The two distillation columns of Wacker Institute pilot plant at the Chattanooga State Community College are investigated for stable operating regions, flooding phenomena that occurs in the bubble-cap tray distillation column, weeping phenomena that occurs in the sieve tray distillation column, and comparison of operation between the two distillation columns. With the use of a distributed control system (DCS) and glass equipment in the pilot plant, these phenomena are analyzed visually and with the help of instrumentation readings. The energy usage and production limits of both distillation columns are discussed. The flooding of bubble-cap trays occur before reaching production goals due to a flaw inside the column. The weeping of sieve trays does not allow the distillation column to operate efficiently at low flow rates. The bubble-cap tray distillation column uses less energy to achieve the same production goals as the sieve tray distillation column
