Ayush Gupta
FLASH (2400430510010)
DISTILLATION Department Of Chemical
Engineering
Material Energy and Balance
Introduction
LLVF (Liquid-Liquid Vapor Flash Drum)
o Flash distillation = single-stage separation process. •The main separation vessel (flash chamber).
•Inside, the feed splits into two phases:
o Used to separate liquid mixtures into vapor & liquid phases. •Vapor phase (V, y): Rich in more volatile
components.
o Basis: Different components have different volatilities. •Liquid phase (L, x): Rich in less volatile
(heavier) components.
o Common in petroleum refineries and chemical industries.
•V = Vapor flow rate leaving the flash drum.
•y = Mole fraction of the more volatile component in
the vapor.
•L = Liquid flow rate living the Flash Drum
•X = Mole Fraction of the more Volatile Component of
the liquid
•F = Feed flow rate (amount of mixture entering).
•xF = Mole fraction of the more volatile component
in the feed.
Principle of Operation
Flash distillation works by rapidly reducing the pressure
on a heated liquid mixture, causing a portion of it to
vaporize
A liquid mixture is partially vaporized at given T & P.
•Feed enters → part vaporizes, part remains liquid.
•Vapor phase enriched in more volatile component.
•Separation depends on:
•Operating temperature & pressure
•Relative volatility of components
Process Flow Diagram
◦ Steps:
◦ Feed mixture heated to required temperature.
◦ Enters flash drum (constant P, reduced T).
◦ Instant vaporization (“flash”).
◦ Vapor (light component-rich) separated from
liquid (heavy component-rich).
Application
•Petroleum Industry
•Used in crude oil refineries as the first separation step.
•Separates crude oil into lighter (gases, naphtha) and heavier fractions before sending to
fractional distillation towers.
•Saves energy by reducing the load on the main distillation column.
•Natural Gas Processing
•Removes condensable hydrocarbons (propane, butane, pentane) from natural gas streams.
•Helps in producing dry natural gas for pipelines and separating valuable NGLs (Natural Gas
Liquids).
•Chemical & Petrochemical Industry
•Used in recovery and purification of solvents (e.g., ethanol-water, methanol-water).
•Separation of ammonia-water mixtures in fertilizer plants.
•Recovery of benzene, toluene, and other light aromatics.
•Food & Beverage Industry
•Applied in separation of alcohol-water mixtures in distilleries (ethanol production).
•Helps in concentrating flavors and essential oils.
•Pharmaceutical Industry
•Used in solvent recovery during drug manufacturing.
•Ensures economical and sustainable production by recycling solvents.
Conclusion
•Flash distillation = simple, economical separation
process.
•Works on partial vaporization & volatility
difference.
•Widely used in oil refineries, natural gas, and
solvent recovery.
•Provides quick, bulk separation, though less
efficient than multistage distillation.
•Advantages: low cost, energy saving, simple
equipment.
•Serves as a foundation step in many chemical
industries.
