Distillation Operation: A Complete Manual

At a glance..

This book is a simple guide through the complexities of building, operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting distillation equipment.

The details..

'Distillation Operation' by Henry Z. Kister is an essential reference book for anyone involved with the design or operation of distillation equipment. The book provides practical solutions to common issues encountered during distilling operations and offers guidance on how to troubleshoot column malfunctions effectively.

The first few chapters focus on reflux and intermediate feed inlets for tray columns along with guidelines for distributors and multipass-tray inlets. It then delves into the nature of maldistribution, types of liquid distributors like perforated-pipe distributors, spray distributors etc., dos & don'ts while using them along with flashing feed distributor techniques.

The subsequent chapter covers bottom section arrangements including chimney trays; gravity lines & instrument connections which include level sensing pressure differential-pressure sensing temperature sensing connection sampling viewing ports manholes etc.; tray layout considerations that cover valve selection calming zones outlet weirs splash baffles vapor hoods internal demisters reverse-flow baffles stepped trays number of passes flow-induced vibrations downcomer function types width area antijump baffles sealing inlet weirs recessed seal pans seal pan below bottom tray chevron collectors redistributor drawoffs collector box mechanical dos & don'ts for liquid outlets vapor outlets materials thickness support rings beams fastening fabrication tolerances drainage leakage cartridge trays tower specifications.

Finally it concludes discussing packing supports hold-down plates bed limiters retaining devices verticality diameter tolerance overpressure relief strategies determining relief rates locating column relief devices protection against relief valve base plugging reducing discharges emergency depressuring vents commissioning preassembly safety precautions existing tray removal installation dry vs wet random packing structured packing inspection measurement location orientation cleanliness final inspection line blowing pressurizing/depressurizing purging blinding/unblinding leak testing washing steam-water operations steaming dehydration (dryout) liquid circulation solvent testing miscellaneous considerations.