UNIVERSITI KUALA LUMPUR

MALAYSIAN INSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL

& BIOENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

Project 2

OCTOBER SEMESTER 2023

COURSE CODE : CCB 30403

COURSE : Numerical Methods in Chemical Engineering

DURATION : 2 WEEKS
STUDENT NAME
:
AND ID NO
STUDENT NAME
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AND ID NO
STUDENT NAME
:
AND ID NO
CLO Marks
1 (15 marks)
2 (20 marks)
3 (15 marks)

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES:
1. This question booklet contains a total of ONE (1) question.
2. Answer ALL questions.
3. Maximum 3 students in 1 group
5. Upload your word and PDF report in your VLE with your supporting
documents (Excel/Matlab/other)
6. Due date: 15th February 2024

ATTENTION: MARKS WILL BE DEDUCTED FOR LATE SUBMISSION

Question 1 (CLO 1, CLO 2, CLO 3)
As an engineer, you are required to ascertain that the rule of thumb in this problem is
the result of an optimization of the L/D ratio for the operation of a binary distillation
column with appropriate numerical method and software. The rule of thumb is about
the minimum reflux ratio (L/D) to operate with 1.2 times the minimum given by Fenske
equation below:

Eq. (1)
The objective function consists of the operating cost of the binary distillation column
involving the annualized investment cost and the energy in the boiler:
Eq. (2)

Consider the operation of a distillation column for 100 kmol/s feed (F), where xd = 0.85,
xw = 0.05 and xf =0.4. The feed to the column is saturated liquid. Assume constant
relative volatility, α equal to 2.3. The mean operating temperature, Temp is assumed
to be 70°C and 1 atm of Pressure. The liquid in the boiler has a λ = 800 kJ/kmol.
McCabe-Thiele method is needed to compute the number of theoretical trays (Ntrays),
where the equilibrium composition, yeq is given by:
Eq. (3)

The Investment cost of the column as the cost of the steel is given by:
𝐷𝑖𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 2
𝐼𝑛𝑣𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 = (𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 + 𝑁𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑦𝑠 ∙ 𝜋 ∙ ( ) ) ∙ 𝑤𝑖𝑑𝑡ℎ ∙ 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 ∙ 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑡𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑒𝑙 Eq. (4)
2

where, steel density is assumed to be 8000 kg/m3, the cost of the steel (coststeel) is RM
20/kg and Area of the vessel, assuming spherical ends as:

Eq. (5)
The height of the column is given by the number of trays (Ntrays), considered separated
by 0.6 m with 1 m below and 1 m above the last and first trays:

Eq. (6)
The efficiency of the theoretical trays (eff) is assumed to be 0.75.
The Diameter of the tower as:

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CCB 30403 NUMERICAL METHODS IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
 Eq. (7)
where,

The width (width) of the steel is:

Eq. (8)

where, P is the operating pressure (psi), E the welding efficiency (0.8), and S is the
tensor stress for the materials, 12000 psi with 3.2 mm for corrosion allowance.
The energy in the boiler is given by:
𝐿 (𝑥 −𝑥𝑤 ) 1
𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 = 𝜆 × (1 + 𝐷) × 𝐹 × ((𝑥𝑓 −𝑥 )) × 𝜆 × 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑡𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑚 Eq. (9)
𝑑 𝑤 𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑚

where, coststeam= RM 0.1/kg and λsteam = 1800 kJ/kg.

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CCB 30403 NUMERICAL METHODS IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
 PLO Unsatisfactory (0) Poor (3.75) Average (7.5) Good (11.25) Excellent (15) MARKS
ENGINEERING There is no evidence that There is inadequate There is sufficient Mathematics, science and There is advanced and well-
mathematics, science and mathematics, science and mathematics, science and engineering theories and defined mathematics,
KNOWLEDGE [PLO1] engineering theories and
PROJECT (CLO 1 - PLO 1)
engineering theories and engineering theories and principals are clearly science and engineering
principals are considered. principals to solve the principals to solve the explained and applied to theories and principals
KEY POINTS ------------------------------ complex engineering complex engineering solve complex engineering applied to solve the
• Apply knowledge of Consideration to solve the problem. problem. problem. complex engineering
complex engineering ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------ problem.
mathematics, science &
problem numerically is Consideration to solve the Consideration to solve the Consideration to solve the ------------------------------
engineering below expectation. complex engineering complex engineering complex engineering Consideration to solve the
• Solution of complex problem numerically is problem numerically is problem numerically is complex engineering
chemical engineering unclearly explained. sufficiently explained. clearly explained. problem numerically is
problems exceptionally elaborated.

