(481b) Use of Batchcolumn® Software for Design, Analysis and Optimization of Batch Distillation Processes

Batch distillation is an important unit operation in the batch processing industry and is used in a wide range of applications: fine chemical industries, pharmaceuticals, specialty chemicals, biochemical, essential oils, alcoholsâ?¦ The great flexibility of batch distillation allows for the separation of complex mixtures with a single column. This flexibility, combined with the inherent unsteady state nature of the process, poses challenging design and operation problems [1]. There is no 'rule of thumb' to achieve the optimal solution (reduced operating time, good product separation, minimum energy consumptionâ?¦) and dedicated tools are required.

BatchColumn® software [2] allows for the detailed representation almost any kind of distillation column, e.g. azeotropic and close

boiling separation using heterogeneous or homogeneous entrainers

[3, 4, 5, 6], batch distillation with a middle vessel column [7], etc. The software takes into account the associated equipment technology (middle vessels, boiler, condenserâ?¦) and column hydrodynamics. It provides the evolution through time of all parameters of interest such as compositions, temperature, pressure, reflux ratioâ?¦ Through the creation and analysis of operating scenarios, it enables the identification of the best resources management policies, recipes for

product quality optimization and cost reduction. BatchColumn® allows modeling of complex systems by taking advantage of the power of

Simulis® Thermodynamics (thermodynamic properties server) which

offers an extensive set of thermodynamic models with a pure components database of more than 2,000 pure components (AIChEâ??s DIPPR® database [8]). The main features and strengths of BatchColumn® are highlighted on various application examples.

Keywords

Batch distillation; Modeling; Simulation; Thermodynamic server; Complex mixtures.

References

[1] U.Diwekar, Batch Distillation â?? Simulation, Optimal Design and Control, CRC press, 2nd ed. (2012) [2] http://www.prosim.net/en/index.php

[3] I. Rodriguez-Donis, V. Gerbaud, X. Joulia, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 40, 12, 2729-2741 (2001) [4] I. Rodriguez-Donis, V. Gerbaud, X. Joulia, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 40, 22, 4935-4950 (2001)

[5] S. Pommier, S. Massebeuf, B. Kotai, P. Lang, O. Baudouin, P. Floquet, V. Gerbaud, Chem. Eng. Process., 47, 3, 408-419 (2008)

[6] I. Rodriguez-Donis, V. Gerbaud, X. Joulia, AIChE J., 48, 6, 1168-1178 (2002)

[7] I. Rodriguez-Donis, V. Gerbaud, X. Joulia, Feasibility Analysis and Reflux Policies for the

Heterogeneous Batch Distillation in a Middle Vessel Column, SIMO 2002 (2002)

[8] R.L. Rowley, W.V. Wilding, J.L. Oscarson, N.F. Giles, DIPPR® Data Compilation of Pure Chemical

Properties, Design Institute for Physical Properties, AIChE, New York, NY (2011)