A previous design algorithm for Petlyuk columns is modified and validated with new study cases. The method is based on the decomposition of the system into three simple columns, performing their design/optimization and evolving to get the final configuration. The advantage of this approach relies on the use of a commercial process simulator, avoiding the programming stage and taking advantage of the rigorous methods for column design and optimization already available in the simulation software. Aspen Plus 2004.1 was selected as the fundamental tool for this study. The cases of study proposed by Ramírez-Jiménez (2006) were used, consisting in ternary mixtures of hydrocarbons with different ESI and feed compositions. The algorithm was modified from its first version to solve some difficulties encountered when applied to the new mixtures. The results obtained are discussed and compared with other design methods reported in the literature. Important conclusions are drawn about the applicability of this approach and some recommendations are presented for future work in this topic.

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