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Examination for the Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical)

Examination for the Master of Engineering (Chemical)

Semester 2, 2017

105458 CHEM ENG 3033 SEPARATION PROCESSES

105996 CHEM ENG 7052 SEPARATION PROCESSES

Official Reading Time: 10 mins

Writing Time: 180 mins
Total Duration: 190 mins
Part Questions Time Marks

A CLOSED BOOK Answer 3 of 3 questions 60 mins 60 marks

B CLOSED BOOK Answer 3 of 3 questions 120 mins 120 marks
180 Total
Instructions
PARTS A and B are a Closed-book Examination
Submit answers to PARTS A and B in separate books
Begin each answer on a new page
Examination materials must not be removed from the examination room
Materials
2 Books
Calculator without alphanumeric memory or remote communications capability
is permitted
English language dictionary is permitted
Attachments
2 x Equilibrium data for Benzene-Toluene at 1 Atmosphere
Colburn’s Analytical Solution – Height of Packing
Graphical paper

DO NOT COMMENCE WRITING UNTIL INSTRUCTED TO DO SO

BE SURE TO WRITE YOUR NAME AND STUDENT NUMBER ON ANY LOOSE DIAGRAMS

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PART A
QUESTION A1 20 MARKS
Central to separations processing are the concepts of a) the equilibrium stage, b) net flow
(Δ) and c) stage efficiency (η)1
a. For a single equilibrium stage
i. Illustrate your understanding of its two (2)-step nature by sketching a carefully
labelled diagram [2 Marks]
ii. Using carefully defined nomenclature develop the balance equations in the stage for
both total, and; component flow of a three (3)-component system consisting of
A (solute), B (diluent) and S (solvent) [2 Marks]
iii. A graphical addition-rule that satisfies conservation in equilibrium is the
Inverse Lever Rule. With the aid of a suitable diagram and defined nomenclature
derive its mathematical form [4 Marks]
b. For a multi-stage counter-current cascade
i. Sketch a carefully labelled diagram using established professional notation. Net flow
(Δ) in this cascade is described as a ‘fictitious parameter’- explain carefully what is
meant by this [4 Marks]
ii. Derive the balance equations for total net flow, and; enthalpy net flow (hΔ) for a three
(3)-component system consisting of A (solute), B (diluent) and S (solvent) [4 Marks]
c. How is stage efficiency (η) defined in a real stage? For a binary distillation discuss briefly
the factors that will influence efficiency of the real stage [4 Marks]

QUESTION A2 20 MARKS
In distillation, reflux1 is widely used in separations processing
a. Explain the need for reflux, and; with the aid of a carefully labelled sketch, illustrate both
vapour reflux and liquid reflux in distillation [4 Marks]
b. When is total reflux used by professional chemical engineers? [2 Marks]
c. An existing distillation column equivalent to five (5) theoretical stages is to be used to
separate a binary benzene-chlorobenzene mix. The column has a total condenser and a
total reboiler. A batch of 1,000 kmol of liquid consisting of 30 mol% benzene needs to be
distilled to obtain a bottoms product 0.1 mol% benzene. The equilibrium mole fraction
curve for the operating conditions is
3.14 x n
yn =
1 + 2.14 x n
Calculate the bottoms product (B) yield that will be obtained using
i. An analytical method [5 Marks]
ii. A graphical method [5 Marks]
Compare your answers from i and ii and explain how accurate your answers are [4 Marks]

1
McCabe, W.L., Smith, J.C., Harriott, P., 2001. Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering, 6th edition McGraw-
Hill, NY, USA. ISBN: 0070393664.
Foust, A.S., Wenzel, L.A., Clump, C.W., Maus, L., Anderson, L.B., 1980. Principles of Unit Operations. John Wiley
& Sons, NY, USA. ISBN: 0471268976.

