Effect of inaccuracy of a thermodynamic property model on distillation simulation

Abstract

This work is to study the extent of error in distillation simulation result when inaccurate property data are used. The effect of inaccuracy in both vapor-liquid equilibrium model and enthalpy model on the distillation simulation result are investigated separately. This work also involves determining the accurate property models used. This study is based on the system ethanol+water. The effect of reflux ratio and number of equilibrium staged on distillation simulation result was also studied with inaccurate property model. From this work, it can be concluded that: 1. The error in the K-value will have great effect on distillation simulation result. Distillation simulation with error in K-value exceeding +-9% should not be acceptable. 2. The distillation simulation is not sensitive to the error in enthalpy. Even though the error is as high as +-37%, the simulation results is still acceptable. For good simulation result, the accurate K-value must be used.