Residue Flowrate Formula:
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Definition: The residue flowrate is the amount of moles of bottom liquid product (residue) flowing out from the distillation column per unit time.
Purpose: This calculation is essential for designing and operating distillation columns in chemical engineering processes.
The calculator uses the material balance formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula represents an overall component material balance around the distillation column.
Details: Accurate calculation of residue flowrate is crucial for:
Tips:
Q1: What if I get a negative residue flowrate?
A: Negative results are physically impossible. This typically indicates input errors in feed/distillate compositions or flowrates.
Q2: How do I determine mole fractions?
A: Mole fractions are determined through laboratory analysis or process specifications. They must sum to 1 for each stream.
Q3: What units should I use?
A: The calculator uses mol/s for flowrates. Convert from mass flowrates if needed using molecular weights.
Q4: Does this account for non-ideal behavior?
A: No, this is an ideal material balance. For rigorous calculations, use process simulation software.
Q5: What's the typical range for residue flowrate?
A: It depends on the separation. For a 50-50 split with equal purity requirements, residue ≈ feed - distillate.