Computerized design of solvents for extractive processes
| dc.contributor.advisor | Nieuwoudt, I. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Van Dyk, Braam | |
| dc.contributor.other | Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Process Engineering. | en_ZA |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2012-08-27T11:34:53Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2012-08-27T11:34:53Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2001-12 | |
| dc.description | Thesis (PhDEng)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001. | en_ZA |
| dc.description.abstract | ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Separation processes are an integral part of chemical engineering. The purity of a chemical product is among the principal factors influencing its value. Therefore, any method that can increase the purity of a product or decrease the cost of purification will have a direct effect on the profitability of the entire plant. An important class of separation processes is the solvent-based separations. This includes processes like extractive distillation, liquid-liquid extraction and chromatographic separation. Heterogeneous azeotropic distillation is closely related to these processes. The most important variable in the design of a solvent-based separation process is the choice of solvent. A genetic algorithm for the computer-aided molecular design of solvents for extractive distillation had been previously developed by the author. This algorithm was improved and expanded to include liquid-liquid extraction, heterogeneous azeotropic distillation, gas-liquid chromatography and liquid-liquid (partition) chromatography. At the same time the efficiency of the algorithm was improved, resulting in a speed increase of up to 500% in certain cases. An automatic parameter tuning algorithm was also implemented to ensure maximum efficiency of the underlying genetic algorithm. In order to find suitable entrainers for heterogeneous azeotropic distillation a method is required to locate any ternary heterogeneous azeotropes present in a system. A number of methods proposed in the literature were evaluated and found to be computationally inefficient. Two new methods were therefore developed for ternary systems. A methodology for applying these methods to quaternary and higher systems was also proposed. Two algorithms to design blended solvents were also developed. Blended solvents allow the use of simpler and thus cheaper solvents by spreading the active functional groups over several molecular backbones. It was observed in a number of cases that the blended solvents performed better than their individual components. This was attributed to synergistic interactions between these components. Experimental evidence for this effect was also found. The algorithm was applied to a number of industrially important separation problems, including the extremely difficult final purification process of alpha olefins. In each case solvents were found that are predicted to perform substantially better than those that are currently used in industry. A number of these predictions were tested by experiment and found to hold true. | en_ZA |
| dc.description.abstract | AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Skeidingsprosesse is 'n integrale deel van chemiese ingenieurswese. Die suiwerheid van 'n chemiese produk is een van die hoof faktore wat die waarde daarvan bepaal. Derhalwe sal enige metode wat die suiwerheid van 'n produk kan verbeter, of die koste van die suiwering daarvan kan verlaag, 'n direkte effek op die winsgewendheid van die hele aanleg hê. 'n Belangrike groep skeidingsprosesse is die oplosmiddel-gebaseerde skeidings. Dit sluit prosesse soos ekstraktiewe distillasie, vloeistofvloeistof ekstraksie en chromatografiese skeidings in. Heterogene azeotrope distillasie is nou verwant aan hierdie prosesse. Die belangrikste veranderlike in die ontwerp van so 'n oplosmiddel-gebaseerde proses is die keuse van oplosmiddel. 'n Genetiese algoritme vir die rekenaargesteunde molekulêe ontwerp van oplosmiddels vir ekstraktiewe distillasie is voorheen ontwikkel deur die skrywer. Hierdie algoritme is verbeter en uitgebrei om vloeistofvloeistofekstraksie, heterogene azeotrope distillasie, gas-vloeistof chromatografie en vloeistof-vloeistof (verdelings) chromatografie in te sluit. Ter selfde tyd is die doeltreffendheid van die algoritme verbeter, wat 'n verbetering in spoed van tot 500% in sekere gevalle tot gevolg gehad het. 'n Algoritme om die parameters van die onderliggende genetiese algoritme outomaties te verfyn is ook geïm plementeer om die optimale werksverrigting van die algoritme te verseker. Om gepaste saamsleepmiddels vir heterogene azeotrope distillasie te vind, word 'n metode benodig om enige ternêre heterogene azeotrope aanwesig in 'n stelsel op te spoor. 'n Aantal sulke metodes wat in die literatuur voorgestel is, is geëvaluEer en daar is gevind dat hierdie metodes ondoeltreffend is. Twee nuwe metodes is derhalwe ontwikkel vir ternêre stelsels. 'n Metodiek om hierdie metodes op kwaternêre en hoër stelsels toe te pas, is ook voorgestel. Twee algoritmes vir die ontwerp van gemengde oplosmiddels is ook ontwikkel. Gemengde oplosmiddels laat die gebruik van eenvoudiger en dus goedkoper oplosmiddels toe, deur die aktiewe funksionele groepe oor 'n aantal molekulêe strukture te versprei. Daar is 'n aantal gevalle waargeneem waar die mengsel beter skeiding bewerkstellig het as die individuele oplosmiddels waaruit dit bestaan. Dit is toegeskryf aan 'n sinergistiese wisselwerking tussen die komponente van die mengsel. Eksperimentele getuienis vir hierdie effek is ook ingewin. Die algoritme is toegepas op 'n aantal belangrike skeidingsprobleme vanuit die bedryf, insluitende die uiters moeilike finale suiwering van alfa olefiene. In elke geval is oplosmiddels gevind wat volgens voorspelling aansienlike beter skeidings sal bewerkstellig as dié wat tans in die bedryf gebruik word. 'n Aantal van hierdie voorspellings is eksperimenteel getoets en korrek bewys. | af_ZA |
| dc.format.extent | 230 p. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/52171 | |
| dc.language.iso | en_ZA | en_ZA |
| dc.publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University | en_ZA |
| dc.rights.holder | Stellenbosch University | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Distillation | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Extraction (Chemistry) | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Dissertations -- Chemical engineering | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Theses -- Chemical engineering | en_ZA |
| dc.title | Computerized design of solvents for extractive processes | en_ZA |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_ZA |
Files
Original bundle
1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
- Name:
- vandyk_computerized_2001.pdf
- Size:
- 48.55 MB
- Format:
- Adobe Portable Document Format
- Description: