Distillation. Absorption - General information on split columns

Distillation and absorption are two unitary process engineering operations characterized by the transfer of matter and heat between a liquid and a gaseous phase.

The main device used for these transfers is usually a column, also known as a fractionation tower.

The purpose of this first article [J 2 621] is to provide a general introduction to split columns. The following articles gives a detailed description of the main column families used in distillation and absorption:

• tray columns: technology ;

• tray columns: hydrodynamics, efficiency, sizing ;

• packed columns ;

• pilot columns.

This set is aimed at users of distillation or absorption columns who want to know more about the operation of their equipment, and at future users who want to predimension or size their columns, or simply put their problem to the specialists. Its aim is to guide users in choosing the practical arrangements and sizing the columns needed to achieve the desired separations under the operating conditions envisaged (temperatures, pressures, flow rates).

It should be noted that the establishment of a diagram and the choice of operating conditions to be adopted to solve a separation problem by distillation or absorption are dealt with in chapter Distillation. Absorption: Practical study.

In addition, the Distillation. Absorption: Control and regulation endeavors, as simply as possible, to explain the influence of various parameters on column operation, and to set out the basic principles of regulation.