Abstract
Simulation of distillation/pervaporation (PV) hybrid process is carried out for binary and ternary systems using the observed permeation rates with PV membrane. The permeation rates of each component are measured for the ethanol-water, water-isobutanol and ethanol-water-isobutanol systems with a hydrophilic zeolite membrane under a wide range of the feed concentrations and temperatures, and the permeate pressures. The observed permeation rates of each component are proportional to the pressure difference between both sides of the membrane. Then, the mass transfer coefficients are defined with the pressure difference between both sides of the membrane, and correlated in the form of the Arrhenius equation. By using the observed permeation rates of each component, membrane area that is necessary to concentrate the feed liquids is calculated. The membrane area increases with decrease in separation factor, and the water-isobutanol system, of which the separation factor is largest, shows the minimum area among the systems. Then, simulation of binary distillation/PV hybrid process is carried out. Compared with the case of non-recycling of the permeate, the membrane area becomes larger, but the larger recovery ratio of alcohol is obtained. Then, the ternary distillation/PV hybrid process is numerically studied and possibility of the process is demonstrated.
