COVERAGE: SEPARATIONS TECHNOLOGY

1. It is desired to absorb 95% of the acetone in a 2% mol mixture of acetone in air in a countercurrent bubble cap tower using 20%
more than the minimum water rate. Pure water is used in the top of the column. Find the number of equilibrium stages required
for this separation, using the data below:
Y=2.53x at 800F and 1 atm
Terminal compositions:

TOP BOTTOM
X2 =0 X1 = 0.00658
Y2 = 0.00102 Y1=0.02

Solution:

y1*= 2.53x1
=2.53 (.00658)
= 0.01665

0.00102−0
log( )
0.2−0.01665
N= = 9.08 ≈ 9 stages
0−0.01665
log ⁡( )
0.00102−0.02

2. One hundred moles per hour of solution containing 80 moles of A, the rest B is subjected to a simple continuous distillation. D
moles of distillate containing 72 moles A is obtained. If A is five times more volatile than B, the concentration of A in the
distillate is
Given:
D
72 mol A
F, 100 mol/hr
80 mol A
20 mol B

* A is five times more

volatile than B
B
Required: Concn of A in 8mol A D
Solution:
α=
5B =5
B CMB:
nb na 1/α
=( )
nob noa 20 = 12.6191 + DB
nb 8 1/5
=( ) DB = 7.3809
20 80
72
nb= 12.6191 CA= = 0.9070
72+7.3809

3. At a temperature of 366.4K, the vapor pressure of n-hexane and octane are 1480 and 278 mm Hg, respectively. Assume the
hexane-octane system obeys Raoult’s Law and the total pressure is 1 atm. Calculate the equilibrium liquid composition in mole
fraction of the more volatile component.

Solution:
Since 1480 mmHg > 278 mmHg, n-hexane is the more volatile component.
Let: A = n-hexane; B = octane
PT = PA + PB 760 = (1480)(X) + (278)(1 – X)
PA = PAo XA (Raoult’s Law) X = 0.4010
PB = PBo (1 – XA) (Raoult’s Law)
PT = 1 atm = 760 mmHg; PAo = 1480 mmHg; PBo = 278 mmHg
4. A solution is to be concentrated from 10 to 65% solids in a vertical long tube evaporator. The solution has a negligible elevation
of boiling point and its specific heat can be taken to be the same as that of water. Steam is available at 203.6 kPa, and the
condenser operates at 13.33 kPa. The feed enters the evaporator at 295K. The total evaporation is to be 25,000 kg/h of water.
Overall heat transfer coefficient is 2800 W/m2-K. Calculate the heat transfer required in kW.

Solution:

From steam table:

@ 13.33 kPa: Twater vapor = 325 K

@ 203.6 kPa: Tsteam = 394 K

@ 325 K: λvapor = 2375 kJ/kg

@ 394 K: λsteam = 2198 kJ/kg

25,000
Evaporation = 25,000 kg/h = = 6.944 kg/s
3,600
Let: F = feed; B = thick liquor

Solids Bal: F(0.1) = B(0.65)

Water Bal: F(0.9) = B(0.35) + 6.944

Solving the equations simultaneously: F = 8.21 kg/s; B = 1.26 kg/s

Q = 6.944(2375) + 8.21(4.1868)(325 – 295)

= 17,523 kW
ΔT = 394 – 325 = 69 K
17,523 kW
A= kW = 90.7 m2
(69 K )(2.8 )
m2K
kJ s
(17,523 )(3,600 )
s h
Steam consumption = = 28,700 kg/h
kJ
2198
kg
5. An evaporator is used to concentrate 10,000 lb/h of a 20% solution of NaOH in water at 140°F using saturated steam at 25 psia at a
rate of 7,000 lb/h. The OHTC is 275 Btu/h-ft2-°F when the pressure in the vapor is 1.7 psia. What is the steam economy?

