ChE 418: COMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

Assignment No. 2
Come up with a solution of the following problems using Excel.
1. The following table shows the specific heat of ethane as a function of temperature:
Temperature, 0C
Specific Heat, cal/(g-0C)

38

66

93

121

149

204

0.43

0.46

0.49

0.51

0.55

0.61

Given that the variation is linear, find the equation that represents the data. (Hint: Check if its a liner
equation or not.)

2. The following experimental data from the calibration of a venture meter is expected to yield
a straight line when plotted in a log-log scale: (Zimmerman and Lavine, Chem. Eng. Lab.
Equip., Industrial Research Service, Inc., New Hampshire, 1955, p. 42)
Reading, in Hg 5.33 5.06 4.92 4.85 4.47 3.41 3.27 2.6
1.8
Velocity, ft/s
42.25 38.5 36.63 34.38 29.63 17.13 15.25 9.73 4.25
3. Determine all the solutions of the system of linear algebraic equations:
4x1 8x2 + 11x3 - 11x4 + 6x5 = 4a
3x1 6x2 + 8x3 - 9x4 + 5x5 = 3a
2x1 4x2 + 9x3 + 5x4 - 4x5 = 2a
x1 2x2 + 3x3 - 2x4 + x5 = a
3x1 2x2 + x3 - 2x4 + 3x5 = a

4. A mixture consisting of n-butane, isopentane, and n-pentane is to be distilled. The following

tabulation gives the composition of the streams in mole fraction:
Component
Feed
Distillate
Bottoms
n-butane
0.23
X
0.129
isopentane
0.32
Y
0.3
n-pentane
0.45
0.024
Z
Per 100 moles of feed, find the amount of the distillate and the bottom streams. Complete the
tabulation of the composition.