Chemical Engineering - Mass Transfer - Discussion

Discussion Forum : Mass Transfer - Section 9 (Q.No. 11)
11.
The operating cost of a distillation column at minimum reflux ratio is
minimum
maximum
infinite
zero
Answer: Option
Explanation:
No answer description is available. Let's discuss.
Discussion:
3 comments Page 1 of 1.

Adnan Ahmad Khattak said:   4 years ago
Minimum reflux ratio means a lower percentage of reflux (L) circulated back to the tower.

At minimum reflux ratio, the number of plated become infinite due to which the fixed cost becomes maximum while the operating cost becomes minimum because the heat load is less.
(4)

Piku said:   5 years ago
At minimum reflux ratio, the fixed cost is infinite (due to an infinite number of stages required) , but the operating cost is at a minimum because the minimum amount of liquid is to be handled (e.g Consuming lesser pump horsepower, lesser cooling capacity, etc).

Suneel Kumar Singh yadav said:   6 years ago
The total cost, which is the sum of fixed cost and operating cost, must, therefore, passes through a minimum. The reflux ratio at this minimum total cost is the optimum (or economical) reflux ratio. Typically, the optimum reflux ratio is approximate.

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