Fractional Distillation Column Diagram

All that is different is what the fractionating column looks like.

Fractional distillation column diagram. The vapor condenses on glass spurs known as trays or plates inside the column and returns to the distilling flask refluxing the rising distillate vapor. A method called fractional distillation or differential distillation has been developed for certain applications such as petroleum refining because simple distillation is not efficient for separating liquids whose boiling points lie close to one another. It s possible to isolate chemicals using simple distillation but it requires careful control of the temperature because only one fraction can be isolated at a time. There is no difference whatsoever in the theory involved.

The choice of what fractionating column to use for which application depends in part on availability and the task at hand. The diagram shows a simplified cross section through a small part of a typical column. In a simple distillation this is done one time. In a typical fractional distillation a liquid mixture is heated in the distilling flask and the resulting vapor rises up the fractionating column see figure 1.

The column contains a number of trays that the liquid collects on as the vapor condenses. The column contains a number of trays that the liquid collects on as the vapour condenses. All that is different is what the fractionating column looks like. In a fractional distillation as the vapor ascends the.

Fractional distillation separates a mixture into a number of different parts called fractions. In a distillation liquid is converted to vapor by heating and the vapor is then condensed back to liquid by cooling. Fractional distillation is one of the popular separation techniques used in several industries. A vigreux column with glass indentations b steel wool column made simply be loosely inserting steel wool into the cavity of a fractionating column similar to a west condenser but wider c glass beads filled in.

Fractional distillation is the most common form of separation technology used in petroleum refineries petrochemical and chemical plants natural gas processing and cryogenic air separation plants. Usually huge vertical cylindrical columns are known as distillation columns or distillation or fractionation towers are used. Fractional distillation differs from simple distillation because the fractionating column naturally separates compounds based on their boiling points. In most cases the distillation is operated at a continuous steady state new feed is always being added to the distillation column and products are always being removed.

While the principle behind the process remains the same the distillation is carried out on a larger scale. Distillation is the presence of a fractionating column in the fractional distillation. Several columns are shown in figure 5 39.