Minimum-reflux regime of simple distillation columns

A general algorithm for calculating minimum reflux ratios in simple distillation columns used for the separation of ideal and nonideal (including azeotropic) homogeneous multicomponent mixtures is proposed. The algorithm deals with various splits: direct, indirect, intermediate, and with one distributed component. The algorithm is mathematically rigorous, developed on the basis of the geometrical theory of distillation, and makes it possible to consider the special features of nonideal mixtures (tangent pinch, necessity of using nonadiabatic columns).