Interactive Self-Study Module: Flash Separations
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder
Send email with questions, corrections, or suggestions to LearnChemE@gmail.com Motivation:
Mixtures are flashed to effect partial separations so that one component (or more) is enriched in a component in the vapor phase (relative to the feed). This module is intended for Material and Energy Balances, Thermodynamics and Separations courses. Pre-requisites:
After studying this module, you should be able to:
This
module uses screencasts and interactive simulations to explain what happens when a feed enters a flash drum and exits as
Screencast This screencast derives the operating line for binary flash distillation and shows how to use it. Important Equations
![]() Interactive Simulations
These simulations were prepared using Mathematica.
To use them, download the free CDF player available here, download the simulation CDF file (click on the images below). Then, try to predict the behavior when some parameter changes before using a slider to change the parameter. For most simulations, a screencast is provided to explain how to use the simulation. Adiabatic Flash Drum with Binary Liquid Feed This simulation shows
an adiabatic flash drum with a liquid feed stream containing a mixture of methanol and water. Try to answer these questions before manipulating the simulation:
T-x-y and x-y Diagrams for Binary Vapor Liquid Equilibrium in a Flash Drum The x-y diagram for vapor-liquid equilibrium is shown for a methanol/water stream fed to a flash drum. The corresponding T-x-y diagram shows how the points on the x-y diagram are obtained; each point corresponds to a different temperature. Use buttons to view the x-y and T-x-y diagrams separately or to view both simultaneously. The vapor/liquid ration leaving the flash drum as well as the feed composition can be changed with the sliders.
Try to answer these questions before manipulating the simulation:
Quiz-yourself simulations To be added. Example Problems After reading the problem statements below, try to solve the problem before watching the screencast.
ConcepTests Try to answer these ConcepTests after using this module as a way to test your understanding.
Summary of Phase Equilibrium for Immiscible Liquids
Prepared by John L. Falconer and Kimberly R. Bourland Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder |