Distillation Theory and its Application to Optimal Design of Separation Units

Book excerpt: Originally published in 2004, Distillation Theory and Its Application to Optimal Design of Separation Units presents a clear, multidimensional geometric representation of distillation theory that is valid for all distillation column types, splits, and mixtures. This representation answers such fundamental questions as: what are the feasible separation products for a given mixture? What minimum power is required to separate a given mixture? What minimum number of trays is necessary to separate a given mixture at a fixed power input? This book is intended for students and specialists in the design and operation of separation units in the chemical, pharmaceutical, food, wood, petrochemical, oil-refining, and natural gas industries and for software designers.