Design and Construction of Distillation Column
Detailed engineering analysis and design of a 40-plate distillation column for separating ethanol and p-xylene. Includes McCabe-Thiele analysis, tray hydraulics, column sizing, and safety considerations.
Distillation Column Design for Ethanol/P-xylene Separation
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
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