Separations

Distillation Design and Control Using Aspen Simulation

April, 2006
As the world continues to seek new sources of energy, the distillation process remains one of the most important separation methods in the chemical, petroleum, and energy industries. And as new renewable sources of energy and chemical feedstocks become more universally utilized, the issues of...

Distillation Troubleshooting

March, 2006
The last half-century of research on distillation has tremendously improved our understanding and design of industrial distillation equipment and systems. High-speed computers have taken over the design, control, and operation of towers. Invention and innovation in tower internals have greatly...

Effectively Control Column Pressure

January
2001
Reactions and Separations
Andrew W. Sloley 
Maintaining proper pressure can play a crucial role in the stable operation of a distillation column. Here’s how to select the most appropriate pressure-control scheme.

Real World Modeling of Distillation

July
2003
Reactions and Separations
Harry Kooijman, Rajamani Krishna , Ross Taylor
Previously, simulations based on nonequilibrium, or rate-based, models were considered impractical due to their complexity. However, with ever-increasing computing power, these simulations are not only feasible, but in some circumstances they should...

Diagnosing Maldistribution in Towers

May
2007
Reactions and Separations
Simon X. Xu
Gamma CAT-scan technology makes possible the collection of much more vital online process information than conventional diagnostic techniques.

Don’t Let Baffle Tray Flood Baffle You

July
2011
Reactions and Separations
Henry Z. Kister, Matthew Olsson
Use this new correlation based on window liquid velocity to predict baffle tray capacity.

Streamlining Crystallization Process Design

January
2004
Fluids and Solids Handling
Christianto  Wibowo, Ka M. Ng, Lionel O'Young
Use phase diagrams to develop reliable crystallization processes quickly and cost effectively.

Tools to Model Multiphase Separation

June
2007
Fluids and Solids Handling
David Connolly, Saeid Mokhatab, Timothy Newton
The flow fields in multiphase separators are often extremely complicated, making it difficult to model such systems. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and visual dynamic modeling (VDM) can be used together to overcome some of the challenges.

Optimize Energy Use in Distillation

March
2012
Reactions and Separations
Douglas C. White
Nonlinearities in the response of a column to changes in operating conditions and in common economic valuation functions can have significant impacts on the economic optimum energy consumption for the column. Here’s a way to account for such...

Select the Right Spray Nozzle

June
2001
Reactions and Separations
Peter  Welander, Terra L. Vincent
Finding the proper nozzle for specific applications doesn't have to be difficult. By applying basic concepts of nozzle technology, you can create a droplet profile that best suits your needs.

Realistically Predict Capacity and Pressure Drop for Packed Columns

July
2007
Reactions and Separations
Emil Abkar, Henry Z. Kister, Jeffrey Scherffius, Khashayar Afshar
Generalized pressure-drop correlation (GPDC) charts have been the standard for predicting packing flood points and pressure drops. This article guides engineers on the correct and incorrect uses of the GPDC interpolation procedure, and updates the...

Solid-Liquid Separation: A Guide to Centrifuge Selection

July
2012
Back To Basics
Tom Patnaik
Centrifugation is a necessary step in many pharmaceutical and chemical production processes. These guidelines will help chemical engineers better understand the process of centrifuge selection.

Bridge the Gap with Semicontinuous Distillation

August
2001
Reactions and Separations
James R. Phimister ,  Warren D. Seider
This processing strategy combines the advantages of batch and continuous operation, providing flexibility and efficiency in a single design.

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