A model for simultaneous simulation and phase identification in reactive distillation columns

Rigorous phase calculations in reactive distillation columns (RDCs) are of great importance. In the present work, a method has been formulated for simultaneous phase identification and equilibrium calculations inside an RDC. The method is applied on the highly non-ideal multiphase reactive distillation columns for the production of methyl dodecanoate. The results show that the method finds the actual phase compositions and quantities successfully. It also helps to determine the phase configurations as well.