(216c) Dividing Wall Distillation Steady State Model Validation
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
2015
2015 AIChE Spring Meeting and 11th Global Congress on Process Safety
Kister Distillation Symposium
New and Exciting Developments and Innovations in Distillation: Looking at a Brighter Future and a Greener Planet
Thursday, April 30, 2015 - 9:05am to 9:35am
Dividing Wall Distillation Steady State Model Validation
Bailee Roach, Bruce Eldridge
James R. Fair Process Science and Technology Center
University of Texas at Austin;
Patented in 1949, the dividing wall distillation column (DWC) is slowly gaining traction in the United States. In 2007, it was estimated there were more than 100 DWC’s in industrial use, an increase from 60 in 2002. The benefits of a DWC versus traditional separation methods are staggering, including estimated energy savings of 30 percent. Despite these advantages, predictive models are required to develop an understanding of column operation. This insight will promote the widespread adoption of DWC technology.
The University of Texas, in collaboration with industrial partners, has constructed a pilot scale DWC. Outfitted with structured packing, the six inch diameter pilot column was designed to allow for a wide range of operability and process control studies. A steady state study has been performed separating a tertiary mixture of hydrocarbons. Data from the experimental pilot column was used to validate a steady state simulation. Both MPC and PID control were employed and the optimal control strategies were determined.