how to design a distillation column or a distilator

2 question actually

1st, is the term "design" the correct term here? in my classes, it seems like the term is thrown around alot to mean "figure out dimensions, and calculations needed for the [insert equipment name here]"

for example, doing the calculations needed for heat coefficient on a shell and tube heat exchanger.

2nd question is, whats in my title

how can i design a small home us distillation column or a distilator? and will these be usable for any general use or will it only be able to be used for the specific use i designed it for? (what i mean is, if an industry is using a distillation column for separation of "x", and next day the decided to use it to separate "y" can they just use the old one they had?

i guess i passed the 2 questions lol