NPTEL Course

2024
Air Pollution and Control
Week 10 Assignment 10 (Lecture 46 to 50)

Please select the correct option. All questions contain only one correct answer.

1. Calculate the minimum size of the particle that will be removed with 100 percent efficiency from
the gravitational settling chamber under the following conditions:
Air: (i) Horizontal velocity is 1.1 m/s (ii) Temperature is 75⁰C
Particle: (i) Specific gravity = 1.5 (ii) Density of the particle, 𝜌𝑝 = 1.5g/cm3 = 1500 kg/m3
Chamber: (i) Length = 15 m (ii) Height = 1.7 m
At 75⁰C viscosity of air is 2.3 x 10-5 kg/m-s. (Take g = 9.81 m/s-2)

a) 67.9 µm
b) 59.2 µm
c) 35.2 µm
d) 13.9 µm

Solution:

Given Data:

Horizontal velocity, V = 1.1 m/s

Height, h = 1.7 m

Length, L = 15 m

Viscosity of air, µ = 2.3 x 10-5 kg/m-s

Density of the particle, 𝜌𝑝 = 1.5g/cm3 = 1500 kg/m3

1⁄
18𝑉ℎ𝜇 2
𝐷=[ ]
𝐿𝑔(𝜌𝑝 − 𝜌)
1⁄
18 × 1.1 × 1. 7 × 2.3 × 10−5 2
𝐷=[ ]
15 × 9.81 × 1500

𝐷 = 59.2 𝜇𝑚

2. An electrostatic precipitator, in which the collection plate area is 120 m2, collection efficiency is
99.94 %, and the migration velocity is 0.25 m/s, will have the gas flow rate
a) 1.5 m3/s
 b) 4 m3/s
c) 6.7 m3/s
d) 13 m3/s
Solution:
From Deutch-Anderson equation,
𝜔𝐴
(− )
collection efficiency (𝜂) = 1 − ⅇ 𝑄

Putting values, we get

0.25 × 120
(− )
. 9994 = 1 − ⅇ 𝑄

𝑸 = 𝟒 m3/s

3. What is the maximum toluene removal efficiency possible in a refrigeration-type condenser

operating at -100°F if the inlet concentration is 8,000 ppm? Given the outlet partial pressure @ -
100°F for toluene is 0.015 mm Hg.
a) 85 %
b) 90.5 %
c) 95.1 %
d) 99.7 %

Solution:

• Inlet concentration = 10,000 ppm

• Given the outlet partial pressure @ -100°F for toluene = 0.015 mm Hg.

➢ Assuming the outlet gas stream is in equilibrium with the toluene condensate. So, the outlet
partial pressure determines the outlet concentration.

• Conversion of outlet concentration to ppm.

0.015 𝑚𝑚 𝐻𝑔
• Outlet concentration = ( 760 𝑚𝑚 𝐻𝑔 ) (106 𝑝𝑝𝑚) = 19.7 𝑝𝑝𝑚

• 𝑅ⅇ𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑎𝑙 𝐸𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖ⅇ𝑛𝑐𝑦,
(𝐼𝑛 − 𝑂𝑢𝑡) 8,000 − 19.7
𝜂= (100)% = (100)% = 𝟗𝟗. 𝟕𝟓%
𝐼𝑛 8,000
4. Calculate the amount of calcium hydroxide (lime) needed to neutralize the HCl (Hydrochloric
acid) absorbed from a gas stream having 30 ppm HCl and a flow rate of 15,000 SCFM (Standard
Cubic Feet per Minute). Assume an HCl removal efficiency of 98%.
a) 0.04 lb/hr
b) 1.01 lb/hr
c) 2.54 lb/hr
 d) 9.6 lb/hr

Solution:
• To convert SCF (ft3) to lb-mole, 385.4 ft3 /lb-mole is used.
• We know that,
2𝐻𝐶𝑙 + 𝐶𝑎(𝑂𝐻)2 → 2𝐶𝑎 + + 2 𝐶𝑙 − + 2𝐻2 𝑂
• From above equation, it is clear that 1 mole of lime (𝐶𝑎(𝑂𝐻)2 ) is required for the
removal of 2 moles of 𝐻𝐶𝑙
• HCl conc. = 30 ppm = 30 x 10-6 lb-mole HCl
• Flow rate = 15,000 SCFM
• Removal Efficiency = 98%
• The quantity of HCl absorbed in the scrubbing liquid is as follows:
𝑙𝑏−𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 30×10−6 𝑙𝑏−𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝐻𝐶𝑙
• 𝐻𝐶𝑙 = 15,000 𝑆𝐶𝐹𝑀 (385.4 𝑆𝐶𝐹) ( 𝑙𝑏−𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙
) (98%)
= 0.001144 𝑙𝑏 − 𝑚𝑜𝑙ⅇ 𝐻𝐶𝑙/𝑚𝑖𝑛
• 𝐻𝐶𝑙 = 0.001114 𝑙𝑏 − 𝑚𝑜𝑙ⅇ 𝐻𝐶𝑙/𝑚𝑖𝑛
1 𝑙𝑏−𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝐶𝑎(𝑂𝐻)2 0.001114 𝑙𝑏−𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝐻𝐶𝑙 0.000572 𝑙𝑏−𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝐶𝑎(𝑂𝐻)2
• Ca(OH)2 required = ( )( )=
2 𝑙𝑏−𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝐻𝐶𝑙 𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝑖𝑛
𝑙𝑏−𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 74 𝑙𝑏
• Ca(OH)2 required = 0.000572 𝑚𝑖𝑛 (𝑙𝑏−𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒) = 0.0423 𝑙𝑏/𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 𝟐. 𝟕𝟑 𝒍𝒃/𝒉𝒓
5. Which of the following pollutants was added to revision revised National Ambient Air Quality
Standards (NAAQS) of India in 2009?
a) Lead
b) Carbon dioxide
c) Ozone
d) Ammonia
6. According to air quality guidelines of WHO (2021), SO2 concentration (24 hours) has increased
from 20 µg/m3 to ______ µg/m3?
a) 30
b) 40
c) 50
d) 60
7. According to the Ringelmann chart method, a visual assessment method for smoke emissions, if
the Ringelmann number is 4, it represents:
a. 20 % opacity – barely visible smoke
b. 40 % opacity – clearly visible smoke
c. 60 % opacity – somewhat transparent smoke
d. 80 % opacity – barely transparent smoke
8. Which of the following acts serves as an umbrella act under which various rules and notifications
have been framed and issued to take care of the different dimensions of environmental challenge.
 a) Air (Prevention and Control of Air Pollution) Act (Air Act, 1981)
b) Environment (Protection) Act (EPA), 1986
c) National Environment Tribunal Act (NETA), 1995
d) National Environment Appellate Authority (NEAA), 1997
9. If the air quality index of any region is observed to be 384, the air quality of the region is
a) Good
b) Satisfactory
c) Poor
d) Very Poor
10. Which of the following plans aims to achieve national fuel security by promoting hybrid and
electric vehicles in the country.
a) National Electric Mobility Mission Plan
b) National Clean Air Programme
c) National air quality index
d) None of these