Complex Engineering Problem

Chemical Engineering Mathematics

Session 2017
Deadline for submission: 10th December 2019

Problem statement:
You are required to apply the mathematics for the solution of the given chemical engineering
problem. An acid with flow rate of 1.20 kg/s is to be cooled. For this purpose, a countercurrent
cooler of the following type is to be used. Hot acid at 174 0C is fed to a tank where it is well
stirred in contact with cooling coils. The continuous discharge from this tank at 88 0C flows to a
second stirred tank and leaves at 45 0C. Cooling water at 20 0C flows into the coil of the second
tank and then to the coil of the first tank. The water is at 80 0C as it leaves the coil of the hot
acid tank. The heat capacities of the liquid acid and water are 1500 J/kg 0C and 4200 J/kg 0C
respectively. The intermediate water temperature between the two tanks is 40 0C. The capacity
of each tank is 4500 kg of acid. The overall coefficient of heat transfer in the hot tank is 1150
W/m2 0C and in the colder tank is 750 W/m2 0C. Due to trouble in the supply, the cooling water
suddenly stopped. The water rate before failure of supply is 0.96 kg/s.

Tasks to perform;
1. Draw the schematic diagram of the above mentioned two-stage countercurrent cooler with
the proper labeling of the inlet, outlet and intermediate streams.
2. Formulate the ordinary differential equation (energy balance) for each tank (tank 1 and tank
2).
3. Solve the formulated equations to determine;
3.1. To what temperatures would the contents of each tank rise if due to trouble in the
supply, the cooling water suddenly stopped for 1 hr?
3.2. If the flow rate of acid is 1.25 kg/s instead of 1.20 kg/s, to what temperatures would the
contents of each tank rise if due to trouble in the supply, the cooling water suddenly
stopped for 1 hr?
4. Create an Excel/MATLAB program based on the above problem statement.
5. Using the created Excel/MATLAB program, perform again the tasks 3.1 and 3.2.
6. With the help of the created Excel/MATLAB program, plot the following graphs;
6.1. Between the temperature rise of the tank contents and time (keeping the flowrate of
acid constant at 1.25 kg/s).
6.2. Between the temperature rise of the tank contents and acid flow rate (keeping the time
constant at 1 hr)