SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES

Chemical Engineering

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B47AA

PROCESS INDUSTRIES A

Semester 1 – 2014/15

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Monday, 15th December 2014

Duration: 2 Hours

Instructions to candidates:

Answer ALL questions.

Candidates are expected to make reasonable assumptions where necessary

Where a distribution of marks within a question is shown, this should not be

taken to be definitive but is for guidance only

(A breakdown of marks is provided as a guide within each question)

 B47AA

Answer ALL questions

1. Convert the following quantities:

(a) volumetric flow – 300 barrels/day to litres/min;

(2 Marks)

(b) heat capacity – 160 cal/oz °F to kJ/kg.K;

(3 Marks)

(c) speed – 70 miles/h to m/s.

(2 Marks)

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2. Antigorite [Mg3Si2O5(OH)4] is dissolved in a stirred tank using ammonium

bisulphate [NH4HSO4]. In the reaction, magnesium sulphate, silica and
ammonium sulphate are formed.

The antigorite dissolution reaction is as follows:

Mg3Si2O5(OH)4 + 6 NH4HSO4 →
3 MgSO4 + 2 SiO2 + 3(NH4)2SO4 + 5 H2O

100 kmol/h of antigorite is fed to the stirred tank reactor, ammonium bisulphate is
supplied in stoichiometric proportion and the percentage conversion of antigorite in
the reactor is 60%.

Calculate the following by using the extent of reaction:

(a) the molar flow rate of the NH4HSO4 fed to the reactor;
(1 Mark)

(b) The molar flow rate of each species as they exit the reactor.
(7 Marks)

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3. Oil extracted from the North Sea bed contains 40% crude oil, 50% seawater and
10% sand on a mass basis.

In order to reduce transport costs, the oil is partially separated at sea to remove as
much water and sand as possible. The oil is fed into a separating column and two
streams exit the tank, an oil-rich light stream from the top and a water-rich heavy
stream from the bottom.

(a) Draw the layout of this process.

(3 Marks)

(b) If the flow into the tank is 2000 kg/h, the oil-rich light stream contains no sand
and 10% water by mass and the water-rich heavy stream contains 10% oil by
mass, calculate the flow rate of each component in each of the three
streams, in kg/h.
(6 Marks)

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4. 4400 kg/h propane is burned in air. All of the propane and oxygen fed to the
process react, and both CO2 and CO are formed during the combustion.

(a) Write down the two stoichiometric equations for the combustion of propane
(C3H8) to CO2 and CO.
(3 Marks)

The post-combustion gases contain 7920 kg/h CO2. Using this information,
calculate:
(b) the mass of oxygen supplied per hour;
(6 Marks)

(c) the mass % composition of the post combustion gases (assume air is 21%
O2 and 79% N2 on a molar basis);
(9 Marks)

(d) the selectivity of the reaction with respect to CO2.

(2 Marks)

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5. The Gibbs Phase rule specifies how many thermodynamic degrees of freedom a
closed system at equilibrium possesses - that is, how many properties can be
defined before all other variables become fixed.

(a) State the Gibbs phase rule, defining all symbols.

(3 Marks)

(b) Calculate the number of degrees of freedom in the following systems:

(i) shale gas containing methane, hydrogen and carbon dioxide;

(2 Marks)

(ii) A liquid solution of sodium hydroxide in water.

(2 Marks)

(iii) A mixture of solid ice, liquid water and water vapour.

(3 Marks)

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6. A storage tank contains 1.2 kg of helium (He) and 1 kg of oxygen (O 2) at -15°C.

The tank volume is 5 m3. Assuming ideal gas behaviour:

(a) calculate the number of moles of each component;

(3 Marks)

(b) calculate the mole fraction of each component;

(3 Marks)

(c) estimate the total pressure inside the tank.

(5 Marks)

Gas Constant, R, is 8.314 x 10-5 bar m3 mol-1 K-1.

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7. In the separation process illustrated below, fresh feed stream F consists of 20% A
and 80% B on a mass basis. F mixes with recycle stream R to produce mixed
stream M, which enters the separator. The mass ratio of A:B in stream M is 2:3.
Product stream P, which leaves the separator at 100 kg/h, is pure A, while waste
stream W is 5 mass % A. Recycle stream R is 80 mass % A.

F M W
Separator

(a) Find all unknown stream flow rates.

(13 Marks)

(b) Calculate the recycle ratio.

(2 Marks)

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8. Butane (C4H10) is fed to a furnace and combusted with excess air. The stack gas
leaving the furnace consists of 6.2% oxygen, 8% carbon dioxide and 0.53%
carbon monoxide on a molar basis. Assume that air is 21 mole % O2 and
79 mole % N2.

(a) Write down the two stoichiometric equations for the combustion of butane to
CO2 and CO.
(3 Marks)

(b) Find the composition of the stack gas on a mole percentage basis.
(13 Marks)

(c) Find the percentage excess oxygen supplied and the percentage conversion
of butane.
(4 Marks)

END OF PAPER

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