College of

Applied
Sciences-Sohar
Department of Engineering
CHEN3341 Separation Process Test 2, April 2016

Date: 21 April 2016

Section:

Time: 1 hour

Number of Pages: 05

Student I.D:

Student Name:
General Instructions:
The Maximum Marks for this Test 2 is 15
Set out your Work Properly. Be Clear, Neat and Concise
If needed, Rough Work may be done in the back side of the Sheet. Rough Work will not be Graded
Turn-off all GSMs
Use the Calculator in case of Need
Do not Talk during the Test without Permission from the Invigilator
Handover Answer Sheets to Invigilator at the end of Test

Part

Questions

Marks
Allotted

1-6

II

7-8

Total

15

Marks Scored

Marks-in words

Performance Indicator

Examiner : Dr. Afaf Ghais Abadi

Signature:

Question Number
Grade

Reviewer :

Signature:

Part I- Short Answers (0.5*4 =2+2+4=8 Marks)

Answer All Questions

1. Fenske equation determines the

I.

1.

Maximum number of ideal plates.

II.

2.

Height of the distillation column.

III.

3.

Minimum number of theoretical plates.

IV.

4.

Optimum reflux ratio.

2. Overall efficiency of the distillation column is

I.
1.
the ratio of number of ideal plates to actual plates.
II.

2.

the ratio of number of actual plates to ideal plates.

III.

3.

Same as the Murphree efficiency.

3. Which is the physical meaning of the minimum reflux ratio?

I.
II.
III.
IV.

L0 divided by D.
There is no physical meaning. It is a limiting condition useful for the
column design: at the minimum reflux ratio, the column can
"operate" only with an infinite number of stages.
The recycle at the top of the column is minimum, therefore the
internal flow-rates are the minimum and an infinite number of
stages is needed to reach the specification on the products.
It is the value of Reflux for which the Distillate flow-rate is
the maximum.

4. For a five component distillation with two light non-keys, a light

key, a heavy key and a heavy non-key, which are the products
that are assumed to be separated at the top of the column?
I.

II.

The light key upon specification. We cannot say anything about the
light non-keys since we could not solve the external material
balance due to the higher number of unknowns in comparison to the
available equations.
The light key and the light non-keys upon specification.

TEST 2
SP16, AY 2015-2016
(CHEN3341)

Page 2 of 5

III.
IV.

The light key component upon specification and the two light nonkey components. This latter is an assumption in order to solve the
external mass balances and simplify the column design.
We cannot say at the beginning. Typically a trial and error method is
used applying the Fenske and Underwood equations with a 1st
guess and verifying the validity of the result.

5. What is the definition of H

, ,H//?

H = QD+hD
H// = QB-hB
6. From the Poncho Savarait graph specify the minimum
number of stages and minimum reflex ratio, the actual
condenser heat load? ( The graph at the end of the exam
paper)
Rmin = (H H1) = (28000-14000) = 1.5
(H1-hd)
(14000-5000)
QD =H-hd =32000 -5000 =27000 kJ/kg
Nmin = 7 stages
Part-II- Long Answers (3+4=7 marks)
7. How can you to calculate the dew temperature for multi
components system?
Sum x =1, sum (y/k) =1
Assume T, find k at specific T, calculate the sum (y/k) ,if
the sum is 1 then the dew point is correct , if not
assume new T.

8. Liquor consisting of phenol and cresols with some

xylenols is fractionated to give a top product of 95.3
mole per cent phenol. The compositions of the top
product and of the phenol in the bottoms are:
TEST 2
SP16, AY 2015-2016
(CHEN3341)

Page 3 of 5

Feed (moles)
Phenol
O-Cresol
M-Cresol
Xylenols

Top(Mole
Fraction)
95.3
4.55
0.15

Bottom( Mole
Fraction)
5.24

35
15
30
20
100
Specify the light key and the heavy key, calculate the
distillate and bottom mole fractions, the mole fractions of
the components the distillate and bottom.
LK: Phenol , HK =M cresol ,
FXf =DXd+BXb
F=100 mole
Phenol :100*0.35=0.953D+(100-D)0.0524
D=32.9 , B =67.1 mole/s.
O-Cresol:100*0.15=0.0455(32.9)+xb(67.1)
Xib =0.2
M-Cresol =100*0.3=32.9(0.0015)+xb(67.1)
Xib=0.45.
Xylene: xb=1-0.0524-0.2-0.45=0.29

TEST 2
SP16, AY 2015-2016
(CHEN3341)

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Hmin

TEST 2
SP16, AY 2015-2016
(CHEN3341)

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