[CME2001]

NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY (Stage II Chemical Engineering)

___________________ SEMESTER 2 2008/2009 ______________________

SEPARATION PROCESSES 1

Time Allowed: 2 hours

CANDIDATES SHOULD ATTEMPT THREE QUESTIONS, TWO FROM SECTION A AND ONE FROM SECTION ! EACH QUESTION CARRIES EQUAL MAR"S

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[CME2001] SECTION A 1! The following two phases are fed to a single equilibrium stage separation consisting of a mi er and phase separator! P#$%& 1" 1## $g acetic acid% &# $g isoprop'l ether% (# $g water! P#$%& 2" 15 $g acetic acid% (& $g isoprop'l ether% ) $g water! *hat are the compositions and quantities of the phases lea+ing the equilibrium stage separation, (25 marks) Equilibrium -ata for *ater./cetic /cid.Isoprop'l Ether at &#C and 1 bar!
/cetic /cid 2/ #!34 1!51 &!(4 3!5& 1)!)# &5!5# )3!6# 55!)# 53!5# *ater 0a'er% wt 1 *ater 24(!1 46!1 45!5 41!6 (5!5 61!1 5(!4 55!1 )6!1 Isoprop'l Ether 2S 1!& 1!5 1!3 1!4 &!) )!5 5!5 1#!3 13!5 Isoprop'l Ether 0a'er% wt 1 /cetic /cid *ater Isoprop'l Ether '/ ''S #!1( #!5 44!) #!)6 #!6 4(!4 #!64 #!( 4(!5 1!4) 1!# 46!1 5!(& 1!4 4)!) 11!5# )!4 (5!6 &1!3# 3!4 61!5 )1!1# 1#!( 5(!1 )3!&# 15!1 5(!6

Points on the same hori7ontal line are in equilibrium! 2! The distillation of a binar' feed% containing 6# mol 1 of component / and )# mol 1 of component 8% is to be carried out continuousl'! The distillation is to produce a top product of 46 mol1 / and a bottom product containing 11 of /! (a) If the feed is liquid at its boiling point% determine the number of theoretical stages required if the reflu ratio is )! (16 marks) (b) If the stage efficienc' is 5#1% determine the actual number of stages and the position of the feed plate! (3 marks) (c) -etermine the minimum number of theoretical stages and the minimum reflu ratio! (6 marks) D$'$" 9elati+e +olatilit' of / to 8 is &!#!

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[CME2001]

(! (a) E plain what 'ou understand about the process of diffusion through a stationar' phase! (2 marks) -iscuss the concept of the *hitman film theor' in relation to the processes of gas absorption and dissolution of a solid! (4 marks) /n organic compound is being stored in an open +essel at &5 oC and a total pressure of 1!# bar! The distance of the liquid le+el from the top of the +essel is 1!1m and the surface area of the e posed surface is &!# m&! Estimate the rate of e+aporation in mol s.1! (15 marks) (d) Estimate the rate of e+aporation of the organic discussed in part (c) if the pressure was increased to 5!# bar! (4 marks)

(b)

(c)

D$'$ -iffusi+it' of the organic in air : (!( 1#.3 m& s.1 at 1 bar pressure ;apour pressure of organic : #!#&) bar 9 : (!)15 $< $mol .1 =.1 1 bar : 1## $> m.&!

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[CME2001]

SECTION )! (a) /s a chemical engineer% 'ou need to ma$e a choice between a plate or a pac$ed column for a distillation process to separate a h'drocarbon mi ture! The h'drocarbon mi ture is potentiall' flammable and its tendenc' for e cessi+e foaming is an important consideration! 8ased on the liquid and gas flowrates% both of which ma' be considered to be moderate% it has been estimated that a column of appro imatel' 1 m in diameter would be suitable! It is proposed to operate the column under high +acuum in order to achie+e a good degree of separation of indi+idual components in the mi ture! 8ased on all of the abo+e information about the process% discuss at least 5 rele+ant factors which 'ou would need to consider in enabling 'ou to reach 'our decision% indicating clearl' whether plates or pac$ings would be more suitable o+erall! (10 marks) (b) / column% 1!( m in diameter% pac$ed with 5# mm 9aschig 9ings and operating at a liquid flowrate of #!##156 m)s.1 has been found not to wor$ satisfactoril'! It has been suggested that insufficient wetting of the pac$ing b' the liquid ma' be the cause of the problem! (i) ?sing the nomograph pro+ided which shows the degree of wetting in pac$ed columns% determine whether the suggestion abo+e is correct or not% e plaining 'our reasoning clearl'! (3 marks) If 'ou do indeed conclude that the degree of wetting is the cause of the problem% what steps should be considered to tr' to impro+e the situation, -iscuss 'our proposals full' and criticall'% indicating their effect on an' other related aspects of the performance of the column!

(ii)

(>ote" If 'ou conclude from (i) that wetting is not a problem% answer part (ii) as a h'pothetical situation)! (12 marks)

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[CME2001] *! @ou ha+e been gi+en the tas$ of identif'ing a suitable e isting sie+e tra' column to separate a mi ture of h'drocarbons from a crac$ing plant! The operational specifications of the separation process are as follows" -istillate rate 9eflu ratio Pressure at top of column Top tra' temperature Aean liquid densit' Aolecular mass of top product 5!# $g s.1 3 1)# $> m.& )35 = ()# $g m.) 35 $g $mol.1

/ sie+e tra' column has recentl' become a+ailable following plant modifications and is being considered for carr'ing out the separation process! -etails of the tra's inside the column are as follows" -iameter T'pe of tra' la'out -owncomer Bole diameter Bole areaCacti+e area *eir height *eir length Plate spacing (a) )!# m Single pass cross flow Segmental 5!65 mm #!1 5# mm &!) m #!3 m

8' considering onl' approach to flooding% entrainment and weeping in the region of the top tra'% e+aluate whether the a+ailable column will be suitable for the distillation process as specified abo+e! (18 marks) Is a single pass cross flow la'out suitable for the process, E plain 'our reasoning! (2 marks) If an' of the parameters are not within required limits% discuss briefl' the changes 'ou would consider implementing to ma$e operation in the e isting column feasible% highlighting an' ad+erse consequences 'our proposed changes might ha+e on other operational aspects! (5 marks)

(b)

(c)

Sie+e tra' data sheets pro+ided!

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[CME2001] END OF PAPER

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