Isothermal Flash Configuration

Consider the following operation which produces a liquid-vapour equilibrium from a

:liquid feed

Flash Drum

Liquid Feed Vapour out

V, yi, TV, PV, Hv
F, zi, TF, PF, hF
Q Liquid out
L, xi, TL, PL, hL

:For each stream

n: molar flow rate: F, L, V
zi: composition variables: x,y,z
T: temperature
P: pressure
h: enthalpy h, H
Q: heat transfer
Isothermal Flash Equations

.The assumption of thermal and mechanical equilibrium in the drum

TL  TV PL  PV

:Total material balance FVL

:Component material balances, one for each component

Fzi  Vy i  Lxi

:The mole fraction summations for each phase (or stream)

 xi  1  yi  1
i i

:In equilibrium, there is a K-value distribution relationship for each component

yiV
K i
L ,V
 L
xi
In general, the K values depend on temperature, pressure. For many
systems, the K values are approximately independent of composition. Thus,

K = K (T, p) (approximate)

For light hydrocarbons, the approximate value of K can be determined from

DePriester chart.

If only one component is present, then y = 1 and x = 1. this implies that K =
1. This gives a simple way of determining the boiling temperature of a pure
compound at any pressure.
Modified DePriester chart (in S.I. units) at low temperatures
Modified DePriester chart at high temperatures
Rachford Rice Derivation
:It is convenient to define the Vapour Fraction as follows
V
f 
F
:Substituting into the total material balance

L F  f F

:For the component material balances

V Ff F
Fzi  Vy i  Lx i Zi  y i  xi zi  f y i  x i  f x i
F F
:Using the K-Value and solving for the liquid phase mole fraction

zi  f y i  x i  f x i zi  f K i x i  x i  f x i zi
xi 
f K i  1 f
yi  K i xi
:Use the K-Value to obtain
K i zi
yi 
f K i  1 f
Rachford Rice Equations
:Use the mole fraction summations
 xi  1  yi  1
i
 y i  x i   0
i i

:Substituting into the expressions for the mole fractions

zi K i zi
xi  yi 
f K i  1 f f K i  1 f
:Gives the Rachford-Rice Equation

 K i zi zi  zi K i  1
     0 g(f)   0
i f
 i K  1  f f K i  1  f  i f K i  1 f

The roots of this equation yield the compositions, and vapour fraction of the
.isothermal flash operation

To solve this equation, it is necessary to use an iterative procedure for finding

the roots
Newton’s Iterative Method
:To solve the Rachford-Rice equation use Newton’s method to find f

Newton’s method estimates a better

g f k 
root using the last guess and the ratio f k 1
f  k

of the function to its derivative at that g' f k 

:guess

zi K i  1

For the Rachford-Rice Equation i f k K i  1  1
:this becomes f k 1  f k 
Zi K i  1
2


i f K  1  1
k
i
2
Rachford-Rice Procedure
:The Rachford-Rice procedure using Newton’s method is then

:Step 1 TL  TV Thermal equilibrium

:Step 2 PL  PV Mechanical equilibrium

Step 3: Solve Rachford-Rice for V/F where the K-values are determined by T L, and
PL and f.
z K  1 .Use Newton’s method here
 i i 0
i f K  1 f
i

:Step 4 V F f Determine V
zi Ki
:Steps 5 and 6 xi  yi 
f K i  1 f fK i  1  f

:Step 7 L Ff F Determine L

:Step 8 Q  V Hv  L hL  F hF Determine Q
Example
A flash chamber operating at 50ºC and 200kPa is separating 1000 kmol/hr of a

feed that is 30 mole %propane, 10 % n-butane, 15 % n-pentane, and 45 % n-

hexane.

Determine the product compositions and flow rates.

