Simulation of ternary distillation in a heat integrated distillation column (HIDiC) with a rate-based model

A simulation technique has been developed to calculate HIDiC models. A process simulator "gPROMS" for prediction of separation performance of the HIDiC with structured packing is developed by rate-based model using Maxwell-Stefan equations. Comparison of observed data from bench-scale (benzene-toluene system) separation concentric HIDiC plant, in which consisted of about 29 m in height and 254 mm in diameter. Predicted simulation results such as concentration, temperature and flow rate of top and bottom in the rectifying section and stripping section show good agreement with observed data. The effect of mass transfer and heat transfer in the HIDiC is also discussed. Moreover, a simulator using this model is developed to multicomponent HIDiC with concentric and compact heat exchanger systems.