Strategies for Starting Up Azeotropic Distillation Columns with Multiple Steady States

The operability of azeotropic distillation columns with multiplicity is analysed during start‐up by dynamic simulation. Different steady states can be reached by applying different start‐up configurations and/or policies. The well‐known benzene‐heptane‐acetone (BHA) system is studied. The process by which the column reaches these steady states can be seen through the examination of profile evolutions corresponding to the given start‐up policies. Indeed, a clear partition of the start‐up policies space yielding different solutions is achieved. Some properties of this space are explained and start‐up critical values can be identified. Finally, some guidelines for start‐up supervision are outlined for the study case.