3. Choice of operating conditions

3.1 Continuous operation or not?

• There are a number of operating cases where continuous distillation is essential.

• The quantity to be processed exceeds 20 t per day.

  Beyond this limit, a discontinuous installation will often have to comprise several parallel lines. Investment costs and space requirements become unfavorable factors.

• The product is heat-sensitive

  Thermal degradation depends on temperature and residence time at that temperature. In batch distillation, the residence time of the residue in the boiler is typically 10 to 40 h. In continuous distillation, the residence time obviously depends...