Specifications for
6” Sieve Plate Distillation Unit for
Continuous/Batch Operation
UTC is seeking quotations for one (1) 6” Sieve Plate Distillation Unit for Continuous/Batch
Operation with the following requirements:
The unit would consist of a 6” sieve plate distillation column, a bottoms vessel with
thermosiphon reboiler, an overhead condenser with reflux drum and reflux pump, a feed/receiver
tank and a feed pump. The liquid holdup in the bottoms vessel and the reflux drum should be
25 L and 3.3 L respectively.
The sieve plate column will have eight (8) stainless steel plates with each plate having a
vapor and liquid sample valve. There will be a thermocouple in the vapor space above each plate
and one (1) plate will have a thermocouple in the liquid. Feed can be introduced onto plates 3, 5
and 7 (top plate is number 1) for continuous operation. The column will be fabricated from glass
components and will be designed to operate in the continuous mode with a feed rate of up to a
maximum of approximately 300lb/hr of 10 weight% methanol. The column will be fully
instrumented with 16 thermocouples, 3 feed valves with on/off limit switches, 5 control valves,
5 flow transmitters, 2 liquid level transmitters, a steam pressure transmitter and differential
pressure transmitter. The specific configuration of the instrumentation and distillation unit are
given in the attached P&I diagram.
The column will have a computer control unit consisting of a completely wired cabinet
that will include the computer, monitor, keyboard, mouse, software, I/O board and UPS. The
distillation column will be controlled and monitored using National Instruments LabVIEW
software. Creative Engineering will construct a process control and data acquisition program
using National Instruments LabVIEW software as outlined on the attached P & I diagram. After
the unit is assembled, the control cabinet will need to be wired to the instrumentation in the
distillation unit structure by a UTC technician using parts and wiring diagrams of this distillation
unit supplied by vendor.
Computer Control System:
Computer
17” Monitor
UPS
Pentium II, 300 MHz Processor or better
128 Meg Ram
4.3 Gig Hard Drive or larger
3.5” 1.44 MB drive
36 X Variable Speed CD-ROM or better
3 Com – 590 Ethernet card
Windows NT 4.0 Workstation
Lockable Computer Enclosure w/ slideout keyboard drawer and mouse tray.
Electrical and Mechanical drawings
Computer Control System (cont)
I/O Interface
Utilizing National Instruments Field Point Modules
Users manual and/or Standard Operation Procedures documents.
Software
Based on utilizing National Instruments LabVIEW
Based on approximately 5 different screens
Note-the license for the LabVIEW Full Development software will be supplied
by the university and should not be included in the quoted price.
Staging and Testing.
Teaching Manuals for operating the column and performing distillation experiments will be
provided by vendor.
The feed pump, reflux pump, flow transmitters, pressure transmitter and level transmitters are all
explosion proof. The I/P converters on the control valves are rated as intrinsically safe. The
thermocouples do not have explosion proof heads but have the standard quick connect plug.
The computer control system will have a manual and automatic mode so that the control valves
can be controlled manually from the computer.
The overhead condenser should be able to operate at a minimum flow rate of 10 GPM using
80 F cooling water to condense up to 300 lb/hr of 94wt.% methanol vapor. The liquid lines
between the reflux drum and the top of the column will be insulated to minimize sub cooling of
the condensate.
Please quote as follows:
A.
Unassembled components and hardware for a 6” sieve plate distillation unit as shown on
attached P&I diagram and also including engineering and mechanical assembly drawings
with itemized Parts List. Also includes QTS-2 or equivalent Teaching Manual. Include a
footprint showing floor space required and height of tallest component.
B.
Computer control system as described above.
C.
Precut, unassembled, galvanized steel pipe and Kee-Klamp structure to support the above
unit.
D.
Freight charges for shipping the above-unassembled unit to UTC.
E.
Up to ten (10) days of on-site assembly supervision by a vendor field Supervisor to assist
with the erection and assembly of the above structure and unit. UTC will supply
maintenance personnel or students during this time. Includes travel and living expenses.
F.
Up to three (3) days of on-site start-up and debug support of the software program by a
technician at UTC. Includes travel and living expenses.
Performance Guarantee:
The distillation column and control system is to perform the following series of experiments
within a period of 5 hours from starting the steam flow to the rebolier:
a. Column start-up at total reflux.
b. Steady-state column operation at total reflux.
c. Steady-state column operation a 3 separate reflux ratio settings.
Steady state will be determined by a temperature profile on the column trays remaining
within +/-2C for a period of 5 minutes. At one of these settings the distillate
composition is to be greater than or equal to 94wt.% methanol while feeding the column
with up to 300 lb/hr of 10 wt.% methanol in water using 27 psig steam and 16 GPM of
cooling water to the overhead condenser.
Additional Specifications:
1)
2)
3)
4)
Wetted parts are to be glass, PTFE, 304 or 316 S.S.
Small diameter interconnecting tubing will be 316 SS and use Swagelok fittings.
Flowmeters should have at least an accuracy of +/-1% of reading.
Air Pressure Required:
Operators for Ball Valves:
80 psig
Operators for Control Valves:
30 psig
5) Positioners will be included on the control valves.
6) UTC should be able to witness the required control checkout of the computer system.
7) The reflux line will be insulated from the reflux drum to the column to minimize sub-cooling
of the condensate.
8) The reflux pump is expected to be located at or near the floor level, not high in the structure.
9) Three (3) feed locations into the column. Plates 3,5&7 (top plate is No. 1).
10) The pumps are rated for up to 250 F max.
11) The following manufacturers should be utilized:
Part
Manufacturer
Pumps
March
Pressure transmitters
Dwyer or Barton
Flow Transmitters – process
Hoffer MF series
fluid
Steam Flow Transmitter
Barton FCX-C series
Steam Control Valve with
Cashco
positioner
Control Valves with
Badger or Fisher
positioners for process fluids
12) A minimum of five computer screens are required and will be designed in consultation with
UTC chemical engineering faculty. A suggested screen naming is:
a) Main overview of column: Top half screen and bottom half screen
b) P & I diagram control screen
c) Parameter Screen
d) Trending Screen
13) Each controller will be a PID loop in the LabVIEW software. These loops are specified on
the P & I diagram
14) National Instruments FieldPoint Modular Distributed I/O System should be used for control
and monitoring hardware. These I/O modules should employ 16 bit inputs and outputs.
Room on the DIN rail should be provided for future expansion of 2 additional modules.
15) Location of Installation:
The installation unit will be installed UTC. Bidders are responsible for
checking the site to be sure they will not encounter any delivery or installation
problems.
Terms:
FOB destination. Include all costs in bid price.
Drawings:
Approx. 5 – 6 weeks after receipt of order.
Shipment:
Approx. 10-12 weeks after drawing approval.
a.
b.
Delivery (date)
Setup and achieved performance spec (date)
A $500.00 per day liquidated damage fee assessed for each day after (date) if the unit is not
working.
Or approved equal. If equal is offered forward literature describing product with bid.
This is an Advertised Bid and must be accompanied by a Bid Bond in the amount of 10%
of the bid. This is to be issued by an insurance or surety company authorized to do
business in the State of Tennessee. A certified check for 10% of the amount bid will be
accepted in place of the bond. The successful bidder will be required to submit a
Performance Bond for the full amount of the Contract or Purchase Order placed as a
result of this bid.