Column profile maps as a tool for synthesizing complex column configurations

There has recently been a renewed interest in the design of distillation processes due to rising energy cost and growing environmental concerns. Column profile maps (CPMs) have been developed as a graphical tool to simplify the design procedure of distillation schemes as well as a method for analyzing existing processes. Using CPMs one is able to change topology within the composition space to suit the requirements of the separation and hence many separations that have been thought of as difficult or unviable can now be better understood and consequently new designs may be devised. The CPM technique has also been proven to be extremely useful as a design tool for complex columns, as configurations irrespective of complexity can be modeled and graphically understood. This paper aims to summarize the most important and interesting results and applications obtained using the CPM technique. It shows how CPMs may be used to synthesize complex columns like a Petlyuk or Kaibel column, as well as showing how new sharp split separations can be devised.