Pressure
Swing
Distillation
Contents
• Introduction
• Pressure swing distillation
• Modes of Operation
• Set-up for pressure swing distillation
• Examples
• Advantages
• Comparison with extractive distillation
• References
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Introduction
Azeotrope:
• Mixture of two or more liquids where in its components cannot
be separated by simple distillation because they have a
constant boiling point and composition throughout distillation.
Methods to separate azeotropic mixtures
• Pressure-Swing Distillation
• Vacuum Distillation
• Extractive Distillation
• Azeotropic Distillation
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Pressure-Swing
Distillation
• Some binary azeotrope mixtures lose azeotropic behavior
when the system pressure is changed.
• Pressure-swing distillation (PSD) is the process to be utilized
to separate the pressure-sensitive mixture with close
boiling point or forming azeotrope.
• Pressure-Swing Distillation is a special distillation process in
which no new additive is added.
Principle:
• A simple change in pressure can alter relative volatility of
the mixture with close boiling point or forming azeotrope.
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Modes of Operation
There are three modes of operation in Pressure-swing
distillation.
1. Continuous Operation
2. Batch Operation
3. Semi Continuous Operation
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Continuous Operation
• In continuous operation the separation is performed using
two columns maintained at two different pressure.
• The distillate which approach the azeotropic composition at
low and high pressure are recycled between two columns.
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Batch Operation
• In Batch operation, single column is used for separation.
• First feed is charged to column operated at pressure P1 and
bottom B is removed.
• The collected distillate D1 approaches to azeotropic
composition.
• Then, the column is recharged with distillate D1 and
operated at pressure P2 to get bottom A as pure product
removed.
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Semi Continuous
Operation
• In semi continuous operation, single distillation column is
used but the column is operated periodically.
• The advantages are lower investment cost and shorter
downtime when the mixture to be separated is changed.
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Setup for Pressure-
Swing Distillation
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Contd.
• The total feed to column-1 operating at the lower pressure is the sum
of the fresh feed and the recycled distillate D 2.
• The total feed is richer in A than the azeotropic mole fraction at lower
pressure.
• The bottoms leaving column-1 is almost pure A.
• The distillate leaving column-1 is D 1. This mole fraction is richer in A
than the azeotropic mole fraction at low pressure, but less rich in A
than the azeotrope mole fraction of high pressure column.
• Distillate D1 is sent to Column-2 as feed. Nearly pure B is obtained
from bottom of column-2, and the distillate D 2 is recycled to column-1.
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Phase Diagram
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separation using pressure-
swing distillation
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Examples
• acetone / methanol
• acetic acid / toluene
• aniline / octane
• phenol / butyl acetate
• methanol / ethyl acetate
• ethanol / ethyl acetate
• propanol / toluene
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Advantages
• Energy saving by heat integration of the system (heat of
condensation in high pressure column is used for heating
up in lower one).
• No need to add an entrainer or a solvent for the separation.
• Reduction of stages and columns as there is no recycling of
entrainer.
• Environmental friendly.
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Comparison with
Extractive Distillation
• Energy demand of ED is lower than PSD.
• Higher recovery is achieved by ED than the process by the
PSD.
• ED needs much more operation steps than the PSD.
• The control of the PSD is easier than that of the ED since
the columns are operating practically in steady state.
• The capital costs of the PSD (requiring two columns) are
higher than that of the ED.
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References
• Entrainer-Assisted Pressure-Swing Distillation for Separating the
Minimum-Boiling Azeotrope Toluene/Pyridine: Design and Control; Ye
Li, Weisong Li, Lei Zhong, and Chunjian Xu; Ind. Eng. Chem. Res.
2017, 11894-11902.
• Introduction to Process Engineering and Design; S B Thakore & B I
Bhatt.
• Distillation Operations: Methods, Operational and Design Issues; Patil,
Dr.Kiran & Choudhary, Pankaj & Bhatia, Tanvi (2009).
• Homogeneous azeotropic pressure swing distillation: continuous and
batch process; Jens-Uwe Repke, Andreas Klein; European Symposium
on Computer Aided Process Engineering – 15.
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THANK
YOU!
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