Chemical Engineering May 2010 - 5

Winner of Eight Jesse H. Neal
Awards for Editorial Excellence
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MikE O'rOurkE
Publisher
morourke@che.com
EditOrs
rEbEkkAH J. MArsHAll
Editor in Chief
rmarshall@che.com
dOrOtHy lOzOWski
Managing Editor
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GErAld ONdrEy (Frankfurt)
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Recognizing a distillation icon
O
n March 24, at the American Institute of Chemical Engineers'
(AIChE; New York; www.aiche.org) Spring Meeting in San Antonio,
Tex., the Separations Division honored the myriad contributions of
Dr. Karl T. Chuang. Given the scope and impact of his contributions, we
are likewise proud to recognize him here.
" Very few chemical engineers have spent as much time at as many
chemical engineering frontiers as Professor Chuang, " notes Michael Re
setarits, technical director at Fractionation Research, Inc. (Stillwater,
Okla.; fri.org) and chair of the distillation track and session in which
Chuang was honored.
-
Chuang received his Ph.D. from the University of Alberta in 1971. " By
1986, he was quite possibly the world's foremost expert at heavy water
production, " says Resetarits. Chuang then joined the University of Alberta
faculty, where he authored almost 200 fully refereed papers on separation
and catalysis - and catalytic separation. He also authored almost 250
conference papers, 33 U.S. and Canadian patents and 6 book chapters. In
fact, one of the discoveries that Chuang made at the University of Alberta
involved a catalytic process that oxidizes volatile organic compounds
(VOCs) in aqueous wastestreams into carbon dioxide and water. In doing
so, Chuang addressed a problem that plagued conventional catalysts of
the day, rendering them ineffective in aqueous streams because of their
propensity to absorb water (CE, August 1992, p. 19).
While at the University of Alberta, Professor Chuang's separation apparatuses
included a 1-ft dia. mass-transfer column that often separated
methanol from isopropanol, and methanol from water. Using those apparatuses
and others, the Alberta team of investigators demonstrated the
impacts of surface tension and surface-tension gradient on distillation tray
efficiencies. A 1993 tray-efficiency model showed that liquid-phase masstransfer
resistance is much greater than that predicted by other, older
models. A 2004 paper described the results when six different systems
were distilled using a 74-mm dia. Oldershaw column. The systems having
positive surface-tension gradients exhibited froth stabilization and higher
tray efficiencies.
paratuses included a 1-ft dia. mass-transfer column that often separated
methanol from isopropanol, and methanol from water. Using those appa
ratuses and others, the Alberta team of investigators demonstrated the
impacts of surface tension and surface-tension gradient on distillation tray
efficiencies. A 1993 tray-efficiency model showed that liquid-phase masstransfer
resistance is much greater than that predicted by other, older
models. A 2004 paper described the results when six different systems
were distilled using a 74-mm dia. Oldershaw column. The systems having
positive surface-tension gradients exhibited froth stabilization and higher
tray efficiencies.
Nobody spent more time studying the combined use of trays and packings
in distillation columns than Professor Chuang and his Alberta team, says
Resetarits. " They showed that the use of packing, on and between trays,
can increase tray efficiencies. They also showed that trays can be used as
redistributors in packed columns. And, in a 2007 paper, they described how
jetting (as opposed to bubbling) affects tray efficiencies. " Currently, Professor
Rob Whiteley's team at Oklahoma State University is using the 2007
paper as the basis for a new valve-tray-efficiency model, Resetarits adds.
Chuang has received numerous awards from Canadian societies. His
expertise has been passed down to his graduate students, and therefore
continues to expand its reach. For example, Dr. G.X. Chen leads Praxair
distillation research efforts; Dr. Z. P. Xu leads UOP's tray and packing
research program; and Dr. D. Remesat designs columns for Koch-Glitsch
expertise has been passed down to his graduate students, and therefore
continues to expand its reach. For example, Dr. G.X. Chen leads Praxair
distillation research efforts; Dr. Z. P. Xu leads UOP's tray and packing
research program; and Dr. D. Remesat designs columns for Koch-Glitsch
in Western Canada.
Chuang loves to golf and spend time with his wife
Ting. He is far from retirement, says Resetarits, con
sulting regularly for the Chinese Petroleum Corp.
(Chia-Yi, Taiwan; www.cpc.com.tw).
-
A copy of Professor Chuang's impressive bibiliography
can be obtained by contacting Mike Resetarits at
resetarits@fri.org.
phy can be obtained by contacting Mike Resetarits at
resetarits@fri.org.
■
Rebekkah Marshall
rmarshall@che.com
ChemiCal engineering www.Che.Com maY 2010 5
in Western Canada.
http://www.aiche.org http://www.fri.org http://www.cpc.com.tw http://www.Che.Com
Chemical Engineering May 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Chemical Engineering May 2010
