This tool allows users to perform McCabe–Thiele analysis for multi-component distillation columns. Users can specify feed, distillate, and bottoms compositions, relative volatility, feed stage, and the number of stages. The program calculates the operating lines, feed intersection, and step-wise stages for the distillation process, providing both static and interactive visualizations of the stage-wise progression.
The calculations are based on the following formulas:
Rectifying line (top section):
\[ y = \frac{\alpha x}{1 + (\alpha - 1)x} \]
Stripping line (bottom section, approximate):
\[ y = x_B + \frac{x_B - x_F}{x_B - x_F}(x - x_B) \]
Stage stepping (rectifying section, approximate):
\[ y_{n+1} = \frac{\alpha x_n}{1 + (\alpha - 1)x_n}, \quad x_{n+1} = x_n - \frac{y_{n+1} - x_n}{\alpha - 1} \]
Stage stepping (stripping section, linear approximation):
\[ x_{n+1} = x_n - 0.05(x_n - x_B), \quad y_{n+1} = x_{n+1} \]
The tool calculates the number of stages needed and provides the mole fractions at each stage, allowing users to analyze the column performance based on their specified parameters. Users can adjust the feed stage \( z_F \), relative volatility \( \alpha \), and maximum stages \( N_{\max} \) to explore different operating conditions.
