McCabe–Thiele method

<p>The McCabe–Thiele method is a technique that is commonly employed in the field of <a href="/facts/Chemical_engineering/Fb64amQf">chemical engineering</a> to model the separation of two substances by a <a href="/facts/Distillation_column/snYmDSRI">distillation column</a>. It uses the fact that the composition at each <a href="/facts/Theoretical_plate/N75TctNx">theoretical tray</a> is completely determined by the <a href="/facts/Mole_fraction/nW4EepmJ">mole fraction</a> of one of the two components. This method is based on the assumptions that the distillation column is <a href="/facts/Isobaric_process/SRx2Pd15">isobaric</a>—i.e the pressure remains constant—and that the flow rates of liquid and vapor do not change throughout the column (i.e., constant molar overflow). The assumption of constant molar overflow requires that:
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<ul><li>The <a href="/facts/Standard_enthalpy_change_of_vaporization/TbEWQDNl">heat needed to vaporize a certain amount of liquid</a> of the feed components are equal,</li>
<li>For every <a href="/facts/Mole_(unit)/kCMFwCc0">mole</a> of liquid vaporized, a mole of vapor is condensed, and</li>
<li>Heat effects such as <a href="/facts/Enthalpy_change_of_solution/wuVVEDDs">heat needed to dissolve the substance(s)</a> are negligible.</li></ul>
<p>The method was first published by <a href="/facts/Warren_L._McCabe/V6PyLD2R">Warren L. McCabe</a> and <a href="/facts/Ernest_Thiele/vEWRjFpa">Ernest Thiele</a> in 1925, both of whom were working at the <a href="/facts/Massachusetts_Institute_of_Technology/Xk49vNA8">Massachusetts Institute of Technology</a> (MIT) at the time.
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McCabe–Thiele method open-in-new

McCabe–Thiele method