BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY & SCIENCE

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING GROUP

I Semester 2007-08
Course Title: Selected Chemical Engineering Operations (CHE C431)
Comprehensive Examination (Close Book)
Marks: 75 Date: 01/12/07 Time: 2 Hrs

Note: Answer all questions in sequence (1 to 7). Write all assumptions and steps
clearly.

1. (2+2+1+3+2 = 10 Marks)
Describe the following terms:
(a) Ostwald ripening phenomena
(b) Physical significance of sigma value
(c) Stage cut in membrane separation
(d) Concentration Polarization
(e) Angle of Repose

2. (2+3+3+3+2+3+4 = 20 Marks)
Give precise answers for the following questions.
(a) If two identical cyclones are used in series to get more complete solid
removal, but the efficiency of the second unit is less than the first, why?
(b) Explain the principle of Gel Permeation Chromatography for the separation of
two polymers having different molecular weight.
(c) Describe the resistances offered in liquid-liquid extraction by hydrophilic
membrane.
(d) Explain the principles of clarification.
(e) What are the advantages of bottom opening over the side opening in bins and
silos?
(f) Why is the temperature of the growing crystal (Tc) observed to be slightly
more than the temperature of the supersaturated solution (T)?
(g) Starting with the material balance over filter, derive that the mass of dry
matter (mc) deposited on the filter per m3 of filtrate, in any filtration process, is
given by the following relationship:
mc   .x /(1  m.x), where   density of filtrate, kg/m 3 ;
x  kg of dry matter/kg of suspension ; m  kg of wet cake/kg of dry matter

3. (5 Marks)
Explain the drying rate curve for “porous solid” region wise.

4. (8 Marks)
A feed solution of 2268 kg at 327.6 K containing 48.2 kg MgSO 4/100 kg total
water is cooled to 293.2 K where MgSO4.7H2O crystals are removed. The
solubility of the salt is 35.5 kg MgSO 4/100 kg total water. The average heat
capacity of the feed solution can be assumed as 2.93 kJ/kg K. The heat of solution
at 291.2 K is -13.31 × 10 3 kJ/kgmole MgSO4.7H2O. Calculate the yield of crystals
 and make a heat balance to determine the total heat absorbed, assuming that no
water is evaporated.

5. (12 Marks)
A mixture of galena (specific gravity = 7.5) and silica (specific gravity = 2.65)
particles has a size range of 5.21 x 10-6 to 2.5 x 10-5 m and is to be separated by a
rising stream of water at 293.2 K. To obtain an uncontaminated product of galena
and silica, what is the terminal velocity of particle is needed and what is the size
range of the pure product? Use density of water = 998 kg/m 3 and viscosity of
water = 1.005 x 10-3 Pa.s.

6. (12 Marks)
A slurry containing 5 kg of water per kg of solids is to be thickened to a sludge
containing 1.5 kg of water per kg of solids in a continuous operation. Laboratory
tests using five different concentrations of the slurry yielded the following results:
Concentration (kg water/kg solids) 5.0 4.2 3.7 3.1 2.5
Rate of Sedimentation (mm/s) 0.2 0.12 0.094 0.07 0.05
Calculate the minimum area of a thickener to effect the separation of 1.33 kg of
solids per second.

7. (8 Marks)
Derive an expression for overall effectiveness of a screen.
A ball mill operating in closed circuit with 100-mesh screen produces one ton per
hour of dolomite. The screen analysis (in weight percent) is given below.
calculate:
(a) the total load to the crusher,
(b) the effectiveness of the screen
Screen Analysis:
Mesh Feed (%) Oversize (%) Undersize (%)
35 7.07 13.67 0
48 16.6 32.09 0
65 14.02 27.12 2.00
100 11.82 20.70 2.32
150 9.07 4.35 14.32
200 7.62 2.07 13.34
- 200 33.80 0 68.02
100.0 100.0 100
 BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY & SCIENCE
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING GROUP
I Semester 2007-08
Course Title: Selected Chemical Engineering Operations (CHE C431)
Comprehensive Examination (Open Book)
Marks: 35 Date: 01/12/07 Time: 1 Hrs

Note: Answer all questions in sequence (1 to 2). Write all assumptions and steps
clearly.

1. (20 Marks)
When an aqueous slurry is filtered in a plate and frame press, fitted with two 50 mm
thick frames each 150 mm square at 450 kN/m 2, the frames are filled in 3500 sec.
The liquid in the slurry has same density as water. The slurry is then filtered in a
perforate basket centrifuge with a basket 300 mm diameter and 200 mm deep. If the
radius of the inner surface of the slurry is maintained constant at 75 mm and the
speed of rotation is 65 Hz, how long will it take to produce as much filtrate as was
obtained from a single cycle of operations with the filter press?

2. (15 Marks)
Data for drying nitrogen with molecular sieve type 4A are given. Calculate the
saturation capacity from the breakthrough curve, and determine the length of
unused bed based on a break-point concentration c/c0 of 0.05:
Temperature = 790F; Total length of the bed = 1.44 ft; Pressure = 86 psia; density of
bed = 44.5 lb/ft3; N2 feed = 29.2 mol/h-ft2 and initial concentration, c0 = 1490 ppm.

Time, h c, ppm
0 0
10 0
15 0
15.4 5
15.6 26
15.8 74
16 145
16.2 260
16.4 430
16.6 610
16.8 798
17 978
17.2 1125
17.6 1355
18 1465
18.5 1490

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