Energy saving performance of internal heat-integrated batch distillation

A model for an internally heat-integrated batch distillation column (Batch or Semi-batch HIDiC) was developed, and the separation of a benzene-toluene binary mixture was simulated. The applicability of the model was examined by using the commercial process simulator Aspen Plus Dynamics® to evaluate energy-saving performance and process time against the compression ratio and reflux ratio. The batch or semi-batch HIDiC model results were compared with the conventional batch distillation model. It was found that with the semi-batch HIDiC, the model has the potential to reduce process time and energy consumption more precisely than the conventional batch distillation model.