Continuous and Batch Distillation in an Oldershaw Tray Column

Authors

  • Carlos M. Silva Universidade de Aveiro, Campus de Santiago
  • Raquel V. Vaz Universidade de Aveiro, Campus de Santiago
  • Ana S. Santiago Universidade de Aveiro, Campus de Santiago
  • Patrícia F. Lito Universidade de Aveiro, Campus de Santiago

Abstract

The importance of distillation in the separation field prompts the inclusion of distillation experiments in the chemical engineering curricula. This work describes the performance of an Oldershaw column in the rectification of a cyclohexane/n-heptane mixture. Total reflux distillation, continuous rectification under partial reflux, and batch rectification at constant reflux were studied. With this experimental work, students practice several relevant distillation concepts, and also the use of chemical engineering simulation software.

Author Biographies

Carlos M. Silva, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus de Santiago

Carlos M. Silva is a professor of chemical engineering at the Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Portugal. He received his B.S. and Ph.D. degrees at the School of Engineering, University of Porto, Portugal. His research interests are transport phenomena, membranes, ion exchange, and supercritical fluid separation processes.

Raquel V. Vaz, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus de Santiago

Raquel V. Vaz is a Ph.D. student at the Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Portugal. She received her Master’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Aveiro. Her main research interest focuses on molecular dynamics simulation and modeling of diffusion coefficients of nonpolar and polar systems.

Ana S. Santiago, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus de Santiago

Ana S. Santiago is a post-Ph.D. student in the Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Portugal. She received her B.S. degree in chemical engineering from the University of Coimbra and Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of Aveiro. Her main research interest focuses on bio-refinery and membrane separation processes.

Patrícia F. Lito, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus de Santiago

Patrícia F. Lito is a post-Ph.D. student in the Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Portugal. She received her B.S. and Ph.D. degrees in chemical engineering from the University of Aveiro. Her main research interest focuses on mass transfer, membrane separation processes, ion exchange, and molecular dynamics simulation and modeling of diffusion coefficients of nonpolar and polar systems.

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Published

2011-04-01

Issue

Vol. 45 No. 2 (2011): Spring 2011

Section

Manuscripts