UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA

Department of Chemical & Materials Engineering

Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G6
K. Nandakumar
Ph: 780-492-5810, Fax: 780-492-2881, e-mail: kumar.nandakumar@ualberta.ca

Ch E 316 Equilibrium Stage Processes Fall 2002

Time: 50 min Mid-Term Examination I October 4, 2002

1 Provide brief answers - points (8+8+8=24)

• In using the constant relative volatility model which of the following statemets
are true and which are false.

1. K values are independent of temperature

2. ratio of K values is independent of temperature
3. K values are independent of composition.
4. In the equation y = αx/(1 + (α − 1)x),
(x,y) are independent of temperature.

• When α = 2.5 which of the following statements are true and which are flase.

1. a mixture of (x = 0.5, y = 0.5) is an equilibrium mixture

2. a mixture of (x = 0.6, y = 0.7895) is an equilibrium mixture
3. a mixture of (x = 0.7, y = 0.8537) is at a lower temperature than a mixture
of (x = 0.3, 0.5172)
4. a feed of z = 0.4 has a bubble point composition of y = 0.625.

• Concerning the phase rule and its applicability identify whether the following
statements are true or false.

1. Phase rule is P + V = C + 2.
2. Phase rule implies that Gibbs free energy is minimized.
3. Equality of fugacity implies that Gibbs free energy is minimized.
4. Two phases are in equilibrium when temperature, pressure and compositions
are equal in each phase.
2 Binary flash -points (30+10+5+5=50)
For a binary mixture of A and B, with A being the more volatile component, a constant
relative volatility model is a good approximation with α = 2. Such a mixture with
ZF 1 = 0.5 is being flashed in a sequence of two flash drums as shown in the figure.
Here y2, x3, y4 and x5 are the mole fractions of the more volatile component in the
respective streams and ψ1 and ψ2 are the vapor fractions in the respective blocks. The
two vapor streams (2 and 4) are combined to produce an effective vapor flow rate of
0.8 of the feed rate with a composition of y6.

2 6
1
B1

3
B2

• Identify all of the unknowns and write down the necessary equations relating the
unknown variables.

• If 70% is vaporized in the first drum, determine the compositions of each stream.

• What fraction is vaporized in the second stage?

• Is it possible to vaporize 50% in the first drum and still meet the condition on the
combined vapor stream?

3 Binary flash - analytical solution -points (12+7+7)=26

Recall the following general multicomponent flash equations derived in class. [You do
not have to rederive these equations].

zi (1 − Ki ) zi zi Ki
f (ψ) = = 0; xi = ; yi = ;
i
1 + ψ(Ki − 1) 1 + ψ(Ki − 1) 1 + ψ(Ki − 1)
where ψ = V /F is the vapor equation. For the special case of a binary mixture of
components 1 and 2, show that the the above general equations can be reduced to the
following.
z1 [(K1 − K2 )/(1 − K2 )] − 1
ψ=
K1 − 1
x1 = (1 − K2 )/(K1 − K2 )
y1 = (K1 K2 − K1 )/(K2 − K1 )