Optimal Separation Sequence for Three-Component Systems

In this paper the problem of finding the optimal separation sequence for a three-component mixture in a two-stage separation system is considered. Two solutions are obtained. The first minimizes the energy used, subject to a given flow rate of the input mixture, by selecting optimal separation sequence and by distributing the contact surfaces between the first and second stages optimally. It is also shown that the input flow rate of a heat-driven two-stage separation system is bounded and that this bound (the maximal possible rate of heat-driven separation) depends on the separation sequence used. The closed-form expression for this dependence is obtained.