DVI/300 – Automated Continuous Distillation Training Unit

The DVI/300 from Pignat is an automated continuous distillation training unit built to teach the principles of distillation to chemical engineering students. Using a water-methanol mixture, the unit feeds a bubble tray column from a preheated storage tank, with flow rate regulated through a valve and flowmeter. A thermosiphon boiler heated by an immersion element drives the vapours up the column, while solenoid valves manage the external reflux so students can observe how operating parameters shape the separation. At the heart of the unit is a glass ND50 column fitted with ten bubble cap trays and a temperature probe, paired with a 1.3 L glass thermosiphon boiler and a 1.3 kW heater. A differential pressure transmitter measures pressure drop across the column, and four Pt100 sensors track temperatures at the boiler, column head and condenser. Flow is monitored by a Vortex flowmeter rated 0.5 to 150 L/min and four flowrate transmitters of 2 to 500 mL/min, each with a solenoid valve for reflux, feed and drain-off control. Together these instruments let students calculate thermal and material balances directly from live data. The process is fully automated from a 7 inch colour touchscreen that displays the unit synoptic, real-time and historical curves, and exports data via USB. Housed on a stainless steel framework and operating from a standard single-phase supply, the unit can be customised to suit specific teaching programmes. Bestech Australia supplies the DVI/300 automated continuous distillation training unit with on-site training and commissioning support available.