Apply an appropriate numerical method for a particular

Apply knowledge of mathematics, natural science, engineering fundamentals and
ENGINEERING problem of interpolation, integration, as well as for
PLO1 chemical engineering as specified in WK1 to WK4 respectively to the solution of CLO1 solving single nonlinear equations and linear systems of
KNOWLEDGE complex chemical engineering problems
equations. (C3)
PLO Unsatisfactory (0) Poor (5) Average (10) Good (15) Excellent (20) MARKS
PROBLEM ANALYSIS Problem analysis is Problem analysis has been Problem analysis has been Problem analysis is Problem analysis is clearly
significantly below unclearly stated and sufficiently stated and generally well written and stated and comprehensively
[PLO2] expectation explained. explained. structured explained.
PROJECT (CLO 2 - PLO 2)

----------------------------------- ----------------------------------- ----------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

KEY POINTS The description of the The description of the The description of the The description of the The description of the
• Identify, formulate, numerical solution has not numerical solution is numerical solution is numerical solution is numerical solution has
addressed the complexity of unclearly addressed the sufficiently addressed the generally addressed the clearly addressed the
research, analyse
engineering problem. complexity of the complexity of the complexity of the complexity of engineering
• Complex engineering ----------------------------------- engineering problem. engineering problem. engineering problem. problem.
problems No such first principles of ----------------------------------- ----------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------
• First principles of maths, science & Unclear first principles of Sufficient first principles of The first principles of The first principles of
maths, science & engineering have been used maths, science & maths, science & maths, science & maths, science &
to explain the numerical engineering have been used engineering have been used engineering have been engineering have clearly
engineering
solution. to explain the numerical to explain the numerical generally utilized to explain been utilized to explain the
solution. solution. the numerical solution. numerical solution.

Identify, formulate, conduct research literature and analyse complex chemical

PLO2 PROBLEM ANALYSIS engineering problems reaching substantiated conclusions using first principles of CLO2 Solve engineering problems using numerical method. (C4)
mathematics, natural sciences and engineering sciences (WK1 to WK4)

PLO Unsatisfactory (0) Poor (3.75) Average (7.5) Good (11.25) Excellent (15) MARKS
MODERN TOOL There is no evidence of any Modern tool usage is so Modern tool usage is Modern tool usage is Modern tool usage is
modern tool usage poorly applied. sufficiently applied to solve generally well applied to exceptionally elaborated
USAGE [PLO5]
PROJECT (CLO 3 - PLO 5)

considered. ------------------------------------- the problem. solve the problem. and applied to solve
----------------------------------- Modern tool usage is ------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ complex chemical
KEY POINTS The limitations of modern inadequately used with Modern tool usage is Modern tool usage is engineering problem.
• Create, select & apply tool used not been insufficient engineering sufficiently used with clearly used with -----------------------------------
considered. consideration. acceptable engineering appropriate engineering The limitations of modern
appropriate techniques,
----------------------------------- consideration. consideration. tool used has been
resources & tools The limitations of modern ----------------------------------- ----------------------------------- completely discussed and
• Complex engineering tool used has been The limitations of modern The limitations of modern recommendations were
activities, with an unclearly discussed. tool used has been tool used has been clearly made.
understanding of sufficiently discussed. discussed.

limitations

MODERN TOOL Create, select and apply appropriate techniques, resources, and modern engineering
PLO5 and IT tools, including prediction and modelling, to complex chemical engineering CLO3 Use software to solve numerical problems. (C3)
USAGE problems, with an understanding of the limitations (WK6);

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CCB 30403 NUMERICAL METHODS IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING