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Semicontinuous Thermal Separation Systems
Author(s) -
Adams T. A.,
Pascall A.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
chemical engineering and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.403
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1521-4125
pISSN - 0930-7516
DOI - 10.1002/ceat.201200048
Subject(s) - extractive distillation , distillation , process engineering , separation (statistics) , air separation , batch distillation , ternary operation , process (computing) , separation process , computer science , fractional distillation , engineering , chemistry , chromatography , chemical engineering , organic chemistry , machine learning , oxygen , programming language , operating system
Since the year 2000, semicontinuous separation processes have been studied as a unique process intensification technique for the thermal separation of chemical mixtures. Typically, a single separation unit is used for multiple purposes with the aid of an auxiliary storage tank called a middle vessel. The system is operated cyclically but without startup or shutdown phases. As a result, multiple separation steps can be carried out with fewer capital expenses. In several cases, a significant profitability advantage over continuous or batch process alternatives has been shown, particularly for intermediate production capacities. The progress in semicontinuous systems is reviewed, including the development of semicontinuous ternary distillation, liquid‐liquid extraction, azeotrope distillation, reactive distillation, and semicontinuous systems with integrated reaction and distillation or extraction. Control and operational strategies for semicontinuous systems are reviewed, as well as heuristics for modeling and simulation.