Thermodynamic Evaluation of The Distillation Process: New Proposal For Performance Calculation

Objective: The objective of this study is to thermodynamically investigate the distillation process, in addition to proposing a new methodology to represent the thermodynamic performance of the distillation process. Theoretical Framework: This topic presents the main concepts and theories that support the research. Thermodynamic efficiency and exergy efficiency stand out, providing a solid basis for understanding the context of the investigation. Method: The methodology adopted for this research involves the simulation of the separation process of the azeotropic mixture acetone/methanol, using DMSO as the solvent. Data collection was performed through process optimization, considering the overall process and each column separately. Results and Discussion: The results obtained revealed that even in conventional distillation, thermodynamic efficiency is low and negative values ​​can be obtained. In the discussion section, these results are contextualized considering the theoretical framework, highlighting the implications and relationships identified. Possible discrepancies and limitations of the study are also considered in this section. Research Implications: The practical and theoretical implications of this research are discussed, providing insights into how the results can be applied or influence practices in the field of distillation processes. These implications may include energy efficiency and optimization of the distillation process. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the literature by addressing thermodynamic terms in detail, in addition to proposing a new methodology to evaluate the thermodynamic performance of distillation processes. The relevance and value of this research are evidenced by the detailing of the thermodynamic parameters.