To design a distillation column for separating a methanol-water mixture, we will follow these steps:1. Obtain the vapor-liquid equilibrium VLE data for the methanol-water system at atmospheric pressure. This can be found in literature or by using software like Aspen Plus or HYSYS.2. Determine the feed composition and flow rate. In this case, the feed is 50 wt% methanol and 50 wt% water with a flow rate of 1000 kg/h.3. Determine the desired product compositions. The distillate should contain no more than 5 wt% methanol, and the bottom product should contain no more than 2 wt% water.4. Calculate the minimum reflux ratio Rmin using the Fenske equation and the VLE data. This will help in determining the minimum number of trays or packing height required for the separation.5. Choose a suitable operating reflux ratio R that is 1.2 to 1.5 times the Rmin. This will ensure a good trade-off between the number of trays or packing height and the energy consumption.6. Calculate the number of equilibrium stages N required for the separation using the McCabe-Thiele method or other suitable methods. This will give the number of trays or packing height required for the column.7. Design the column diameter based on the flow rates of the vapor and liquid phases, the column height, and the allowable pressure drop. This can be done using empirical correlations or software like Aspen Plus or HYSYS.8. Choose the appropriate type of trays or packing for the column based on the operating conditions and the desired separation efficiency.Based on these steps, the design specifications for the distillation column can be summarized as follows:- Number of trays or packing height: This will depend on the calculated number of equilibrium stages N and the chosen tray or packing efficiency. For example, if N = 20 and the tray efficiency is 50%, the number of actual trays required would be 40.- Column diameter: This will depend on the vapor and liquid flow rates, the column height, and the allowable pressure drop. For example, a column diameter of 1 meter might be suitable for this application.- Operating reflux ratio R : This should be 1.2 to 1.5 times the minimum reflux ratio Rmin to ensure a good trade-off between the number of trays or packing height and the energy consumption.- Tray or packing type: This will depend on the desired separation efficiency and the operating conditions. Common choices include sieve trays, valve trays, or structured packing.- Other specifications: These might include the column material e.g., stainless steel , the type of reboiler and condenser, and the control strategy for the column.Please note that these are general guidelines, and the actual design specifications will depend on the specific VLE data, operating conditions, and equipment choices. It is recommended to use process simulation software like Aspen Plus or HYSYS to obtain more accurate design specifications for the distillation column.