Material Balances without

Reactions: Multiple-unit Balances;

Recycle, By-pass and Purge
Module 05

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Learning Outcomes
q Perform overall and unit mass balance calculations on multiple-unit
systems
q Perform mass balance calculations on multiple- effect evaporation
systems
q Perform mass balance calculations on recycle, bypass, purge
systems

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Multiple-Unit Balances
Overall
balance Unit
balance
Mixing
point Splitting
point

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Sample Problem 01
• How will we solve for the flow rates and compositions of (1), (2) and
(3)?

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Multiple-Unit Balances: Multiple-effect Evaporation
• Evaporator unit – “effect”
• electricity or steam
• Steam side:
• Heat exchangers: steam enters tubes/coils, transfers heat to the solution, condenses, and
exits as liquid water
Mass of steam in = mass of condensed water out
• Solution side:
• Liquid solution boils
• Water converted to vapor – can be used as source of heat for another evaporator (multiple-
effect)
Mass feed = mass product + mass water evaporated

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Sample Problem 02
• A triple-effect evaporator concentrates a 10% caustic soda to 50%
NaOH. Assuming equal amounts of evaporation in each effect,
calculate the concentration of the solution leaving each effect.

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Recycle, Bypass, and Purge
• Recycle
• Part of the product is returned and mixed with the feed entering a process
equipment
• Enhance yield
• Product with minimum impurities
• Energy conservation
• Better control of product quality

recycle stream

feed product

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Recycle, Bypass, and Purge
• Mass Balances around a process involving a recycle stream

E
1
2
3 4
A B C D

•A=D
•B=C
•E+A=B
•C=D+E

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Sample Problem 03
In a pilot process, a sticky material containing 80% water is to be dried.
To facilitate the operation, a part of the dried product containing 5%
water is recycled and mixed with the feed. If the material entering the
drier contains 30% water, calculate
(a)the kg water removed per 2000 kg fresh feed, and
(b)the recycle-to-feed ratio.

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Recycle, Bypass, and Purge
• Bypass
• A stream skips one or more stages of the process and goes directly to another
stage
• Useful to attain precise control of concentration
• Energy conservation
• Smaller-sized equipment is needed compared to that of a recycle stream

bypass stream

net
feed

feed product

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Recycle, Bypass, and Purge
• Mass Balances around a process involving a bypass stream
E
1
2
3 4
A B C D

•A=D
•B=C
•A=E+B
•C+E=D

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Sample Problem 04
• In the feedstock preparation section of a plant manufacturing
gasoline, isopentane is removed from butane-free gasoline. What
fraction of the butane-free gasoline is passed through the isopentane
tower?

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Recycle, Bypass, and Purge
• Purge
• A stream is bled off to remove an accumulation of inerts or unwanted material
that might otherwise build up in the recycle stream

recycle stream purge stream

feed product

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Summary
• By now you should have learned
üHow to solve Multiple-Unit Balances
üHow to draw flow diagrams for problems involving recycle, bypass, and purge
streams
üHow to perform material balances on processes with recycle, bypass, and
purge streams

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