Table 2 Specifications of the two-column and three-column distillation setup in the ASPEN Plus® simulation

Beer/stripper column 1

  Operational pressure

2.03 bar

3 bar

  Number of stages (actual)

32

25

  Column efficiency

48%

50%*

  Reflux ratio

3

2.3

Beer/stripper column 2

  Operational pressure

-

1.25 bar

  Number of stages (actual)

-

25

  Column efficiency

-

50%*

  Reflux ratio

-

1.4

Rectification column

  Operational pressure

2.03 bar

0.3 bar

  Number of stages (actual)

60

45

  Column efficiency

57%

75%*

  Reflux ratio

3.2

2.1