PROBLEMS

CHE F244

Separation Processes-I
Department of chemical engineering
BITS Pilani, Hyderabad campus
PROBLEM-9 (A)
A cylinder of UF6, 6 mm in diameter is exposed to an air
stream flowing at a velocity of 3 m/s. The surface temperature
of the solid is 43oC, at which temperature the vapor pressure
of UF6 is 400 mm Hg (53.32 kN/m2). The bulk air is at 1 atm
and 60oC.

Estimate the rate of sublimation of the cylinder, given:

Applicable for Re between 1 and 4000

Properties at average bulk temperatures

Density and viscosity of the gas at the given T and composition:
4.1 kg/m3 and 2.7x10-5 kg/m.s
Diffusivity = 9.04 x 10-6 m2/s
PROBLEM-9 (B)
A flat plate of UF6, 6 mm in length is exposed to an air
stream flowing at a velocity of 3 m/s. The surface temperature
of the solid is 43oC, at which temperature the vapor pressure
of UF6 is 400 mm Hg (53.32 kN/m2). The bulk air is at 1 atm
and 60oC.

Estimate the rate of sublimation of the cylinder, given:

Properties at average bulk temperatures

Density and viscosity of the gas at the given T and composition:
4.1 kg/m3 and 2.7x10-5 kg/m.s
Diffusivity = 9.04 x 10-6 m2/s
PROBLEM-10
Pure CO2 is being absorbed in water at 25oC and 2 atm. Water is
pumped into the absorber at 1 l/min and carbonated water leaves
at the same rate, containing 2.3 g CO2/l. Specific interfacial area of
gas-liquid contact is 80 m2/m3 of gas-liquid dispersion.

Volume of gas-liquid dispersion is 8 liters. Assume a well-mixed

system. Given yCO2=0.00122 and diffusivity of 1.92 x 10-9 m2/s, find:

(a) Rate of absorption of CO2 in kmol/s

(b) Mass transfer coefficient kL
(c) Film thickness assuming film-theory is applicable
(d) Contact time assuming penetration theory is applicable
PROBLEM-11
In a mass transfer apparatus operating at 1 atm, the
individual MT coefficients are kx=22 kmol/m2h and ky=1.07
kmol/m2h.
The equilibrium composition of the gas and liquid phases are
characterized by Henry’s law: pA=0.08x106(xA)
(a) Determine the overall MT coefficients
(b) By how many times does the diffusion resistance of the
liquid phase vary from that of the gas phase?
PROBLEM 12
In an apparatus for SO2 absorption in water, at one point in the
column, SO2 is 10% by volume and is in contact with liquid
containing 0.4 wt % SO2. Pressure and temperature are 1 atm and
323 K respectively.
Overall gas phase mass transfer coefficient is
7.36 x 10-10 kmol/m2s(N/m2).
Of the total resistance, 45% lies in the gas phase and remaining in
liquid phase.
Equilibrium data is as follows:

(a) Estimate the film coefficient and overall mass transfer coefficient
based on gas phase and liquid phase.
(b) Calculate molar flux based on each phase.
PROBLEM-13
It is desired to absorb 95% of acetone by water from a mixture
of acetone and nitrogen containing 1.5% of the component in a
countercurrent tray tower. Total gas input is 30 kmol/hr and
water enters the tower at a rate of 90 kmol/hr. The tower
operates at 27ºC and 1 atm. The equilibrium relation is
Y=2.53X.

Determine the number of ideal stages necessary for the

separation using the graphical method as well