Process / pipelineSeparation Process Design
McCabe-Thiele Method
The McCabe-Thiele Method, introduced by Warren L. McCabe and Ernest W. Thiele in 1925, is a graphical technique for designing and analyzing distillation columns. It predicts the number of theoretical plates (stages) needed to achieve a desired separation between light and heavy components. While primarily a chemical engineering tool, it applies to liquid-vapor separation problems in mining operations such as mercury recovery and rare earth element refining.
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Sources
- McCabe, W. L., & Thiele, E. W. (1925). Graphical design of fractionating columns. Transactions of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, 21, 30-60. link ↗
- Seader, J. D., Henley, E. J., & Roper, D. K. (2011). Separation process principles (3rd ed.). John Wiley & Sons. DOI: 10.1002/9780470117590 ↗