Further Advance to a Practical Methodology to Assess Vapor-Liquid Equilibrium Data: Influence on Binaries Rectification

Abstract

Thermodynamic consistency tests are employed to verify the quality of data obtained from experiments on phase equilibria. Validated data sets guarantee their subsequent use in computations, leading to process design. In the present paper, three data sets obtained from binary systems, chosen as significant examples, are studied by applying several thermodynamic validation methods for vapor-liquid equilibrium (VLE) data to them. Another previous task is recommended: to inspect the graphs with the different values that characterize the VLE data, looking for the coherence between those two tasks. Different choices point to variations in the design of separation equipment for the selected solutions. In all instances, a biunivocal relationship is established between the data degree of inconsistency and the parameters of the equipment designed by simulation. It is shown that, when the system has an azeotrope or when the boiling temperatures of the pure participating compounds are close, the influence of the data check/test in the design/simulation process is more important than for the case of nonazeotropic systems.