Since distillation columns are major energy consumers, many studies have explored modifying conventional configurations to achieve process intensification by improving energy efficiency. In a conventional extractive distillation to separate a binary mixture that forms an azeotrope, the fresh feed enters an extractive column along with a heavy entrainer solvent. One key component goes overhead, and the other is recovered in a second column, with solvent recycled back to the extractive column. A recent paper proposed a new extractive distillation system in which the fresh feed is split between two columns. One key component is removed as a sidestream from the first column and the second is recovered in the distillate of the other column. Energy and total annual cost savings of 14% compared to a conventional system are claimed. The proposed new configuration is more complex and poses potential dynamic controllability problems. The purpose of this paper is to explore this issue. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.