Given:

Feed, F Vapor, V
mF= 10,000 lb/h Psat = 1.7 psia
xF = 0.20  OHTC = 275 Btu/h-ft2-°F
Tsat = 100F
TF = 140°F

Sat’d Steam, S
ms = 7,000 lb/h
Psat = 25 psia

Product, P
Solution:
From Figure 8.4-3 (Geankoplis)

Enthalpies: (assume: xp = 0.50)

Tv [Tsat = 100°F, Xp = 0.50]

Hf [Xf = 0.20, T = 140°F] = 92 BTU/lbm

Hp[Xp = 0.50, T = 171°F] = 201 BTU/lbm

Hv = Hsat + Cpgas(ΔTBPR)

kj 1K 1 kg BTU
= 1105.1 BTU/lbm + [1.884 (171−100)° F( )( )( )]
kg−K 1.8 ° F 2.204 lbm 1054.4 kJ
= 1105.13 BTU/lbm

λ = 894.8 BTU/lbm

mfHf + ms λs = mvHv + mpHp

10,000 lb/h(92 BTU/lb) + 7000 lb/h(894.8 BTU/lb) = mv(1105.13 BTU/lb) + mp(201 BTU/lb)

TMB:

10,000 lb/h = mp + mv

mp = 4277.82 lb/h

mv = 5722.19 lb/h

water removed 5722.19lb/h

Steam Economy = = = 0.8175
steam used 7000lb /h

6. An adiabatic dryer is used to dry a wet material. The drying air enters at 380.7 K and 101.3 kPa with a dew point of 298 K.
Measurements show that 2.25 kg of water is evaporated per 100 m3 of wet inlet air. Calculate the humidity of air entering the dryer.

Given:

Water removed = 2.25 kg/100 m3 wet inlet air

T1 = 380.7 K
P1 = 101.3 kPa
Tdew = 298 K
Solution:

Handbook: (Psychrometric Chart)

H1 [T1 = 380.7 K (dry bulb temperature, Tdew = 298 K] = 0.02 kg water/kg dry air

7. A colloidal solution enters a single-effect evaporator at 100 oC. Water is vaporized from the solution, producing a more concentrated
solution and 0.5kg/s of steam at 100 oC. This steam is compressed and sent to the heating coils of the evaporator to supply the heat
required for its operation. For a minimum heat-transfer driving force across the evaporator coils of 10 oC, for a compressor efficiency
of 75%, and for adiabatic operation, what is the state of the steam leaving the heating coils of the evaporator? For a surroundings
temperature of 300K, make a thermodynamic analysis of the process.

GIVEN:

SOLUTION:

Compression to a pressure at which condensation in coils occurs at 110 oC. From Perry’s Handbook gives this sat. pressure as 143.27
kPa.

For isentropic compression to 143.27 kPa, we find by double interpolation:

By an energy balance, assuming the slurry passes through unchanged:

This enthalpy is a bit larger than that of sat. liquid at 110 oC; find quality and then the entropy:
8. A plant takes in water at 70 oF, cools it to 32 oF, and freezes it at this temperature, producing 1 lb m/s of ice. Heat rejection is at 70 oF.
The heat of fusion of water is 143.3 BTU/lbm.
(a) What is Ẇ ideal for the process?
(b) What is the power requirement of a Single Carnot heat pump operating between 32 and 70 oF? What is the thermodynamic
efficiency of this process? What is its irreversible feature?
(c) What is the power requirement if an ideal tetrafluoroethane vapor-compression refrigeration cycle is used? Ideal here implies
isentropic compression, infinite cooling-water rate in the condenser, and minimum heat-transfer driving forces in evaporator and
condenser of 0oF. What is the thermodynamic efficiency of this process? What are its irreversible features?
(d) What is the power requirement of a tetrafluoroethane vapor-compression cycle for which the compressor efficiency is 75%, the
minimum temperature differences in evaporator and condenser are 8oF, and the temperature rise of the cooling water in the
condenser is 20oF? Make a thermodynamic analysis of this process.

Solution

Initial state: Liquid water at 70 oF.

a.

