May/June 2007/ PT 44 – Answer Key

PART A
1. Unit operation:
o A unit operation is a basic step in a process.
o For example in milk processing, homogenization, pasteurization, chilling, and packaging are
each unit operations which are connected to create the overall process. A process may have
many unit operations to obtain the desired product.

2. Different modes of heat transfer:

a. Conduction
b. Convection
c. Radiation

3. Ficks law of diffusion:

1.

also,

Where:
• J is the flux
• D is the diffusivity constant of proportionality

• is the concentration gradient in the x-direction

• c is the concentration
• u1 is the velocity relative to a stationary plane
• u0 is the bulk fluid velocity

4. Simple distillation:

• In simple distillation, all the hot vapors produced are immediately channeled into a
condenser which cools and condenses the vapors.
• Therefore, the distillate will not be pure - its composition will be identical to the composition
of the vapors at the given temperature and pressure, and can be computed from Raoult's law.
• As a result, simple distillation is usually used only to separate liquids whose boiling points
differ greatly (rule of thumb is 25 °C),[26] or to separate liquids from involatile solids or oils.
• For these cases, the vapor pressures of the components are usually sufficiently different that
Raoult's law may be neglected due to the insignificant contribution of the less volatile
component. In this case, the distillate may be sufficiently pure for its intended purpose.

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 May/June 2007/ PT 44 – Answer Key

5. Types of impellers:
• Radial flow
• Mixed flow,
• Axial and peripheral flow.

6. Difference between absorption and adsorption:

Absorption Adsorption
It refers to when atoms, molecules, or ions Adsorption is a process that occurs when a
enter some bulk phase - gas, liquid or solid gas or liquid solute accumulates on the
material. For instance, a sponge absorbs surface of a solid or, more rarely, a liquid
water when it is dry. (adsorbent), forming a molecular or atomic
film (the adsorbate). It is different from
absorption, in which a substance diffuses
into a liquid or solid to form a solution.

7. Enthalpy:

The total heat content at constant pressure and temperature is called enthalpy.

8. Relative humidity:

It is expressed in percentage of 100 pA / PA

Where pA and PA are the partial and vapor pressure at the dry bulb
temperature of the mixture.

9. Dialysis:

A process for selectively removing low molecular weight solutes from a solution by allowing them
to diffuse in to region of lower concentration.

10.Application of screening equipments:

• Used to separate the particles under particle size.

• Used in various industries for screening

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 May/June 2007/ PT 44 – Answer Key

PART B

11. (a) Various filtration equipments: 16 Marks

• Repeated Question – Nov/Dec 2007

(b) Gravity settler: 16 Marks

• A hydrocyclone is a device to classify, separate or sort particles in a liquid suspension based on the
densities of the particles.
• A hydrocyclone may be used to separate solids from liquids or to separate liquids of different
density.
• A hydrocyclone will normally have a cylindrical section at the top where liquid is being
fed tangentially, and a conical base.
• The angle, and hence length of the conical section, plays a role in determining operating
characteristics.

Uses

• A hydrocyclone is most often used to separate "heavies" from a liquid mixture originating at a
centrifugal pump or some other continuous source of pressurized liquid.
• A hydrocyclone is most likely to be the right choice for processes where "lights" are the greater part
of the mixture and where the "heavies" settle fairly easily.
• Generally, hydrocyclones are used in continuous flow systems so that the instantaneous liquid
inflow to the hydrocyclone is equal to the total instantaneous outflow of "lights" plus "heavies". I
• n cases where "heavies" are a very small part of the whole liquid, it is sometimes advantageous to
accumulate them in the bottom of the hydrocyclone for batchwise removal.

Applications include

• In pulp and paper mills to remove sand, staples, plastic particles and other contaminants.
• In the drilling industry to separate sand from the expensive clay that is used for lubrication during
the drilling.
• In industry to separate oil from water or vice versa.
• In metal working to separate metal particles from cooling liquid.
• In potato processing plants to recover starch from waste water.

