SEPTEMBER 2014 CONFIDENTIAL

ASSIGNMENT (5%)
SECTION : L01-T6
Answer ALL questions

Question 1

(a) An equation to express the Boltzmann’s constant is given as follows.

Nb −V ×g×h
ln =
Na (υ 2 −υ1 )×k×T
Where: Nb and Na = Number of particles, V = Volume, g = Gravitational acceleration,
h = Distance, ν2 and ν1 = Specific volume, T = Absolute temperature, and
k = Boltzmann’s constant (unit J/K).
Determine whether the equation is dimensionally homogenous.
(10 marks)
(b) A mixture with average molecular weight of 51.2 contains 30.0 wt% acetone ,
acetaldehyde, and acetic acid. It is found that the volume of acetone as 150.0 ft 3.

i. Solve the mass fractions for acetaldehyde and acetic acid in the mixture.
(4 marks)
ii. Determine the number of moles (in lbmol) of each compound in the mixture.
(7 marks)
3
iii. Solve the volume of acetaldehyde and acetic acid (in ft ).
(4 marks)

Question 2

(a) The density of a fluid can be represented by the equation below

−5
ρ=45.0exp(5.77×10 P)
Where; ρ is the density (in kg/m3) and P is the pressure (in N/m2).

i. Identify the units of 45.0 and 5.77 × 10-5.

(2 marks)
3
ii. Derive a formula for the density, ρ (in lbm/ft ) above as a function of P (in psi).
(5 marks)

CLB 10904 CHEMICAL PROCESS PRINCIPLES 1

SEPTEMBER 2014 CONFIDENTIAL

iii. Calculate the density of the fluid (in lbm/ft3) if the pressure is 15.0 psi.
(2 marks)
(b) 0.5 kmol of ethane (C2H6) at 130C is placed in a 0.2 m 3 cylinder. Determine the
gauge pressure inside the cylinder using Soave-Redlich-Kwong equation of state
with the assumption C2H6 is a non-ideal gas and the atmospheric pressure as 1 atm.
(10 marks)
(c) Humid air at 88C and 1 atm with relative humidity of 95% is cooled to 27C at
constant pressure. Solve the dew point and degrees of superheat of the air at 88C.
(6 marks)

Question 3

A condenser is used to condense substances from gaseous to liquid state, typically by cooling it.
In this problem, a stream of humid air (58.0 mol% water) enters a condenser at 150C.
80% of the water vapor in the humid air is condensed and removed as pure liquid water.
Both gas and liquid phase streams leave the condenser at 30C. N2 gas leave the condenser
at the rate of 5.18 mol/s. Air consists of 21 mol% O2 and the balance N2.

(a) Draw and label a flowchart of the process.

(4 marks)
(b) Solve the total flow rate of the feed stream and both streams leaving the condenser.
(3 marks)
(c) Taking [N2 (g, 30C), O2 (g, 30C), and H2O (g, 30C)] as reference for enthalpy
calculations, prepare and fill in the inlet-outlet enthalpy table and calculate the heat
transferred to or from the condenser in kilowatts (Neglect the effects of pressure
changes on enthalpies).
(18 marks)

CLB 10904 CHEMICAL PROCESS PRINCIPLES 2

SEPTEMBER 2014 CONFIDENTIAL

Question 4

(a) In a large-scale steam methane (CH4) reforming plant, liquid H2O at 25C is first
evaporated at a rate of 1.50 m3/min. N2 gas is also feed to the evaporator at 25C
and absolute pressure of 250.0 kPa to avoid CH 4 combustion, which can be harmful.
The stream leaving the evaporator is mixed with a CH 4 stream before entering compressor.
The CH4 stream flows in at 25.0 m3/min at 25C and gauge pressure of 150.0 kPa.
The gases are subsequently compressed to a total absolute pressure of 500.0 kPa
at 200C and N2 must leave the compressor at an absolute pressure of 350.0 kPa.
In addition, the ratio of the molar flow rate of N 2 to H2O at the outlet stream leaving
the compressor is 5.0. The diagram of this evaporation-compression process is
shown below in Figure 2. Assume ideal gas behavior for the gas compounds and the
atmospheric pressure as 1 atm.

