Simulación y validación de un proceso de deshidratación de Tert-butanol utilizando un proceso de columna de pared divisoria mediante destilación azeotrópica heterogénea

Abstract

The objective of this study was the simulation and validation of a Tert-Butanol dehydration process using a dividing wall column process by heterogeneous azeotropic distillation. In the development of the simulation, bibliographic data were used, which were later adapted for the simulation in DWSIM, using Tert-Butanol, water, and cyclohexane as an entraining agent, the global thermodynamic method of the ternary system was Non-Random Two Liquids (NRTL) which interpreted the non-ideal of the liquid-vapour equilibrium. In the simulation, an alternative process to the conventional Heterogeneous Azeotropic Distillation (HAD) of two columns was designed, using an azeotropic dividing wall column system (A-DWC), helping to reduce energy consumption, by taking advantage of the heat of the columns, 3 columns were used for the simulation, C-1 which acts as a pre-concentrator column of the substance, C-2 acting as a HAD column and C-3 acting as a rectification column, the source entered C-1 at 25˚C and 1 atm of pressure, forming a desirable heterogeneous ternary azeotrope between the 3 substances, which allows their separation, Columns C-1 and C-2 are considered to have a plate pressure drop of 689.010 Pa. Finally, the liquid division ratio βL is considered, where the flow can be controlled having an optimal ratio of 0.9. with all the necessary parameters and data, the A-DWC was simulated in DWSIM. The results obtained were tabulated and subsequently validated by the analysis of variance ANOVA, having errors of less than 7% of the simulation concerning the bibliographic results. Likewise, the Total Annual Cost (TAC) is 1,173 concerning conventional simulations, emphasizing that its decrease in energy consumption is also notable. This simulation was posted on the DWSIM page.