The distillation column is completely made of glass and it consists of a reboiler, of a column with steel mesh packing and of a condenser with reflux valve and head. The distillate is collected into a glass tank after being cooled by a heat exchanger. The automated version is equipped with two PID controllers for controlling the feed pre-heating temperature, the flow rate of the condenser cooling water and the level of vacuum in the plant, automatically.
TRAINING PROGRAM
This unit enables to deepen the following issues:
• Distillation of different mixtures (water / ethanol, water /methanol, methanol / propanol, etc…) versus the variation of the following operational parameters:
– reflux ratio
– reboiler heating power
– feeding composition
– residual pressure
• Mass balance
• Energy balance
• Flooding
• Calculation of the number of theoretical trays
• Automatic flow, pressure and temperature control by PID controller
• Plant supervision by P.C.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:
• Framework of AISI 304 stainless steel with castors
• Distillation column of borosilicate glass, DN 50, h = 1100 mm, with packing of AISI 316 stainless steel mesh
• Reflux head of borosilicate glass equipped with solenoid valve for the control of reflux ratio
• Over head condenser of borosilicate glass, with exchange surface of 0.4 m2
• Reboiler of borosilicate glass, with capacity of 5 l, equipped with quartz-sheathed electric resistor of 2.5 kW
• Vacuum gauge of AISI 304 stainless steel, with range of -1 to 0 bar
• 2 programmable timers for the control of reflux ratio
• 8 thermoresistances Pt 100, with sheath of AISI 316 stainless steel
• 8 electronic temperature indicators
• Electronic differential pressure transmitter (between column top and bottom) of AISI 316 stainless steel , with range of 0 to 200 mm H2O, 4-20 mA output signal
• Board-type electronic indicator of the measure of differential pressure
• 2 graduated vessels of borosilicate glass for collecting the distillate, with capacity of 1 l
• Tube-in-tube heat exchanger of stainless steel for cooling the distillate
• Liquid-ring vacuum pump (P = 0.7 kW), equipped with air/water separator and check valve
• Thyristor unit for controlling the heating power
• Flowmeter of AISI 304 stainless steel for measuring the flow rate crossing the condenser: range of 0 to 250 l/h
• Piping and valves of AISI 304 and 316 stainless steel
• Switchboard IP55, complying with EC conformity mark, including plant synoptic and ELCB
• Emergency button.
Besides being provided with all technical specifications, this model also includes the following additional items:
• Flowmeter of AISI 304 stainless steel for measuring the flow rate to the condenser, 4-20 mA output, range of 0 to 250 l/h
• Electronic absolute pressure (in column) transmitter of AISI 316 stainless steel, range of 0 to 1000 mbar, 4-20 mA output signal
• Interface for the connection with PC included in the switchboard
• Data acquisition software for Windows
Besides being provided with all the Technical specifications, this model also includes the following additional
items:
• Flowmeter of AISI 304 stainless steel for measuring the flow rate to the condenser, 4-20 mA output signal, range of 0 to 250 l/h
• Pneumatic control valve, DN 15 of AISI 316 stainless steel, Cv = 2.5
• Electropneumatic converter 4 to 20 mA/0.2 to 1 bar
• Electronic absolute pressure (in column) transmitter of AISI 316 stainless steel, range of 0 to 1000 mbar, 4-20 mA output signal
• 2 microprocessor multi-loop digital controllers, with 2 PID control loops (flow rate of water to the condenser and residual pressure, input and output signals of 4 to 20 mA
• Supervision software for Windows: it enables to control ON-OFF signals, analog signals coming from the PID
controller, real-time trend and historical trend.