N2
Compressor
CH4
Evaporator
H2O H2O
N2

CH4
Figure 2

i. Solve the molar flow rate of H2O prior entering into the evaporator and molar
flow rate of CH4 prior entering into the compressor.
(6 marks)
ii. Calculate the molar composition (mol%) of H 2O, N2, and CH4 in the stream
leaving the compressor.
(6 marks)
iii. Determine the volumetric flow rate of N2 prior entering the evaporator.
(6 marks)
(b) A vapor mixture consist of 55 mol% 1-Propanol (C 3H8O) and 2-Propanol (C3H8O) is in
equilibrium with its liquid mixture at 70°C. The gas-liquid mixture exhibits ideal solution
behavior. Determine the system pressure and the composition of the liquid mixture.
(7 marks)

CLB 10904 CHEMICAL PROCESS PRINCIPLES 3

SEPTEMBER 2014 CONFIDENTIAL

Question 5

In the first step of the nitric acid production, ammonia (NH 3) must be oxidized with excess
air to form nitric oxide (NO) and H 2O. However, NH 3 oxidation also produces N 2 and H2O
in another reaction. 5000.0 kmol/hr of NH 3 enters the reactor at 25°C and 1 atm.
On the other hand, the air enters at 200°C and 1 atm at the rate of 6100.0 kmol/hr
(assume air consists of 21 mol% O2 and the balance N2). The gas mixtures exits the reactor
at 800°C and 1 atm with N 2 gas leaving the reactor at the rate of 5000.0 kmol/hr.
Selectivity of the desired, NO relative to the undesired, N 2 is 0.16.

4 NH3 ( g )+5 O 2 ( g )→4 NO ( g )+6 H 2 O ( v )

3
2 NH3 ( g )+ O 2 ( g )→N 2 ( g )+3 H 2 O ( v )
2

(a) Draw and label a flowchart of the process.

(3 marks)
(b) Solve the molar flow rate of NH 3 and O2 gases leaving the reactor using extent of
reaction method.
(7 marks)
(c) Taking elemental species [O2 (g), H2 (g), and N2 (g)] at 25°C and 1 atm as reference
for enthalpy calculations, fill in and complete the inlet-outlet enthalpy table below
(Table 1) and subsequently calculate the heat transferred to or from the reactor in
kilowatts.

Table 1 Inlet-outlet enthalpy table

INPUT OUTPUT
Substance
nin (kmol/hr) Hin (kJ/mol) nout (kmol/hr) Hout (kJ/mol)
N2 (g) 5.13 23.86
O2 (g) 5.31 25.35
NH3 (g)
H2O (v)
NO (g)

(15 marks)
END OF QUESTION

CLB 10904 CHEMICAL PROCESS PRINCIPLES 4

SEPTEMBER 2014 CONFIDENTIAL

APPENDICES

A. List Of Formulations
ρi g kg lbm
1. SGi= ; ρref =1 . 000 3
=1000 . 0 3 =62 . 43 3
ρref cm m ft
1 x
2. M̄=∑ y i M i ; =∑ i
M̄ Mi
3 .n i=n io +νi ζ
Reactant input to process −Reactant output from process
4 . Overall Conversion= ×100 %
Reactant input to process
Reactant input to reactor −Reactant output from reactor
5 . Single-Pass Conversion= ×100 %
Reactant input to reactor
(nair , feed )−(nair ,theoretical ) n−n s
6 . % Excess Air= ×100 %; % Excess = ×100 %
(nair , theoretical ) ns
7 . Q̇−Ẇ s = Δ Ḣ+ Δ Ėk +Δ Ė p
T2
8 . Δ H=
^ ∫ C p (T )dT
T1
9 . Δ Ḣ=∑ ṅi H^ i −∑ ṅ i H^ i
out in
10 . ΔH =ξΔ H^ 0r + ∑ n out H^ out −∑ nin H^ in
out in
|n A , out−n A , in|
11. ξ=
|v A|
12. PV =nRT ; P V^ =zRT
V V^ Pc
13 . V^ = ;V ideal =
n r RT c
P T
14 . P r = ;T r =
Pc Tc
RT αa
The SRK equation of state: P= −
V^ −b V^ ( V^ +b)
( RT c )2 RT 2
a=0 . 42747 ;b=0 . 08664 c ;m=0. 48508+1 . 55171ω−0 . 1561ω 2 ;α=[ 1+m(1−√ T r ) ]
Pc Pc
P V^ B
The virial equation of state truncated after the second term: =1+
RT V^
RT c 0 . 422 0 . 172
B= (B o +ωB1 ); Bo =0. 083− ;B1 =0 . 139−
Pc T 1 .6 T 4 .2
r r

