APPLICATION OF THE MCCABE-THIELE METHOD BY MEANS OF MATHEMATICAL MODELING IN EXCEL TO DETERMINE THE THEORETICAL STAGES OF A BINARY DISTILLATION
APPLICATION OF THE MCCABE-THIELE METHOD BY MEANS OF MATHEMATICAL MODELING IN EXCEL TO DETERMINE THE THEORETICAL STAGES OF A BINARY DISTILLATION
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.153122420092
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Palavras-chave: Etanol, destilación binaria, McCabe-Thiele, diagrama de equilibrio.
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Keywords: Ethanol, binary distillation, McCabe-Thiele, equilibrium diagram.
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Abstract:
This study focuses on the simulation of a binary distillation process of ethanol and water using a model developed in Excel, with the aim of obtaining ethanol with a purity of 90%. Distillation is widely recognized as one of the most common separation methods in the chemical industry, and the case of ethanol-water is especially relevant due to its industrial applications in the production of biofuels and in the pharmaceutical industry. For the simulation, a feed with a molar flow of 100 kmol/h was used, with an equimolar composition of ethanol and water. Using the McCabe-Thiele method, an equilibrium diagram was developed that represents the relationship between the vapor and liquid compositions in each phase of the process. From this analysis, the theoretical stages required and the optimal location of the feed tray were calculated to maximize the efficiency of the distillation column. The model allowed obtaining a distillate with a molar flow of 75 kmol/h and a residue of 25 kmol/h. The results indicated that 10.6 theoretical stages are required to reach the desired purity of 90% ethanol in the distillate. The simulation also highlighted the importance of the early stages in the separation process, where the greatest difference in composition between the vapor and liquid phases is observed. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using Excel as an accessible tool for simulating distillation processes, especially in educational and preliminary research contexts. It also highlights the effectiveness of the McCabe-Thiele method in the design and analysis of distillation columns, offering results that align with theoretical principles and industrial practice.
- Wilson Patricio Leon Cueva
- Kely Romina Veintimilla San Martin
- Delly Maribel San Martin Torres
- Juliana Lisbeth Criollo Feijoo
- Jerling Samantha Hurtado González
- Cristina Vanessa Fernández Vélez