APLICACIÓN DEL MÉTODO DE MCCABE-THIELE MEDIANTE MODELACIÓN MATEMÁTICA EN EXCEL PARA DETERMINAR LAS ETAPAS TEÓRICAS DE UNA DESTILACIÓN BINARIA
APLICACIÓN DEL MÉTODO DE MCCABE-THIELE MEDIANTE MODELACIÓN MATEMÁTICA EN EXCEL PARA DETERMINAR LAS ETAPAS TEÓRICAS DE UNA DESTILACIÓN BINARIA
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.0532411102
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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 objective 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, we started with a feed with a molar flow of 100 kmol/h, with an equimolar composition of ethanol and water. Using the McCabe-Thiele method, an equilibrium diagram was created that represents the relationship between the vapor and liquid compositions in each phase of the process. From this analysis, the necessary theoretical stages and the optimal location of the feed plate 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 achieve the desired purity of 90% ethanol in the distillate. The simulation also highlighted the importance of the first stages in the separation process, where the greatest difference in composition is observed between the vapor and liquid phases. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using Excel as an accessible tool for simulation of distillation processes, especially in educational and preliminary research contexts. Likewise, the effectiveness of the McCabe-Thiele method in the design and analysis of distillation columns is highlighted, 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