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QUESTION A3 20 MARKS
2
A benzene-air mixture is to be scrubbed in a counter-current column using a non-volatile
hydrocarbon oil (MW = 200) as the solvent. The mix enters at 600 kg mol h-1 and contains
5 % benzene. A 90 % recovery of the benzene is required.
Solubility of the benzene in the oil was determined to follow Raoult's Law, and to ensure
a straight operating line, mole-ratio co-ordinates (Xb, Yb) are employed such that for
0 < Yb < 0.05
1 Y
( b )
0.136 1 Yb
Xb
1 Y
1 ( b )
0.136 1 Yb

For an actual solvent rate 1.5 times the minimum how many theoretical stages will be
needed? [20 Marks]

2
Wankat, P.C., 2007. Separation Process Engineering, 2nd edition Prentice Hall, Boston, USA. ISBN: 978
0130847898.

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PART B
QUESTION B1 40 MARKS
A solids waste-stream from a local nut-processor was found to have a valuable liquid that if
extracted could be used as a food supplement for farmed animals. The stream contains
47 wt% of the valuable liquid - plus solids. You company plan is to try to use an existing,
one-stage extractor employing a ratio of waste-to-pure solvent ratio of 1:1.4 to recover the
liquid. It is important that the extractor overflow does not contain any solids, and; that the
underflow contains no more than 45 wt% solids
a. Provide an estimate of the recovery of the valuable extract [25 Marks]
b. What impact will increasing the waste-to-pure solvent to 1:2 have on the recovery of
the extract? [15 Marks]
Carefully state any assumptions you make

QUESTION B2 40 MARKS
An existing distillation column consists of a partial reboiler, a total condenser and six (6)
equilibrium stages. The feed stream is a saturated liquid of 45 mol% benzene in toluene. It is
fed onto the fourth stage. The distillate product is to a market-specification and is to contain
95 mol% benzene. The column operates at 1.12 atmosphere pressure
Your company senior chemical engineer invites your professional assistance to scope
the process
a. What assumptions can you make? [5 Marks]
b. What is the value of Rmin for this system? [15 Marks]
c. If a reflux ratio twice this minimum is used in the column
i. Show the bottoms composition xB = 0.2 [10 Marks]
ii. What is the production of moles of distillate and bottoms per 100 mole of feed?
[10 Marks]

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QUESTION B3 40 MARKS
Ethanol could be used as a clean replacement for dwindling fossil-fuels. Because it can be
produced in small quantities in the fermentation of waste-foods, it has been proposed that
Adelaide-city food-wastes be fermented. The ethanol is to be captured in water and later
separated for use as the fuel.
Your company believes that it has a suitable packed column – with significant amounts of
packing as 1.5-inch Raschig® rings – and has tended for a Government-trial to capture the
ethanol. The fermentation vapour (97 mol% CO2) from the fermenting food-wastes is to be
fed to the column at 0.92 kg s-1 per m2 of column and scrubbed with pure water. The column
must reduce the ethanol to a concentration of 0.5 mol%. At this vapour feed-rate the
column HOG is 0.8 m. It is planned to provide the water to the tower at twice the minimum.
The equilibrium curve over the range of ethanol mole fraction of interest is given by

x y
0.05 0.034
0.04 0.027
0.03 0.020
0.02 0.013
0.01 0.007
0.005 0.003

As the professional chemical engineer you have been tasked to estimate the
i. Height of packing of the Raschig rings needed for capture of the ethanol [30 Marks]
ii. The water feed rate to the tower (kg s-1) [10 Marks]
Be sure to justify any assumptions you make in your determination

END OF PAPER

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1
Benzene-Toluene at 1atm
0.9

0.8

0.7
Mole fraction Benzene in Vapour

0.6

0.5

0.4
Vapour

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
Mole fraction Benzene in Liquid

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1
Benzene-Toluene at 1atm
0.9

0.8

0.7
Mole fraction Benzene in Vapour

0.6

0.5

0.4
Vapour

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
Mole fraction Benzene in Liquid

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Colburn’s Analytical Solution – Height of Packing

2017 EXAM CHEM ENG 3033 & 7052

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10

2017 EXAM CHEM ENG 3033 & 7052

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11

2017 EXAM CHEM ENG 3033 & 7052

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12

2017 EXAM CHEM ENG 3033 & 7052

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