CLB 10904 CHEMICAL PROCESS PRINCIPLES 5

SEPTEMBER 2014 CONFIDENTIAL

¿
15 . pi = y i P= pi(T )
16 . pi = y i P= p¿i(T )
dewpoint
¿
17 . p A = y A P=x p A A(T )
18 . p A = y A P=x A H A(T )
p
19 . sr (hr )= i¿ ¿100%
pi( T )

B. Gas Constant

m3 . Pa. L . bar. L . atm L . mmHg

R=8. 314 =0 .08314 =0 . 08206 =62 .36
mol . K mol . K mol . K mol . K
3 3
ft . atm ft . psia
=0 .7302 =10 . 73
lb mol . o R lb mol . o R
cal J Btu
=1. 987 =8 .3144 =1 .987
mol . K mol . K lb mol . o R

C. Standard Conditions for Gases

System Ts Ps Vs ns
3
SI 273 K 1 atm 0.022415 m 1 mol
CGS 273 K 1 atm 22.415 L 1 mol
3
American Engineering 492˚R 1 atm 359.05 ft 1 Ib-mole

D. Pitzer Acentric Factors

Compound Acentric Factor, ω
Ammonia 0.250
Argon -0.004
Carbon dioxide 0.225
Carbon monoxide 0.049
Chlorine 0.073
Ethane 0.098
Hydrogen sulfide 0.100
Methane 0.008
Methanol 0.559
Nitrogen 0.040
Oxygen 0.021
Propane 0.152
Sulfur dioxide 0.251
Water 0.344
E. Factors For Unit Conversions

CLB 10904 CHEMICAL PROCESS PRINCIPLES 6

SEPTEMBER 2014 CONFIDENTIAL

Quantity Equivalent Values

Mass 1 kg = 1000 g = 0.001 metric ton = 2.20462 lbm = 35.27392 oz

1 lbm = 16 oz = 5 x 10–4 ton = 453.593 g = 0.453593 kg

Length 1m = 100 cm = 1000 mm = 106 microns (m) = 1010 angstroms (Å)

= 39.37 in = 3.2808 ft = 1.0936 yd = 0.0006214 mile
1 ft = 12 in = 1/3 yd = 0.3048 m = 30.48 cm

Volume 1 m3 = 1000 liters = 106 cm3 = 106 ml

= 35.3145 ft3 = 220.83 imperial gallons = 264.17 gal
= 1056.68 qt
1ft3 = 1728 in3 = 7.4805 gal = 0.028317 m3 = 28.317 liters
= 28 317 cm3

Force 1N = 1 kg.m/s2 = 105 dynes = 105 g.cm/s2 = 0.22481 lbf

1 lbf = 32.174 lbm.ft/s2 = 4.4482 N = 4.4482 x 105 dynes

Pressure 1 atm = 1.01325 x 105 N/m2 (Pa) = 101.325 kPa = 1.01325 bars
= 1.01325 x 106 dynes/cm2
= 760 mm Hg at 0C (torr) = 10.333 m H2O at 4C
= 14.696 lbf/in2 (psi) = 33.9 ft H2O at 4C
= 29.921 in Hg at 0C

Energy 1J = 1 N.m = 107 ergs = 107 dyne.cm

= 2.778 x 10-7 kW.h = 0.23901 cal
= 0.7376 ft-lbf = 9.486 x 10 - 4 Btu

Power 1W = 1 J/s = 0.23901 cal/s = 0.7376 ft.lbf/s = 9.486 x 10–4 Btu/s

= 1.341 x 10 - 3 hp

Temperature T(K) = T(C) + 273.15

T(F) = 1.8 T(C) + 32
T(R) = T(F) + 459.67
T(R) = 1.8 T(K)

CLB 10904 CHEMICAL PROCESS PRINCIPLES 7