Abstract: Internal thermally coupled distillation columns (ITCDIC) are the frontier ofdistillation
energy saving research. In this paper, a novel energy savingmodel of ideal ITCDIC anda
simulation algorithm are presented, upon which a series of comparativestudies on energy
savingswith conventional distillation columns are carried out. Furthermore, wepresent an
optimizationmodel of ideal ITCDIC, which can be used to achieve the maximum energysaving
and find theoptimal design parameters directly. The binary system of benzene-tolueneis
adopted for theillustrative example of simulation and optimization. The results showthat
the maximum energysaving of ITCDIC is 52.25% (compared with energy consumption
ofconventional distillation underthe minimum reflux ratio operation); the optimal design
parametersare obtained, where therectifying section pressure and the feed thermal condition
arepr= 0.3006 MPa and q=0.5107 respectively.

Key words: distillation, thermal coupling, energy savings, simulation, optimization

摘要： Internal thermally coupled distillation columns (ITCDIC) are the frontier ofdistillation
energy saving research. In this paper, a novel energy savingmodel of ideal ITCDIC anda
simulation algorithm are presented, upon which a series of comparativestudies on energy
savingswith conventional distillation columns are carried out. Furthermore, wepresent an
optimizationmodel of ideal ITCDIC, which can be used to achieve the maximum energysaving
and find theoptimal design parameters directly. The binary system of benzene-tolueneis
adopted for theillustrative example of simulation and optimization. The results showthat
the maximum energysaving of ITCDIC is 52.25% (compared with energy consumption
ofconventional distillation underthe minimum reflux ratio operation); the optimal design
parametersare obtained, where therectifying section pressure and the feed thermal condition
arepr= 0.3006 MPa and q=0.5107 respectively.

关键词: distillation;thermal coupling;energy savings;simulation;optimization