12. (a) Humidification: 16 Marks

• Repeated Question – Nov/Dec 2007
(b) Equipments for drying: 16 Marks
• Repeated Question – Nov/Dec 2007

13. (a) Agitated Vessel: 16 Marks

• Repeated Question – Nov/Dec 2007
(b) Equipment for adsorption: 16 Marks
• Repeated Question – Nov/Dec 2007
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 May/June 2007/ PT 44 – Answer Key

14. (a) Distillation: 16 Marks

• Repeated Question – Nov/Dec 2006
(b) Heat exchanger: 16 Marks
• Repeated Question – Nov/Dec 2006

15. (a) (i) Heat transfer coefficient: 6 Marks

The heat transfer coefficient, in thermodynamics and in mechanical and chemical
engineering, is used in calculating the heat transfer, typically by convection or phase
change between a fluid and a solid:

where

ΔQ = heat input or heat lost, J

h = heat transfer coefficient, W/(m2K)
A = heat transfer surface area, m2
ΔT = difference in temperature between the solid surface and surrounding fluid area, K
Δt = time period, s

(ii) Fourier law: 4 Marks

• The law of Heat Conduction, also known as Fourier's law, states that the time rate
of heat transfer through a material is proportional to the negative gradient in the
temperature and to the area at right angles, to that gradient, through which the heat is
flowing.
• The differential form of Fourier's Law of thermal conduction shows that the
local heat flux, , is equal to the product of thermal conductivity, k, and the negative
local temperature gradient, . The heat flux is the amount of energy that flows
through a particular surface per unit area per unit time.

where (including the SI units)

is the local heat flux, [W·m−2]

is the material's conductivity, [W·m−1·K−1],
is the temperature gradient, [K·m−1].

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 May/June 2007/ PT 44 – Answer Key

(iii) Dry and wet bulb temperature: 6 Marks

Dry Bulb Temperature - Tdb

• The Dry Bulb temperature, usually referred to as air temperature, is the air property that is most
common used. When people refer to the temperature of the air, they are normally referring to its dry
bulb temperature.
• The Dry Bulb Temperature refers basically to the ambient air temperature. It is called "Dry Bulb"
because the air temperatureis indicated by a thermometer not affected by the moisture of the air.
• Dry-bulb temperature - Tdb, can be measured using a normal thermometer freely exposed to the air
but shielded from radiation and moisture. The temperature is usually given in degrees Celsius (oC) or
degrees Fahrenheit (oF). The SI unit is Kelvin (K). Zero Kelvin equals to -273oC.
• The dry-bulb temperature is an indicator of heat content and is shown along the bottom axis of the
psychrometric chart. Constant dry bulb temperatures appear as vertical lines in the psychrometric
chart.
Wet Bulb Temperature - Twb

• The Wet Bulb temperature is the temperature of adiabatic saturation. This is the temperature
indicated by a moistened thermometer bulb exposed to the air flow.
• Wet Bulb temperature can be measured by using a thermometer with the bulb wrapped in wet
muslin. The adiabatic evaporation of water from the thermometer and the cooling effect is indicated
by a "wet bulb temperature" lower than the "dry bulb temperature" in the air.
• The rate of evaporation from the wet bandage on the bulb, and the temperature difference between
the dry bulb and wet bulb, depends on the humidity of the air. The evaporation is reduced when the
air contains more water vapor.
• The wet bulb temperature is always lower than the dry bulb temperature but will be identical with
100% relative humidity (the air is at the saturation line).
• Combining the dry bulb and wet bulb temperature in a psychrometric diagram or Mollier chart,
gives the state of the humid air. Lines of constant wet bulb temperatures run diagonally from the
upper left to the lower right in the Psychrometric Chart.

(b) (i) Theory of diffusion: 4 Marks

• Repeated Question – Nov/Dec 2007
(ii) Steady state heat conduction: 6 Marks
• Repeated Question – Nov/Dec 2007
(iii) Hydroclone: 6 Marks
• Repeated Question – Nov/Dec 2006