LECTURE 3

Degree of Freedom Analysis

CHE 453 Computer-aided Process Design for Chemical Engineer
Dr. Yatika Somrang (Semester 2/2016)
Common units in chemical processes
Mixers
Splitters
Separators
Drivers and pressure changers
Heat exchangers
Flashes
Columns
Reactors
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Mixers
T1, Fin, 1
T2, Fin, 2 V, yi Tout
Fout = Fin, i
Tn, Fin, n L, xi
Component distribution in each phase is obtained from
flash calculation
Assumption of mixer
Q = 0 (adiabatic)
P = 0 (no pressure drop)
CHE 453 Computer-aided Process Design for Chemical Engineer
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Splitters
T1, Fout, 1
Tin T2, Fout, 2
Fin
Tn, Fout, n
Propertiesout = Propertiesin (except F)
Required input for calculation
Split fraction (n-1) or outlet flow (n-1)
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Separators
F1
A, B, C F2
F3

Component separation
Required input for calculation
Split fraction of specie i in stream j
CHE 453 Computer-aided Process Design for Chemical Engineer
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Flashes
V, yi
L, xi
Separates between V and L
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Columns
1
2 Distillate
Feed
N-1
Bottoms
N
Design data must be provided, e.g. reflux ratio, no. of
stages
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Reactors
Assumptions in each type of reactors
CSTR :
PFR :
Equilibrium :
Yield =
Conversion =
Selectivity =
CHE 453 Computer-aided Process Design for Chemical Engineer
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Drivers and pressure changers
Fin Fout
Fin = Fout
Heat exchangers
Q = UATlm
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Degree of freedom analysis
Fully-specified
unique solution 
No. of constraints = Missing standard inputs
Under-specified
not enough data
Over-specified
too much data
The fully-specified problem can be solved.
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Elementary modules
Elementary modules are used for mass balance
calculation
The flowsheet can be expressed in terms of elementary
modules:
Mixer
Splitter
Separator
Reactor
CHE 453 Computer-aided Process Design for Chemical Engineer
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Convert flowsheet to elementary modules
Flowsheet
mixer pump separator
Elementary modules
CHE 453 Computer-aided Process Design for Chemical Engineer
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Constraints vs. standard inputs
Question: Are given data constraints or standard inputs?
Elementary modules Standard input
Mixer -
Splitter ti except 1 stream
Separator tij except 1 stream
Reactor Stoichiometry and (fractional) conversion 0-1.0
Apart from the standard inputs in the above table, they
are categorised as constraints.
CHE 453 Computer-aided Process Design for Chemical Engineer
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Elementary modules for reactions
Type of reactions Elementary modules
Parallel reactions
(simultaneous)
e.g.
A+B
C
A
D+E
Series reactions
e.g.
A+B
C
C
D+E
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Example
Flowsheet
Purge
Reactor
Compressor A + B
C Flash Product
C
D+E
Elementary modules
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Example (cont.)
Given data Constraint?
1. Split fraction of the flash overhead stream going to the purge
stream is 40%
2. Total flow of the purge stream is 50 lbmol/hr
3. Mole fraction of A in the flash overhead stream is 95%
4. Mole recoveries of B and C going to the product stream are
70% and 90%, respectively
5. Ratio of A to B in feed is 2 to 1
Note: The difference between mole recovery and mole fraction
Mole recovery:
Mole fraction: .....
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Example (cont.)
List of standard inputs Given?
Q: Is the number of constraints equal to the number of missing standard inputs?
A: ..
Q: Is this fully-specified, under-specified or over-specified?
A: ..
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Example (cont.)
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Example (cont.)
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In summary
Express flowsheet in terms of elementary modules
Check given data for constraints and standard inputs
Check if the problem is fully-specified, under-specified or
over-specified
If fully-specified, the problem can be solved
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