ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a concept drawing of a distillation column with all of the streams labeled. The inlet and outlet stream flow rates are the manipulated variables in distillation column control. A manipulated variable is usually the flow rate of a stream that has an automatic valve connected to a controller output signal. The main variables to be controlled in a distillation column are the following: Distillation column pressure, Reflux drum liquid level, column bottom liquid level, separation power base and Material balance split. The pressure in a distillation column has an overriding influence on the control of the process. The standard definition of reflux ratio was presented, and the concepts of separation power and material balance split were introduced.
