Efficient optimization-based design of energetically intensified distillation processes

Although suffering from low energy efficiency, distillation is still the most widespread separation technique in industry. Different means for the improvement of energy efficiency, such as heat-pump assisted and thermally coupled distillation columns, have been developed. However, the comparison of these different configurations and the identification of the most energy or economicly beneficial option for a specific separation is an elaborate task. Therefore, an efficient optimization-based method for the evaluation of the different options is proposed. In contrast to most previous approaches, the method is based on a superstructure equilibrium tray model including rigorous thermodynamics. It is therefore directly applicable to the separation of non-ideal mixtures and considers a broad range of different options for energetically intensified distillation processes. For illustration purposes the design method is applied to the separation of a ternary non-ideal mixture.