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A novel method for generating distillation configurations

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Abstract

An improved matrix method for generating distillation configurations with (N−1) and less than (N−1) columns was proposed for the separation of an N-component mixture into essentially pure product streams based on the concepts of streams matrix and 0–1 matrixes proposed by Agrawal. In contrast with the matrix method developed by Agrawal, the present method removes the intermediate process centered on the splits, and complex column configurations, allowing the direct generation of multi-feeds and multi-product streams. Furthermore, certain configurations that cannot be generated directly and that are missing in the matrix method are obtained. Through rigorous simulations and optimization, we have demonstrated that these configurations have the potential to outperform certain existing configurations.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 21978203 and 21676183).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemical Engineering Research Center, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China

    Hongzhe Hou & Yiqing Luo

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  1. Hongzhe Hou
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  2. Yiqing Luo
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Correspondence to Yiqing Luo.

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Hou, H., Luo, Y. A novel method for generating distillation configurations. Front. Chem. Sci. Eng. 14, 834–846 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11705-019-1855-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11705-019-1855-7

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