Distillation Flashcards

1
Q

What is the purpose of the Rectifier Column?

A

Purify the Beer Column overhead vapor to produce 190 proof ethanol

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2
Q

What are the heat sources to the Rectifier Column? (2)

A

Beer Column overhead vapors
Side Stripper vapors

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3
Q

Where do the Beer Column Bottoms flow to?

A

Whole Stillage Tank

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4
Q

What is the temperature range of the Beer Column at the top and bottom?

A

Top- 160-165°F
Bottom- 185-190°F

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5
Q

Where do the Rectifier Column vapors flow to?

A

190 Proof Vacuum Condenser

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6
Q

What are the main feeds to the Rectifier Column? (2) Where do they enter?

A

Beer Column overhead vapors
Side Stripper vapors
The bottom of the Rectifier Column

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7
Q

What are the control points of the Beer Bottoms Pump? (2)

A

Pressure
Flow

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8
Q

What general column component holds a level of liquid and uses push and non-moveable valves for the purpose of using different boiling point temperatures to separate a liquid mixture?

A

Column trays

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9
Q

What is the purpose of the Beer Column?

A

Separate whole stillage from ethanol

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10
Q

What are the main purposes of the Beer Bottoms Pump? (2)

A

Transfer water and whole stillage from the bottom of the Beer Column to the Whole Stillage Tank
Transfer a return stream back to the Beer Column to maintain level or recycle during upset conditions

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11
Q

What are the two heat sources for the Beer Column?

A

Beer/Mash Exchanger
Direct injection of 2nd effect vapors

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12
Q

What are the Beer Column control points? (5)

A

Pressure
Temperature
Level
Feed Flow
Base Loss

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13
Q

What is the purpose of the metal packing in the top section of the Rectifier Column?

A

To enhance the vapor-liquid contact due to increased surface area.

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14
Q

Where does the Beer Column vapor flow to?

A

Bottom of the Rectifier Column

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15
Q

What is located below the metal packing material in the Rectifier?

A

4 distillation trays

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16
Q

What is the importance of boiling point temperature in the distillation process?

A

Liquid mixtures can be separated into components according to their boiling point temperature

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17
Q

What components of a liquid mixture are the first to vaporize?

A

The lighter components (Less dense)

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18
Q

What is the purpose of operating the Distillation System under a vacuum?

A

Reduces the liquid component’s boiling point temperature and therefore requires less heating

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19
Q

In column trays, where is the highest percentage of ethanol found?

A

Higher in the column

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20
Q

What term describes ethanol content as twice the percentage by volume?

A

Proof

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21
Q

The Distillation System is limited to what percentage/proof of ethanol?

A

95% or 190 Proof

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22
Q

What does the Beer/Mash Exchanger use to preheat the beer feed to the Beer Column?

A

Liquefaction Mash

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23
Q

How many column trays is the Beer Column equipped with?

A

19

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24
Q

What may lead to the formation of fusel oils? (3)

A

Low pH
High temperatures
Low yeast activity

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25
Q

Why are fusel oils detrimental to the Distillation System?

A

May cause a fusel plug in the column trays and affect efficiency

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26
Q

What is the purpose of the Fusel Draw Pump?

A

To draw fusel oils off of the Rectifier Column trays

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27
Q

What is the purpose of testing the fusel oil samples?

A

To determine the location of the fusel oil within the column

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28
Q

What is the pressure range of the Rectifier Column at the top and bottom?

A

Top- 5.5-6 PSIA
Bottom 6-7 PSIA

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29
Q

What is the temperature range of the Rectifier Column at the top and bottom?

A

Top- 130-135°F
Bottom- ≈150°F

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30
Q

What are the control points of the Rectifier Column? (5)

A

Pressure
Temperature
Level
Flow
Base Loss (Technically not measured but may affect Side Stripper base loss)

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31
Q

What is Base Loss?

A

The amount of ethanol that is not vaporized in a column and therefore is processed with bottoms product

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32
Q

Why is a high percentage of base loss detrimental? (2)

A

High base loss is potentially detrimental to down line process streams
Loss of product

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33
Q

What is the purpose of the Rectifier Bottoms Pump? (2)

A

Transfer the Rectifier Column bottoms liquid to the Side Stripper
Transfer a slip stream back to the Rectifier Column

34
Q

What is the purpose of the return line on the discharge of the Rectifier Bottoms Pump to the Rectifier Column?

A

To maintain the Rectifier bottoms liquid level

35
Q

What are the control points of the Rectifier Bottoms Pump? (2)

A

Pressure
Flow

36
Q

From the Fusel Draw Pump, where do the fusel oils flow?

A

Into the 190 proof ethanol line to storage

37
Q

What are the control points of the Fusel Draw Pump? (2)

A

Pressure
Flow

38
Q

What is the purpose of the Side Stripper?

A

Purify the lower proof Rectifier bottoms stream

39
Q

What are Side Stripper bottoms used for?

A

Cook water

40
Q

Where do Side Stripper overhead vapors flow to?

A

Rectifier Column

41
Q

What are the heat sources of the Side Stripper? (3)

A

Direct injection of medium to low pressure steam from the Cook Flash Vessel
Optional supplemental stream from 2nd effect vapors
Optional supplemental stream of plant medium pressure steam

42
Q

Where does the Rectifier bottoms flow into the Side Stripper?

