Pressure swing distillation for separation of homogeneous azeotropic mixtures in a mass- and heat- integrated column system: operation performance

The separation of a homogeneous azeotropic mixture using pressure swing distillation process is deficient investigated, therefore industrial applications are limited. The dynamic behaviour of a heat- and mass-integrated pressure swing distillation column system to separate an acetonitrile/water mixture is analysed. Different control structures are developed and compared by using a rigorous dynamic model written in gProms®. A first validation of the complex model is given. The disturbance performance of the process is analysed especially for changes in feed concentrations. Remarkable is the robust process operability by changes of the feed concentration from one distillation region to the other region. The robust process performance of the pressure swing distillation column system relative to feed disturbance is demonstrated.