Allocations of Computational and Graphical Methods for Separation Processes Calculations and Education

Two computer programs were developed to teach separation processes and to solve related problems. The first, SEPTECH, uses the Fenske-Underwood-Gilliland method to find stage requirements and column operating parameters of a multicomponent distillation tower given feed stream information and desired product purities. The second program was designed to achieve specific educational goals. A robust educational program was developed that was a general, flexible, fast, understandable, and easy to use tool for problem solving. This program, MCTHIELE, utilizing McCabe-Thiele graphical solution techniques, was used in a senior level chemical engineering course and proved to be a very successful learning tool.