Liu Xinxin, Maurice Ndungutse Jean, Claire Mugabekazi Joie, Gentil Bigirimana, Li Junning, Jiao Zengxiang, Giwa Abdulmoseen Segun
Nanchang Institute of Technology, The School of Hydraulic & Ecological Engineering, Nanchang, China.
Institute of Environmental Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China.
PLoS One. 2024 Dec 23;19(12):e0310541. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0310541. eCollection 2024.
Pressure Swing Distillation (PSD) is the only advanced technology that does not require the addition of third components to the system to enhance the separation of azeotropic mixtures. It outperforms homogeneous distillation for separating pressure-sensitive azeotropic mixtures. In this study, we aimed to separate methanol and toluene using the Non-Random Two-Liquid (NRTL) and Aspen Plus thermodynamic calculation models to simulate a binary homogeneous azeotropic system. The standard PSD process was employed to separate methanol and toluene. Furthermore, multiple optimization sequences were utilized to sequentially optimize the process for obtaining higher purities of methanol and toluene while reducing the Total Annual Cost (TAC) and heat energy consumption. The effects of the optimization sequence on the TAC were investigated. The best optimization sequences for graphing in Origin or Aspen Plus were found to be RR1, NR, NF1, NF2, NT1, and NT2. Additionally, the Double-Effect Distillation (DED) optimization sequence is similar, with TAC as the primary function in the simulation and methanol and toluene purities up to 99.99%. In the DED simulation, the feed position and tray number were found to be sensitive to TAC by the order NR > NF1 > NF2 and NT1 > NT2. This study simulated PSD using the NRTL thermodynamic calculation model in Aspen Plus and generated visualizations using Origin software.
变压精馏（PSD）是唯一一种无需向系统中添加第三组分来强化共沸混合物分离的先进技术。在分离对压力敏感的共沸混合物方面，它优于均相精馏。在本研究中，我们旨在使用非随机双液（NRTL）和Aspen Plus热力学计算模型来模拟二元均相共沸体系，以分离甲醇和甲苯。采用标准的变压精馏工艺来分离甲醇和甲苯。此外，利用多个优化序列依次优化该工艺，以获得更高纯度的甲醇和甲苯，同时降低年度总成本（TAC）和热能消耗。研究了优化序列对TAC的影响。发现用于在Origin或Aspen Plus中绘图的最佳优化序列为RR1、NR、NF1、NF2、NT1和NT2。此外，双效精馏（DED）优化序列类似，在模拟中以TAC为主要函数，甲醇和甲苯纯度高达99.99%。在DED模拟中，发现进料位置和塔板数对TAC的敏感度顺序为NR > NF1 > NF2以及NT1 > NT2。本研究在Aspen Plus中使用NRTL热力学计算模型模拟了变压精馏，并使用Origin软件生成了可视化结果。
