multicomponent distillation procedure in Excel ? 8

[apetri]

does anyone know of Excel code capable to solve multicomponent distillations ?
(also with simplified mass+energy balance)
Thanks for help.

 

[PaoloPemi]

don't know a complete Excel VBA code for solving a column however you may consider:

Excel VBA code for Thiele-Geddes method (link found with google)

http://www.chemecalcs.com/tg.php

or, for a rigorous solution integrated in Excel

http://www.prode.com/en/distillationcolumn.htm

hoping this helps.

 

[apetri]

thanks

 

[jamesbanda]

apetri,

Make sure you have good physical property data for use in your simulation.

Aspen data banks are based on dippr and others. which have generally good physical property data. And i assume proii is the same.

so if your basing any capital equipment order on this be careful.

I know the wrong physical properties make a massive difference on simulations upto 50% side difference.. (that i've seen)..

 

[PaoloPemi]

jamesbanda,
I agree concerning the importance of properties, that is the reason why I suggested two different solutions:

A VBA code for mass balance based on Thiele Geddes method (which could be extended with energy balance based on constant composition method and possibly rigorous properties)

A complete rigorous solution (Prode Properties) based on Newton method and rigorous properties.

Of course for solving a column there are many process simulators with rigorous thermodynamics but these are (in general) much more expensive (with some exception as Chemsep)

 

[chemlite]

in addition I wouldn't underrate the importance of classic short cut methods as Fenske-Underwood-Gilliland, these are easily implemented in Excel and can provide real knowledge about multistage separation...

 

[tsally]

there is a paper "Shortcut distillation calculations via spreadsheets", Chemical Engineering Progress, Dec. 2002 which describes the procedure.
When most engineers at meetings only say "I did it with my $$$ simulator" I wonder how much Excel (and knowledge of process operations) can be useful in everyday work

 

[apetri]

thanks all,
I use my own procedures and I can discuss the details, codes etc. with my clients, I understand that for such complex things as columns this is unrealistic but anyway it keeps me quite proud of my job...