Optimal cyclic reflux operational policy for ternary mixtures separation. 2. Minimum boiling azeotrope mixture

The optimal control of a multicomponent batch distillation campaign with a cyclic reflux operational policy, and an analysis of the influence of different parameters, such as reboiler volume and/or vapor hold-up, have been presented. This optimal control strategy is applied to the azeotropic ternary mixture case, with one minimum boiling azeotrope, a mixture of acetone-methanol-water. In this example, the structure of the optimal control becomes significantly more complex when above mentioned parameters are varied. The optimal control provides highly recovered product(s), however, it is suggested that the highly purified product of acetone is not exigent, but methanol and/or water.