Point A: Saturated vapor at 32oC

Point B: Superheated Vapor at 85.79 psia and entropy of Point A

Point C: Saturated liquid at 70oF, P = 85.79 psia

Point D: Mix of saturated liquid and saturated vapor at 32oF with the enthalpy of Point C

b. For the Carnot heat pump, heat equal to the enthalpy change
of the water is extracted from a cold reservoir at 32 oF, with heat rejection to the surroundings at 70 oF.
The only irreversibility is the transfer of heat from the water as it cools from 70 to 32 degF to the cold reservoir of the Carnot heat
pump at 70 oF.

c. The only irreversibility is the transfer of heat from the water as it cools from 70 to 32 degF to the cold reservoir of the Carnot heat
pump at 70 oF.

The only irreversibility is the transfer of heat from the water as it cools from 70 to 32 degF to the cold reservoir of the Carnot
heat pump at 70 oF.

The irreversibility are in the throttling process

and in heat transfer in both the condenser and evaporator, where there are finite temperature differences.

d. Practical cycle. η = .75

9. One thousand kilograms per hour of a material with 35% moisture content (db) is dried in a belt conveyor drier with a capacity of
50 kg of bone dry solid per meter of drier. The total drying time is 5.3 hours. Estimate the length of the drier.

GIVEN:

ṁs = 1000 kg/hr
x = 0.35
capacity = 50 kd bds / mdrier

ttotal = 5.3 hours

REQUIRED:

Length of drier (L)

SOLUTION:

1000 kg
( 5.3 hrs )
hr
L=
50kg
( 1.35 )
m

L = 78.5 m

10. A countercurrent multiple contact extraction system is to treat 50 tons/hr of wet sliced sugar beets with fresh water as solvent. The
beets have the following analysis:

Components Mass Fraction

Water 0.48
Pulp 0.40
Sugar 0.12

The strong solution leaving the system is to contain 0.15 mass fraction sugar, and 97% of the sugar in the sliced beets is to be
recovered. Assuming equilibrium between the underflow and overflow in each cell, calculate the number of stages if each ton of dry
pulp retains 3.5 tons of solution

GIVEN:

Extract Solvent
15% sugar Yb = 0
85% water Vb
V1

 a N  b
1
Feed Raffinate
50 tons/hr Lb
48% water
40% pulp
12% sugar
L1
97% recovery
3.5 tons solution
R=
ton dry pulp
REQUIRED:
 N = No. of stages

SOLUTION:

 yb = 0
 y1 = xa = ya* = 0.15
 xb = yb*
solute in raffinate (0.03)(0.12)(50)
yb* = = = 0.0026
solution in raffinate 3.5 tons solution
[ 0.40 (50) ]
ton dry pulp

solute in extract
% recovery =
solute in feed

0.15 ( V 1 )
0.97 =
0.12 (50)

V 1 = 38.8 tons

3.5 tons solution

L b = La = ( 0.40 )( 50 tons pulp )=70 tons
ton dry pulp
Solution Balance (around the system):
L1 + Vb = V1 + Lb
[(0.12)(50) + (0.48)(50)] + Vb = 38.8 + 70
Vb = Va = 72.8 tons

Solute Balance (around the system)

(x1)(L1) + (ya)(Va) = (y1)(V1) + (xa)(La)
(0.12)(50) + (ya)(78.8) = (0.15)(38.8) + (0.15)(70)
 ya = 0.1310

y b- yb*

N=
ln
[ ya - ya * ] +1
y - y
[
ln b a
y b *- y a * ]
0 - 0.0026
N=
ln [
0.1310 - 0.15
+1
]
0 - 0.1310
ln [
0.0026 - 0.15 ]
N = 17.8621 stages or 18 stages

11. A sintered solid of silica 2.0 mm thick is porous, with a void fraction of 0.30 and tortuosity of 4.0. The pores are filled with water
at 298K. At one face the concentration of KCl is held at 0.1 gmol/L, and fresh water flows rapidly past the other face. Neglecting any
other resistance but that in the porous solid, calculate the diffusion of KCl at steady state. Diffusivity of KCl in water is 1.87x10 -9 m2/s.
GIVEN:
th=2.0mm CA1=0.1gmol/L
ε=0.30 DAB=1.87*10-9m2/s
τ=4.0
Tw=298K
REQUIRED:
Diffusion of KCl @steady state
 SOLUTION:
 For large pores(Fickian type Diffusion):

