DYNAMIC SIMULATION OF A BATCH EXTRACTIVE DISTILLATION PROCESS

The process of batch extractive distillation may provide the advantages of both the batch and the extractive distillation. So far this process has not been applied at all probably due to its complexity. An algorithm and a computer program were developed for simulating the experiments of a batch extractive distillation process (separation of acetone and methanol on a pilot-plant column containing 32 bubble cap trays applying water as solvent) on a PC/AT/486. For the integration of the set of non-linear differential equations (component material balances) the Runge-Kutta method was used. For saving computation time a two-dimensional linear interpolation method was applied for the ternary mixture when calculating VLE. The experimental and calculated results are compared.