Pareto-optimized Dividing Wall Columns for Ideal Mixtures and Influences of Deviations in Process Variables

Introductory studies on the relationship between design and robustness of optimized Dividing Wall Columns are presented. These columns are optimized multicriterially for different mixtures and numbers of stages. The internal distribution of stages depending on the total number is analyzed. Supporting Material analyzes the stage-dependent vapor demand of the binary sub-systems and shows that the relationships can change fundamentally, especially for low stages. The deviations in process variables considered are defined and screening results are presented. Supporting Material provides an analysis of the nominal and disturbed concentration profiles for deviating internal splits, and shows that at high numbers of stages, the formation of pinch zones leads to significantly higher purity losses. Finally, results for combined deviations are presented. For all result parts, patterns are worked out that depend only on the number of stages, specific mixture properties like characteristics of the Vmin diagram or the individual product.