Distillation Column Design: A Key Chemical Used For Production Of Acetone

4.1 Distillation Column Design (Hazel Villarosa Victorio -1415939)
4.1.1. Introduction and design statement
Chemical engineers have a part to play in achieving sustainable goals. Since natural resources are scarce and depleting, improvement of chemical processes is important. Recovering and reusing raw materials to convert into finished products is one of such simple techniques. In production of Acetone through Isopropanol, this goal of recovering and reusing of materials can be achieved.
Isopropanol (IPA) is a key chemical used for production of Acetone through dehydrogenation. However, only a fraction of Isopropanol is converted to Acetone. Therefore, it is necessary to recover as much IPA from Acetone Bottom Product through distillation process.
Distillation is a mass transfer unit operation that separates components of a liquid mixture based on the differences in volatility or boiling point of the components. It involves

Theories and methodology in distillation column design
Theory
Tray column is a cylindrical vessel containing a series of trays. Mass transfer between liquid and vapour occurs on trays in cross-current under a certain pressure. There are different types of trays such as valve trays, bubble cap trays and sieve trays.
Valve trays are trays that has holes which are covered by caps that are lifted up by the vapour flowing into the holes. This provides excellent contact between liquid and vapour. A decrease in vapour flowrate will cause the cap height to decrease as shown below:

Bubble cap trays are trays that has a riser and a mounted cap for each hole (Figure 4.1.2). This forces the vapour to flow downwards and rise again, forming bubbles once it contacts with the