Distillation

Duration: 0.50 Hrs

Course Level: Intermediate
Languages: English
Capability: Audio, MobileReady

Many of the products we use every day are produced from raw materials. Distillation is a process often used to turn raw materials into finished products. Because distillation is involved in the production of so many products, it’s important plant operators understand how it works. In this interactive, online course we will begin by discussing the basic principles of distillation. We will define terms related to states of matter, heat and temperature, distillation, and pressure. We will also discuss some basic distillation processes, including separation of liquid mixtures, batch processes, and continuous distillation.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Define distillation
• Explain how changes in the state of matter relate to the distillation process
• Define terms related to heat, including sensible heat, initial boiling point, boiling range, final boiling point, and latent heat
• Define terms related to pressure, including vapor pressure, external pressure, partial pressure, relative volatility
• Explain the relationship between vapor pressure and the following: boiling point, temperature, and external pressure
• Describe the basic operation of batch process systems and continuous distillation systems

Duration: 0.50 Hrs

Course Level: Intermediate
Languages: English
Capability: Audio, MobileReady

Can you discuss the basic components in a distillation system? This online interactive course is designed to familiarize you with the basic components and operation of a typical distillation system. After completing this course you should be able to describe the functions of the major components of a distillation system and describe how the distillation process occurs in a distillation tower. You should also be able to explain how refluxing and reboiling affect product purity and how bubble caps and packing affect the distillation process in distillation towers. In addition, you should be able to explain why it is important to monitor and control distillation tower temperatures and pressures.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Describe basic operation of distillation tower
• Explain the difference between external and internal reflux
• Identify the effects of incorrect temperatures at various points in a distillation tower
• Discuss the effects of incorrect pressures in a distillation system

Duration: 0.50 Hrs

Course Level: Intermediate
Languages: English
Capability: Audio, MobileReady

What are the goals of a distillation system? Simply put, they are to maintain an optimum production rate and to meet specifications that are set for its products.

In this interactive, online course, you will examine various factors that must be controlled if a distillation system is to meet its goals, and you will see how control systems provide the control that’s needed.

During operation, different balances must be maintained and you must understand process temperatures, how they can affect the distillation process, and how they can be controlled. The final component is product composition; you will discover how the compositions of a distillation system’s products are controlled.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Explain what is meant by material balance, energy balance, steady-state operation, and a process disturbance
• Identify typical variables and control loops for material balance and energy balance
• Describe how a typical distillation tower control system responds to a process disturbance and to an increase in bottom temperature
• Explain how the following conditions affect the composition of a distillation system’s overhead and bottoms products: increase in bottom temperature, decrease in bottom temperature, and change in external reflux
• Describe the following, related to product composition: the difference between direct and indirect composition measurements and how a typical distillation tower is operated to maintain product specifications

Duration: 0.50 Hrs

Course Level: Intermediate
Languages: English
Capability: Audio, MobileReady

How good are you at troubleshooting problems with distillation systems? This interactive online course is designed to familiarize participants with some of the problems that can occur during the operation of distillation systems. After completing this course, participants should be able to describe problems that can occur when the feed rate to a distillation column is incorrect, problems that can occur when the amount of reflux going back to the column is incorrect, and problems that can occur when the reboiler in a distillation system is operated improperly.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Discuss the role of feed rate in maintaining column equilibrium
• Describe conditions that can lead to overloading, flooding, and puking
• Explain what reflux is
• Identify problems that occur when the reboiler is operated incorrectly
• Define overfractionation

Duration: 0.50 Hrs

Course Level: Intermediate
Languages: English
Capability: Audio, MobileReady

Getting the desired products from any distillation system depends on being able to operate the system properly. This interactive online course will teach you the steps involved in preparing and starting up a distillation system. You will also learn the procedures for a short-term shutdown, long-term shutdown, and emergency shutdown of a continuous vacuum distillation system.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Describe the distillation process
• List pre-startup checks commonly made on a vacuum distillation system
• Describe what takes place during a distillation system startup procedure
• Describe a typical short-term, long-term, and emergency shutdown procedure

Duration: 0.50 Hrs

Course Level: Intermediate
Languages: English
Capability: Audio, MobileReady

How familiar are you with the process of distillation or the components of distillation towers? This interactive online course is designed to familiarize participants with the basic principles of operation of distillation towers, reboilers, and condensers. After completing the course, participants should be able to describe the difference between a binary tower and a multidraw tower and explain how a multidraw tower operates. They should also be able to explain why the physical dimensions of a tower can vary, and they should be able to explain why vacuum distillation and azeotropic distillation are used. In addition, participants should be able to explain how various types of reboilers and condensers are used in distillation systems.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Explain the difference between the following types of reboilers: forced vs. natural circulation and external vs. internal
• Describe two ways that condensers can be categorized in overhead systems
• Describe the major difference between a binary tower and a multidraw tower
• Describe three factors that affect the physical dimensions of a distillation tower
• Give three basic reasons why vacuum distillation is used
• Explain what an azeotropic mixture is and identify two methods of azeotropic distillation