A

At the top of the Side Stripper

43
Q

Where do the heat sources enter the Side Stripper?

A

At the bottom of the Side Stripper

44
Q

What is the purpose of the return line on the discharge of the Side Stripper Bottoms Pump to the Side Stripper?

A

To maintain the liquid level of the Side Stripper bottoms

45
Q

How many column trays does the Side Stripper utilize?

A

16 column trays

46
Q

How many column trays does the Rectifier utilize?

A

4 column trays

47
Q

What is the pressure range at the top and bottom of the Side Stripper?

A

Top- 6-7 PSIA
Bottom- ≈8.4 PSIA

48
Q

What is the temperature range at the top and bottom of the Side Stripper?

A

Top- 150-160°F
Bottom- 180-190°F

49
Q

What are the control points of the Side Stripper? (5)

A

Pressure
Temperature
Level
Flow
Base Loss

50
Q

Other than profit loss, why is it detrimental to have a high level base loss on the Side Stripper bottoms?

A

Side Stripper bottoms are a component of cook water. Yeast cannot develop fully in the presence of ethanol.

51
Q

What is the purpose of the Side Stripper Bottoms Pump?

A

Transfers Side Stripper bottoms to Cook Water Economizers and back to the Side Stripper
During upset conditions, transfers Side Stripper bottoms to the Beer Well

52
Q

What is the purpose of the 190 Proof Vacuum Condenser?

A

Provides the initial cooling/condensing of the vapors from the Rectifier Column

53
Q

What is the purpose of the two Vent Condensers?

A

Condense any remaining 190 proof ethanol vapors from the 190 Proof Vacuum Condenser
Sub-cool 190 proof liquid ethanol from the 190 Proof Vacuum Condenser

54
Q

What type of heat exchanger is the 190 Proof Vacuum Condenser?

A

Shell and Tube

55
Q

What type of heat exchanger are the two Vent Condensers?

A

Plate and Frame

56
Q

What 5 pieces of Distillation equipment create the vacuum used in The Distillation System?

A

190 Proof Vacuum Condenser
2 Vent Condensers
2 Vacuum Pumps

57
Q

What flows into the 190 Proof Vacuum Condenser? (5)

A

Rectifier Column overhead vapors
Cooling Water Supply
Non-condensable 200 proof vapors from Evaporator #1 or #2
De-pressure vapors from the Molecular Sieves
Non-condensable vapors from the 200 Proof Flash Vessel

58
Q

What are the flows out of the 190 Proof Vacuum Condenser? (2)

A

190 proof liquid/vapor ethanol
Cooling Water Return

59
Q

What other areas utilize the vacuum generated in the Distillation System? (2)

A

Evaporators
Cook Flash Vessel

60
Q

What is the control point of the 190 Proof Vacuum Condenser and the two Vent Condensers?

A

Temperature

61
Q

What is the purpose of the Reflux Tank?

A

Collect condensed 190 proof liquid ethanol from the condensers

62
Q

Where does 2/3 of the flow from the Reflux Bottoms Pump flow to? (2)

A

Rectifier Column
Reflux Tank

63
Q

Where does 1/3 of the flow from the Reflux Bottoms Pump flow to? (3)

A

190 Proof Ethanol Storage Tanks
Sieve Vaporizer
200 Proof Flash Receiver

64
Q

What is the purpose of the Reflux Tank return line and density indicator?

A

To monitor the ethanol proof. Density is a direct indication of proof.

65
Q

What are the control points of the Reflux Tank? (3)

A

Pressure
Temperature
Level

66
Q

What is the purpose of the two Vacuum Pumps?

A

Assist in maintaining the Distillation System vacuum

67
Q

What two things do the two Vacuum Pumps transfer?

A

Non-condensable vapors from the Reflux Tank
Vacuum seal water from the Regen Tank

68
Q

Where do the two Vacuum Pumps flow to?

A

Regen Tank

69
Q

What are the purposes of the vacuum seal water? (2)

A

Prevent a loss of vacuum
Lubrication for the Vacuum Pumps

70
Q

What is the purpose of the Seal Water Filters?

A

Remove particulates in the regen liquid to prevent the seal water lines from clogging

71
Q

What are the control points of the Vacuum Pumps? (2)

A

Pressure
Flow

72
Q

Why does the Reflux Tank have a pressure valve that opens to the atmosphere?

A

The Vacuum pumps run at one speed. The pressure valve opens to let in atmosphere to regulate vacuum.

73
Q

What is the purpose of the Reflux Bottoms Pump?

A

Transfer 190 proof liquid ethanol from the bottom of the Reflux Tank

74
Q

What is the control point of the Reflux Pump?

A

Pressure

75
Q

What is the purpose of the 190 Crossover Pump?

A

Maintains a high rate of flow to the Molecular Sieves by supplying the additional feed that the Sieve Feed Pump is unable to supply

76
Q

What are the control points of the 190 Crossover Pump? (2)

A

Flow
Pressure

77
Q

What is the purpose of the 190, 190 Crossover, & 200 Proof Filters?

A

Remove particulates from liquid ethanol

78
Q

Why are two sets of filters used with liquid ethanol?

A

Extra filter to put online when other filter becomes plugged and needs replaced

79
Q

What level of differential pressure is an indication of plugged ethanol filters?

A

20 PSI

80
Q

What is the control point of the 190 & 200 Proof Filters?

A

Pressure