Enter Distillation Data
Use consistent units for flow and duty values. Mole fractions are entered as percentages.
Result cards appear below the header and above this form after calculation.
Analyze efficiency, reflux impact, recovery, and energy intensity. Spot bottlenecks quickly with practical process indicators. Turn raw distillation data into smarter separation improvement decisions.
Use consistent units for flow and duty values. Mole fractions are entered as percentages.
Result cards appear below the header and above this form after calculation.
Overall Distillation Efficiency (%)
E = (Theoretical Stages / Actual Stages) × 100
Light-Key Recovery in Distillate (%)
Recovery = (D × xD) / (F × zF) × 100
Heavy-Key Recovery in Bottoms (%)
Recovery = (B × (1 − xB)) / (F × (1 − zF)) × 100
Separation Factor
S = [xD / (1 − xD)] ÷ [xB / (1 − xB)]
Reflux Multiple
Rmultiple = Actual Reflux Ratio / Minimum Reflux Ratio
Specific Thermal Load
Specific Load = (Reboiler Duty + Condenser Duty) / Distillate Flow Rate
| Parameter | Example Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Feed Flow Rate | 100 kmol/h | Total entering feed to the column. |
| Distillate Flow Rate | 42 kmol/h | Top product withdrawn from the system. |
| Feed Light-Key Composition | 50% | Light component fraction in the feed. |
| Distillate Light-Key Composition | 96% | Desired light-key rich overhead product. |
| Bottoms Light-Key Composition | 16.7% | Residual light-key content in bottoms. |
| Theoretical / Actual Stages | 12 / 18 | Used to estimate overall column efficiency. |
| Actual / Minimum Reflux Ratio | 2.2 / 1.4 | Shows operating distance above minimum reflux. |
| Reboiler / Condenser Duty | 780 / 640 kW | Total thermal demand for the separation. |
| Target Distillate Purity | 95% | Reference purity for performance comparison. |
It compares the ideal stage requirement with the real number of stages used. Higher values mean the column converts contact area into separation more effectively under the chosen operating conditions.
Theoretical stages come from design or shortcut calculations. Actual stages reflect installed trays or equivalent packed height. Their ratio estimates how closely the real column approaches ideal equilibrium behavior.
Reflux strongly affects purity, recovery, and energy use. Comparing actual reflux with minimum reflux shows whether the column is operating conservatively, efficiently, or too close to a difficult control region.
It measures how strongly the top and bottom compositions differ on an equilibrium-style basis. Larger values indicate sharper separation between the light key and heavy key.
A negative purity gap means the calculated distillate purity is below your entered target. The column may need more stages, higher reflux, better feed quality, or lower throughput.
Recovery depends on entered flows and compositions. If those values are inconsistent with an overall material balance, recoveries can appear unrealistic. The balance deviation output helps flag that issue.
No. It is a fast screening and troubleshooting tool. Final design, rating, and safety decisions should still rely on rigorous thermodynamic models, plant data, and engineering review.
Use CSV when you want result values in spreadsheets or reports. Use PDF when you need a shareable calculation summary for design notes, lab records, or project documentation.
Important Note: All the Calculators listed in this site are for educational purpose only and we do not guarentee the accuracy of results. Please do consult with other sources as well.