Title: Exergy analysis of binary plate distillation column operations

Authors: A.N. Anozie, F.N. Osuolale, A.S. Osunleke

Addresses: Department of Chemical Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. ' Department of Chemical Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. ' Department of Chemical Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Abstract: This work developed the stage-exergy rate diagrams for determining feasible operating conditions in binary distillation columns and studied the effects of key process parameters on the stage-exergy rate diagrams, energy and exergy efficiencies, and irreversibility rate at various conditions. HYSYS (2003) process simulation software and Microsoft EXCEL spreadsheet were used for process analysis. The stage-exergy rate diagram was found to be a very useful thermodynamic tool, which should be used to compliment exergy efficiency results in exergy studies. Increase in reference temperature was found to decrease the exergy efficiency and to increase the irreversibility rate of the distillation unit.

Keywords: binary distillation column; simulation; stage exergy rate diagram; exergy efficiency; irreversibility rate; thermodynamics.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2009.027498

International Journal of Exergy, 2009 Vol.6 No.5, pp.715 - 728

Published online: 28 Jul 2009 *

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