Document Type
Thesis
Date of Award
6-30-1962
Degree Name
Master of Science in Chemical Engineering - (M.S.)
Department
Chemical Engineering
First Advisor
Joseph Joffe
Second Advisor
C. L. Mantell
Third Advisor
George C. Keeffe
Abstract
In order to test the effect of pressure on binary azeotropes, an all stainless steel Coates-Orr vapor-liquid equilibrium still was constructed and then tested at atmospheric and superatmospheric pressure. To overcome operating difficulties at superatmospheric pressures, it was necessary to modify the original still design by (1) coiling a Nichrome resistance wire around the entire still body and insulating heavily over the coil, (2) substituting a "canned" seal-less pump in place of the original centrifugal pump.
A survey of the literature shows that the difficult-to-operate Jones-type equilibrium stills, from which the Coates-Orr still was developed, approach true phase equilibrium. Therefore, the development of the Coates-Orr still is significant in that it successfully eliminates the operational difficulties of the Jones still without compromising its superior equilibrium qualities. The other major advantage. of the Coates-Orr still is that it can be operated at superatmospheric pressures.
Vapor-liquid equilibrium data heretofore unpublished for the commercially important binary azeotrope cyclohexane-acetone was obtained in the present study at 14.7, 29.7 and 39.7 psia in the Coates-Orr still. At atmospheric pressure, the azeotropic composition was found to be 28.0% (vol) cyclo-hexane with a boiling point of 52.5°C as compared to the value given by Lecat and Field of 25.3% (vol) with a boiling point of 53.0°C. The effect of temperature on the azeotropic composition for the cyclohexane-acetone system as predicted by the correlations of Joffe, Coulson and Herington, and of Carlson and Colburn were compared with the experimental results. It is demonstrated that the Joffe correlation shows the best agreement with the experimental data.
Recommended Citation
Jacob, John K., "Modified Coates-Orr vapor-liquid equilibrium still : the effect of pressure on binary azeotropes" (1962). Theses. 3041.
https://digitalcommons.njit.edu/theses/3041
