CTS-9526052 Lakshmi Sridhar University of Puerto Rico ABSTRACT The research will focus on developing a rate-based model for non-equilibrium separations that will handle multiple liquid phases. The primary motivation stems form the advantages of employing non-equilibrium models for nonideal distillation, and the need for incorporating stability checks for heterogeneous mixtures. Stability will be determined using tangent plane criterion. Rate-based separation calculations will employ rigorously obtained mass transfer coefficients. The new model will not assume equilibrium between phases and therefore represents real situations better than the ideal equilibrium-stage model. The results may enable commercial process simulators to solve separation problems involving heterogeneous mixtures like ethanol, benzene and water. In particular, there is potential for significant impact on the design and optimization of distillation columns.