 Solution
:Using the Depriester Chart determine that )1

K1 (propane) = 7.0
K2 (n-butane) = 2.4
K3 (n-pentane) = 0.80
K4 (n-hexane) = 0.30

Write the Rachford-Rice Equation and substitute in the composition )2

:and K-values
V z K  1
g    i i
 F  i f K i  1  1
Depriester Determination of K-Values
 :Use Newton’s method
V z K  1
g    i i
 F  i f K i  1  1

 V  0.37.0  1 0.12.4  1 0.150.8  1 0.450.3  1

g     
 F  f 7.0  1  1 f 2.4  1  1 f 0.8  1  1 f 0.3  1  1
Guess V/F=0.1
0.37.0  1 0.12.4  1 0.150.8  1 0.450.3  1
g 0.1      0.8785
0.17  1  1 0.12.4  1  1 0.10.8  1  1 0.10.3  1  1

:To obtain a new guess we need the derivative of the RR equation

 V  0.37.0  1 0.12.4  1 0.150.8  1 0.450.3  1
2 2 2 2

g'      
 F  f 7  1  1 f 2.4  1  1 f 0.8  1  1 f 0.3  1  1
2 2 2 2

0.37.0  1 0.12.4  1 0.150.8  1 0.450.3  1

2 2 2 2

g' 0.1      4.631

0.17  1  12 0.12.4  1  12 0.10.8  1  12 0.10.3  1  12
 So the next guess is
0.879
f2  0.1   0.29
4.631

0.37.0  1 0.12.4  1 0.150.8  1 0.450.3  1

g 0.29       0.329
0.297  1  1 0.292.4  1  1 0.290.8  1  1 0.290.3  1  1

:To obtain a new guess use the derivative of the RR equation

0.3 7.0  1 0.12.4  1 0.15 0.8  1 0.45 0.3  1

2 2 2 2

g' 0.29       1.891

0.29 7  1  1 0.29 2.4  1  1 0.29 0.8  1  1 0.29 0.3  1  1
2 2 2 2

0.329
f3  0.29   0.46
1.891
g 0.46   0.066 g' 0.46   1.32

0.066
f4  0.46   0.51
1.32
g 0.51  0.00173
:So V/F  0.51 V  510 kmol hr -1

zi K i zi
:Using xi  yi 
f K i  1 f f K i  1 f

x1 (propane) = 0.0739 y1 (propane) = 0.5172

x2 (n-butane) = 0.0583 y2 (n-butane) = 0.1400
x3 (n-pentane) = 0.1670 y3 (n-pentane) = 0.1336
x4 (n-hexane) = 0.6998 y4 (n-hexane) = 0.2099
Example
It is desired to produce an overhead product containing 80.0 mole percent
benzene from a feed mixture of 68.0 mole percent benzene and 32.0
percent toluene. The relative volatility of benzene to toluene is 2.5. Two
methods are considered for this operation. For each method calculate the
moles of product per 100 kmol of feed and the number of moles vaporized
per 100 kmol feed:
(i) Continuous equilibrium flash distillation;
(ii) Continuous distillation in a still fitted with a partial condenser, in which
55.0 mole percent of the entering vapor are condensed and returned to
the still. The partial condenser is constructed so that vapor and liquid
leaving it are in equilibrium.
 Solution
)i (
xF = 0.68yD = 0.80,

FxF = fyD + (1-f)xBFor 1 kmol of feed F=1

Basis: 1 kmol feed hence 0.68 = 0.80f + (1 - f)xB

y (1  x) x 2.50 x
  y*  
x(1  y ) 1  x(  1) 1  1.50 x

From the relative volatility, when yD = 0.80 xB = 0.615

And 0.68 = 0.80f + 0.615(1 - f)

hence: f = 0.351
For 100 kmol feed:
Distillate Product: 35.1 kmol/100 kmol feed, yD= 0.80

Bottoms product: =100 – 35.1 = 64.9 kmol/100 kmol feed, xB= 0.615

Moles vaporized: 35.1 kmol/100 kmol feed

 )ii(
yD = 0.80 xF = 0.68
Basis: 1 kmol feed
Since yD and x1 are in equilibrium:
when yD = 0.80, x1 = 0.615
material balance around the partial condenser:
fy1 = 0.45yDf + 0.55x1f (Divide by f)
y1 = 0.45*0.8 + 0.55*0.615
therefore y1= 0.698
From the relative volatility:
when y1 = 0.698, xB = 0.48
material balance around the entire still:
0.68 = 0.80(0.45)f + 0.48 (1 – 0.45f)
hence: f = 1.39
Bottoms product:
Distillate Product: =100 – 62.5
= 0.45 * 1.39 *100 = 37.5 kmol/100 kmol feed, xB= 0.48
= 62.5 kmol/100 kmol feed, yD=0.80
Moles vaporised:
1.39 *100 = 139 kmol/100 kmol feed