I am working on a simulation in Aspen Hysys for the Biodiesel production. Couldn't converge the distillation column. The inputs I put in the column are:
Feed stream contains > NaOH, Methanol, methyl esters (biodiesel), glycerol etc at 68 deg C and 12 psig
No. of stages > 10
P cond > 5 psig, pressure drop: 2 psi
P reb > 8 psig, pressure drop: 2 psi
In the column specification tab > Reflux ratio: 2, Reboiler temperature: 100 deg c.
From the distillation column, I want to take out the unreacted methanol ( normal boiling point is around 65 deg C) as a distillate from the top of the column. In the distillate stream, it was also mentioned the Std Vol frac as 1.0 for the methanol.
Most of the values I put here was the assumptions. The column was not converged. The above parameters were also varied at different values. Would you please suggest me how the column can be converged for the methanol recovery? How are actually the values should be?
Regards,