Multicomponent mixtures can be separated into their single components by mean of different distillation system configurations. The typical distillation train design procedure consists of the assessment of the optimal columns configuration according to the economic and operational aspects. However, this optimal design is strictly related to the operating conditions, i.e. perturbations, when present, can seriously compromise the operation profitability. In these cases a flexibility analysis could be of critical importance to assess the operating conditions range of better performance for different system configurations. This is the typical case of biorefineries where the floating nature of the feedstock causes composition disturbances downstream the fermenter across the year’s seasons. A brand new ABE/W mixture separation case study has been set up; this mixture derives from an upstream microbial conversion process and the successful recovery of at least biobutanol and acetone is crucial for the return on the investments. This paper then compares the possible distillation train configurations from a flexibility point of view. The analysis is focused in particular in highlighting the differences, if present, between the economic optimal solution and flexibility optimal configuration that could not be the same, causing this way a very profitable design to be much less performant under perturbated conditions. Furthermore, a detailed analysis correlating the complex thermodynamics to the operation under uncertain conditions is thoroughly discussed. The proposed design procedure allowed to highlight the differences between weak and strong flexibility constraints and resulted in a dedicated “additional costs vs. flexibility” trend useful to improve the decision making.

可以通过不同的蒸馏系统配置将多组分混合物分离为其单一组分。典型的蒸馏机组设计程序包括根据经济和运营方面评估最佳塔构型。但是，这种最佳设计与操作条件严格相关，即，如果存在干扰，则可能严重损害操作利润率。在这些情况下，灵活性分析对于评估针对不同系统配置的更好性能的操作条件范围至关重要。这是生物精炼厂的典型案例，其中原料的漂浮性会在全年的整个季节内导致发酵罐下游的成分扰动。已经建立了一个全新的ABE / W混合物分离案例研究；这种混合物来自上游的微生物转化过程，至少生物丁醇和丙酮的成功回收对于投资回报至关重要。然后，本文从灵活性的角度比较了可能的蒸馏塔配置。该分析特别着重于突出经济最佳解决方案和灵活性最佳配置之间的差异（如果存在），这些差异可能是不一样的，从而使这种非常有利可图的设计在受干扰的条件下的性能大大降低。此外，详细讨论了将复杂的热力学与不确定条件下的操作相关联的详细分析。