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ChE 330 Separation Processes

Spring 2017

Hwk 5 due Monday (4/10) for Monday class, Wednesday (4/12) for Wednesday class

1. Redo Example 21.3 using your values from homework 4.

2. A distillation column is to be used for separating n-butane and n-pentane where the feed (F) mole
fractions are 0.15 and 0.85, respectively. The molar flow rate of the feed stream is 100 lb mol/hr
and it is at P = 10 atm. The reflux ratio is 5.
a) It is desired to recover 88 % of the butane in the top product, and the bottom product
should contain 5 mol % of butane. Perform mole balances to determine the molar flow
rates of:
i. The total top (D) and bottom (B) streams
ii. Butane in the top and bottom streams
b) If the feed is superheated by 40 F, and the reflux is subcooled by 50 F, calculate the
condenser and reboiler heat duties. Make the following assumptions:
- All streams have the same thermal properties as n-pentane
- The mean column temperature is 270 F

And determine the following:

i. Given Tbp = 242.9 F, what is Tcondenser?


ii. Write an energy balance around the condenser to find the condenser duty in
Btu/hr. (Hy @ 270 F = 26,599 Btu/lbmol, HD @ 192.9 F = 15,157 Btu/lbmol)
iii. Given Tdp = 257.7 F, what is Tfeed?
iv. Write an energy balance around the reboiler to find the reboiler duty in Btu/hr
(HB @ column temp = 19,024 Btu/lbmol, HF @ superheated vap T = 27,469 Btu/lbmol)
(Hints: the distillate is a subcooled liquid, the bottoms product is a liquid at the
column temperature and the feed is a vapor at the superheated temperature).

3. There is a total reflux distillation column that has a total condenser and a reboiler, and it operates
at ambient pressure. The binary mixture being distilled is isopropanol (1) and 1-propanol (2).
For part (a) (d), assume xD = 0.8 and xB = 0.2.
a) Generate an equilibrium curve with PRO II and employ the McCabe-Thiele graphical
method to estimate the number of ideal stages.
b) Use the Fenske equation to calculate the number of ideal stages. Assume that the average
column temperature is 90 C.
c) If the actual number of trays is 8, what is the overall efficiency of the distillation column?
d) Assuming that the Murphree efficiency is 0.6, use the McCabe-Thiele graphical method
to estimate the number of stages.

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