ABSTRACT
This chapter is a short summary of the topics covered in this course. The work process for research and development is the scientific method, which will now be described. The main problem in distillation process control is to separate and purify chemical components in liquid and vapor streams while shedding the disturbances that are imposed on the distillation column. Distillation is a mature technology that is well developed and tested by the scientific method. During the last 20 years, there has been a continuing emphasis on improved product quality, performance, and reduced operating costs such as energy consumption, lost product, rework, maintenance, and labor cost per unit of product produced. The focus of this book is on achieving distillation product purity at low cost without dwelling on complex mathematical descriptions. The organization of this book into chapters is designed for either classroom teaching or self-paced learning that can meet the needs and skill level of each student.
