Evaluation of Height Equivalent Theoretical Plate of Packing Distillation Column for Benzaldehyde Purification Processing

Abstract

This study analyzes the literature review of the techniques for estimating Height Equivalent Theoretical Plate (HETP) values for various packing structure models, ranging from theoretical to semi-empirical to shortcut methods. Packing structures of various meshes and shapes were studied on the purification of benzaldehyde from the mixture of benzaldehyde and cinnamaldehyde. The packing structures M-50, M-80, O-80, and S-80 were estimated using Fenske’s approach as 0.052, 0.053, 0.045, and 0.056, respectively. Experiment data and simulation result obtained by commercial software were utilized to validate the packing's HETP value. A pilot of the vacuum batch distillation system was fabricated including a column filled with packing structures. The results indicated that the HETP value between experiment and simulation is within 0.6 percent deviation. On the pilot scale, the results of the benzaldehyde purifying were validated in a batch distillation system with the O-80 packing structure. This system will be developed for the larger scale, and it will practical.