Batch distillation employing cyclic rectification and stripping operations

Several strategies have been proposed to increase the operating efficiency of batch distillation. In this study, conventional batch rectification and inverted batch stripping are used cyclically to promote high product flow rates for a binary fractionation. Process controls are implemented to maintain constant product purity specifications by varying the slope of the operating line. While rectifying, the light component is removed as distillate, concentrating the heavy component in the reboiler. As a result, the distillate rate decreases with time. The column is then changed from rectification to stripping modes, and the heavy component is removed as bottoms product, concentrating the light component in the distillate drum. This causes the bottoms rate to diminish with time, and the column is once again converted back to rectifying mode. Cyclic operation, transitioning from batch rectifying to stripping back to rectifying, continues until all of the initial charge is fractionated or is combined with a new charge. The fractionation of ethanol and 1-propanol using the proposed operating strategy is shown to provide several advantages including energy and time savings when compared to conventional batch or inverted batch distillation alone.