Formula Used:
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Definition: This calculator determines the amount of volatile component that is carried over by steam during steam distillation, accounting for non-equilibrium conditions.
Purpose: It's essential in chemical engineering for designing and analyzing steam distillation processes, particularly when dealing with heat-sensitive compounds.
The calculator uses the formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula accounts for the non-ideal behavior in steam distillation by introducing the vaporizing efficiency factor.
Details: Accurate calculation helps in determining the steam requirements for distillation, optimizing energy usage, and designing appropriate separation systems.
Tips:
Q1: What is vaporizing efficiency?
A: It's a correction factor (0-1) accounting for deviations from ideal equilibrium conditions in steam distillation.
Q2: How do I determine the vapor pressure of my component?
A: Use Antoine equation or vapor pressure tables at your operating temperature.
Q3: What if I get "Invalid (denominator ≤ 0)" result?
A: This means the term (P - E×Pvaporvc) ≤ 0. Check your inputs - vapor pressure might be too high or efficiency too large for given system pressure.
Q4: Can I use this for systems with significant non-volatiles?
A: This calculator is designed for trace amounts of non-volatiles. For significant amounts, more complex models are needed.
Q5: What units should I use?
A: The calculator uses SI units - moles for quantities and Pascals for pressures.