1. What is Equilibrium Vaporization Ratio?

Definition: The equilibrium vaporization ratio (K factor) is defined as the ratio of the mole fraction of a component in the vapor phase to its mole fraction in the liquid phase at equilibrium.

Purpose: This ratio is crucial in distillation calculations and phase equilibrium studies in chemical engineering.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( K_{LVC} \) — Equilibrium vaporization ratio of LVC (dimensionless)
• \( y_{LVC} \) — Mole fraction of LVC in vapor phase
• \( x_{LVC} \) — Mole fraction of LVC in liquid phase

Explanation: This ratio indicates how a component distributes itself between vapor and liquid phases at equilibrium.

3. Importance of K Factor

Details: The K value is fundamental for distillation column design, flash calculations, and understanding phase behavior in multicomponent systems.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the mole fractions of the less volatile component in both vapor and liquid phases. Values must be between 0 and 1, and x_LVC cannot be zero.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What does a K value greater than 1 mean?
A: A K > 1 indicates the component is more concentrated in the vapor phase than in the liquid phase.

Q2: What does a K value less than 1 mean?
A: A K < 1 indicates the component is more concentrated in the liquid phase (typical for less volatile components).

Q3: How does temperature affect K values?
A: K values increase with temperature - components become more volatile as temperature rises.

Q4: What's the range of possible K values?
A: K can range from 0 (non-volatile) to very large values (highly volatile), but typically between 0.01 and 100 for most components.

Q5: How is this different for more volatile components?
A: The same formula applies, but MVCs (more volatile components) typically have K > 1 at given conditions.