining column diameter and tray spacing based on flooding considerations
• Designing top and bottom trays, including detailed hydraulic calculations
• Performing checks for entrainment, weeping, and pressure drop across trays
• Sizing column internals such as downcomers and weirs
• Selecting appropriate materials and determining shell thickness
• Sizing and specifying nozzles for various stream entries and exits
• Creating detailed equipment specification sheets and process flow diagrams
• Addressing safety considerations and operational procedures for the distillation column

Through this project, I gained practical experience in:

• Applying distillation theory to complex separation processes
• Performing iterative calculations to optimize column design
• Using industry standards (TEMA, AS1210) to guide equipment design decisions
• Considering safety and operational aspects in high-pressure, high-temperature processes
• Developing comprehensive technical specifications for process equipment
• Balancing theoretical ideals with practical design constraints
• Creating 3D models of the distillation column and its components using Fusion 360
• Developing 2D engineering drawings and layouts using AutoCAD
• Utilizing Excel with macros for complex, iterative distillation calculations
• Integrating software tools (Fusion 360, AutoCAD, Excel) to support and visualize the engineering design process