[ScardyBob]

Much of the info I'm finding on distillation design focuses on the big estimation methods (e.g. McCabe-Thiele, Fenske-Underwood-Gilliand, etc) which require quite a few of the unknowns to be specified beforehand. I know many of these methods involve trial-and-error calculations to figure out the results, but I've having a hard time finding guidance on reasonable starting values for these parameters. Specifically, info on multicomponent distillation parameters such as
- Temperatures (feed, distillate, or bottom temps)
- Pressures
- Feed tray location
- How to deal with heavy or light nonkeys

In particular, something similar to the 'Rules of Thumb: Summary' at the end of Ludwig's Applied Process Design for Chemical and Petrochemical Plants for distillation is the type of thing I'm searching for.