Modeling and Simulation of Reactive Distillation for Biodiesel Production

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Date

2015-02

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Addis Ababa University

Abstract

In this thesis, theoretical investigations have been made concerning reactive distillation columns. The detailed steady state modeling, and simulation are made for biodiesel produced by reactive distillation. This study was performed through several steps in order to construct and develop an improved steady state model based on recent manner of MESH equations (Mass balance, Equilibrium, Summation of composition, and Heat balance) the reaction portion added to the mass and energy balance. This model was developed to study the behavior of multi component non ideal mixture in reactive distillation. The set of algebraic equations governing steady state composition profile in a reactive distillation column are solved by using equation tearing or sequential method. The developed model can be employed to simulate the reactive distillation operation. This model required the in advance specification of number of reactive and non-reactive trays, the reflux ratio, composition and flow rates of the feed, and heat duty to determine the result of the liquid and vapor composition profiles, the temperature profile and the vapor and liquid flow rate profile. The validity of the developed steady state equilibrium model had been evaluated by comparing its predictions with another theoretical work. The calculations and simulations in this thesis were obtained by using MATLAB environment, version 10.

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Keywords

Biodiesel Production, Distillation, Simulation, Reactive Distillation

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