ε ( D AB )∗(C A 1−C A 2) ε ( D AB )∗(P A 1−P A 2 )

N A= =
τ ( Z1 −Z 2 ) τRT (Z 1−Z 2)

10 kgmol
0.3 ( 1.87∗10−9 m2/ s )∗( −0)
m3 kgmol
N A= =7.0125∗10−7 2
4.0(0.002 m−0) m .s
12. The diffusion rate of ammonia from an aqueous solution to the gas phase is 10 -3 kmol/m2-s. the interface equilibrium pressure of
NH3 is 660 N/m2 and the concentration of ammonia in gas phase is 5%. If the total pressure is 101 N/m 2, temperature is 295K and
diffusivity of NH3 is 0.24 cm2/s, the gas film thickness is
GIVEN:
NA=10-3 kmol/m2.s T=295K
C=5% PA1=660 Pa
Dv=2.4*10-5m2/s PT=101 Pa
REQUIRED:
Gas film thickness, th
SOLUTION:
Dv
N A= ( P −P A 1 )
RT∗th A 2
P A 2 =0.05∗101=5.05 Pa

5 m2
2.4∗10−
s Pa∗1 KPa
10−3 kmol/m 2. s= [ ( 660−5.05 ) ]
KPa 1000 Pa
( 8.314 kmol .K)
( 295 K )∗th

m∗1000 mm
th=6.409∗10−6 =0.0064 mm
1m

13. Your job is to harden titanium by the diffusion of carbon. The concentration of carbon at 1 mm into the surface of the titanium slab
is 0.25 kg/m3 and at 3 mm the concentration is 0.68 kg/m 3. The temperature of the carburizing environment is 925°C, and the rate at
which carbon is entering this 2 mm thick region is 1.27x10 -9 kg/(m2-s). Using Fick’s first law, what is the diffusion coefficient for this
particular treatment?

Given: CA1 = 0.25 kg/m3

x1 = 0.003m
CA2 = 0.68 kg/m3
X2 = 0.002m
J = 1.27x10-9 kg/(m2-s)
Required: D
Solution:
∆C
J = -D
∆X

0.25−0.68
1.27x10-9 = -D ( ¿
0.003−0.002

D = 2.9535 x 10−12 m2/s

14. A gas mixture of methane and helium is contained in a tube at 25°C and 14.7 psia. At one point the partial pressure of methane is
60.79 kPa and at point 2 cm distance away, the partial pressure of methane is 20.26 kPa. Calculate the flux of methane.

Given: PT = 14.7 psia

∆x = 0.02m
P1 = 60.79 kPa
P2 = 20.26 kPa
DAB = 0.675x10-5 m2/s
Required: D
Solution:
−D AB ∆ P
J=
RT ∆ X

(−0.675 x 10−5)(20.26−60.79)
J=
(8.314)(298 K )(0.02)

D = 5.5211 x 10−6 kg/(m2-s)

15. Eight thousand kg/hr of a solution of 80 wt% naphthalene and 20 wt% benzene at 70 oC is cooled to 30oC to form naphthalene
crystals. If equilibrium is achieved, determine the kg of crystals formed and the composition in wt% of the mother liquor.

Required: kg/ hr crystals and % wt benzene in mother liquor

Solution:

Melting point naphtha = 80.2

Enthalpy of fusion of naphtha = 19.29 kJ/mol

Mole fraction solute at equilibrium

− Hf 1 1
X2 = [ ( −
R T 1 Tm
])
e
−19290 1 1
= [ ( −
8.314 30 +273.15 80+273.15)]
e
= 0.3371

Solubility of naphtha at 30oC

100 parts benzene

0.3371 x parts naphtha
78 mol benzene x 128
mol
1−0.3371
83.4500 parts naphtha
=
100 parts benzene
Assuming no evaporation is formed,

TMB: F = C +M

8000 = C +M

CMB: xfF = xcC + xmM

83.45
0.8(8000) = C + ( ¿M
183.45
xc = 1

C = 5064.8 kg/hr

M = 2935.2 kg/hr

naphtha crystals formed

83.45 parts naphtha
o
at 30 C, = kg
183.45 parts solution 2935.2
hr
Naphtha Crystals = 1335.2 kg/hr

2935.2−1335.2
Wt% benzene =
2935.2
Wt% benzene = 54.51 %

16. Estimate the tray diameter of an absorber whose tray spacing is 24 inches having a foaming factor of F F = 0.90, a fraction flooding
of f = 0.80 and a surface tension of 70 dynes/cm.

Required : Tray diameter

Solution:

σ
FST = [ ¿ ¿0.2
20
70 dyne/cm 0.2
=[ ¿ ¿ = 1.285
20
For 24 in tray spacing, CF = 0.39 ft/s

Capacity parameter, C = FSTFFFHACF

= (1.285)(0.90)(1)(0.39)

= 0.45 ft/s

ρl−ρv 1/ 2
Flooding velocity, Uf = C [ ¿¿
ρv
ρl = 0.986 (1000) = 986 kg/ m3
PM ( 110 ) (44)
ρv = = = 1.92 kg/m3
RT ( 8.314 ) (303)
986−1.92 1/ 2
= 0.45 ft/s [ ¿¿
1.92
= 10.2 ft/s
 4 VMv
¿
Tray diameter, DT = [ Ad
fUfπ (1− ) ρv
A
V = 180 kmol/hr

Mv = 0.98(44)+ 0.02(46) = 44

Ad
= 0.1 (FL < 0.1)
A
180
4( )( 44)
DT = [ 3.6
¿
(0.8)(10.2)π (1−0.1)(1.92)
DT = 0.81 m or 2.65 ft

17. Hydrogen diffuses through a nonporous polyvinyltrimethylsilane membrane at 25⁰C. The pressures on the sides of the membrane
are 3.5 MPa and 200 KPa. If hydrogen flux is to be 0.64 kmol/m2-hr, how thick in micrometers should the membrane be?
D=160x10-11 m2/s H=S=0.54x104 mol/m3.Pa
Given:
T=25⁰C
ΔP= (3500-200)KPa
D=0.64 kmol/m2-hr
Required: Δx
Solution:
−D AB ∆ P
J=
RT ∆ x
−D AB ∆ P
∆ x=
RTJ
m2 (
∆ x=
( 160 x 10−11
s )
3500−200 ) KPa

KJ kmol 1hr
(8.314 )(298.15 K)( 0.64 2 )( )
kmol . K m . h 3600 s
m2 ( KN
∆ x=
(
160 x 10−11
s )
3500−200 ) 2
m
KN .m kmol 1hr
(8.314 )(298.15 K)( 0.64 2 )( )
kmol . K m . h 3600 s

∆ x=1.1982 x 10−5 m x
( 1 x µ10m m )
−6

Δx=11.982 µm

18. It takes 6 hours to dry a wet solid from 50% moisture content to the critical moisture content of 15%. How much longer will it take
to dry the solid to 10% moisture content under the same drying conditions? (The equilibrium moisture content of the solid is 5%)
Given:
Condition 1 t=6 hours X1 = 0.50 Xc = 0.15 X* = 0.05
Condition 2 t=? X1 = 0.50 X2 = 0.10 X* = 0.05

Required: time at condition 2

Solution:
@constant rate drying
X1 = 0.50-0.05=0.45
Xc = 0.15-0.05=0.10
 −m s
t c =( )( X 1−X C )
A RC
mins −ms
6 hrs∗(60 )=( )(0.45−0.10)
1 hr A RC
−m s
=17.1429hrs =1028.574 mins
A RC

@ first falling rate period

X1 = 0.50-0.05=0.45
X2 = 0.10-0.05=0.05
−ms
t F =( )¿
A RC
t F =( 1028.574 mins ) ¿

tF = 71.2953 mins