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HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY
School of Engineering & Physical Sciences
_______________________
Chemical Engineering
_______________________

Process Industries C
Course Code: B48BA1
Monday, 5th December 2011

16:30-18:30

Location: Sports Hall 1

Information Section
Answer FOUR questions, including at least one from SECTION B.
Numbers in brackets indicate the marks allocated.

Candidates are expected to make reasonable assumptions

where necessary

Where a distribution of marks within a question is shown, this should not be

taken to be definitive but is for guidance only
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SECTION A

1.

The Antoine equation relates vapour pressure to temperature and can be stated
as:

Log10 P * = A

B
(T + C )

Where

P* = vapour pressure in mm Hg
T = temperature in C
A, B and C are constants for a particular substance.
Atmospheric pressure is taken as 760 mm Hg
The values for A, B and C for two unknown substances are given below:

Component X
Component Y

a)

b)

c)

2.

A
8.112
8.379

B
1592.864
1788.020

C
226.184
227.438

Determine the boiling point of each pure component at atmospheric

pressure
(8)
Using four intermediate temperatures, construct a T-x-y diagram for the
system at atmospheric pressure
(14)
What assumptions must you make to carry out parts (a) and (b)?
(3)

A feed of 1600 kg/day to an ammonium sulphate concentration process contains

0.1 kg (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 /kg solution. The solution is aqueous. The feed is mixed with
a recycle stream and passed into an evaporator where some of the water (only)
is removed. The evaporator product contains 60%w/w (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 and this
passes to a crystalliser. Crystals from the crystalliser contain 5%w/w water and
the remaining liquor, which contains 35% w/w (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 , is recycled back to
the original feed stream to the Evaporator.
a)

Draw a schematic diagram of the layout of the system

(5)

b)

Find all mass flow rates and stream compositions

(20)

Contd..
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3.

(a)

A manometer is open to the atmosphere at one end and the other is

connected to a pipe, as shown in the diagram below. The manometer
contains oil, of a density 1400 kg m-3. Calculate the pressure in the pipe.
(8)

(b)
(i)

(ii)

Show how the Bernoulli equation can be used to estimate the

volumetric flow rate of liquid draining from an open tank through a
hole in the side, at the bottom. Assuming that the liquid in the tank
is water (density 1000 kg m-3) calculate the velocity of the liquid
draining out of the tank, assuming a depth of 5 m of water in the
tank
(12)
If the tank diameter is 5 m and the hole diameter is 10 cm,
calculate how long the tank would take to drain, based on the liquid
velocity in (i) above. Why would the tank take much longer to drain
in reality?
(5)

Contd..
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4.

A furnace is constructed with an insulating wall, consisting of 0.2m of firebrick,

0.1m of insulating brick and 0.2m of standard building brick in series. Given that
the inside temperature of the furnace is 1200K and the outside temperature is
330K and that the thermal conductivities of each of materials are as shown
below, calculate:
a)
b)

the heat loss per unit area through the walls of the furnace
(10)
the temperatures at the junction of both the firebrick and insulating brick,
and insulating brick and building brick
(10)

The furnace buildings dimensions are 3m by 2m with a height of 2m. Ignoring

any heat loss to the ground and assuming the roof is of the same construction as
the walls and that differences between internal and external surface areas are
negligible. Thermal conductivity values k, below, are are in W/m.K
c)

calculate total heat loss from the furnace

(5)

Contd..
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SECTION B

5.

Gases can be studied using Thermodynamics or Kinetic Gas Theory.

contribute important aspects to our understanding.

Both

a)

Imagine two ideal-gas systems that are identical, except system 1

contains twice the number of molecules compared to system 2. Use
Thermodynamics to determine the pressure ratio.
(5)

b)

Justify your result in part (a) using your understanding of the particulate
nature of gases.
(5)

c)

We always associate a hotter gas with faster moving gas molecules.

Show this by showing that

is always positive.

(In Kinetic Gas Theory the pressure is given as

.)
(15)

6.

A chemical reactor of spherical shape (radius: r=3m, volume: V=4/3 r3) is filled
to 1/2 of its height with a liquid reaction mixture. The reactor has a vent that
ensures that the pressure inside the reactor is equal to the environmental
pressure of 0.1MPa at all times.
a)

Due to a fault the vent is closed and the temperature inside the reactor
increases from 40C to 80C. Calculate the resulting pressure inside the
reactor.
(5)

b)

At these elevated temperatures it must be expected that one of the

components of the reaction mixture decomposes. This decomposition
results in the release of 500kg of methane (M methane =16g mol-1). Calculate
the final reactor pressure in this case.
(10)

c)

By integration of the isothermal compressibility

show that a gas with

must satisfy Boyles law.

(10)

END OF PAPER
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B48BA1

HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES
Chemical Engineering

____________________________________________________________________
B48BA1
PROCESS INDUSTRIES C
Semester 1 2012-2013
____________________________________________________________________

Wednesday, 5 December, 2012

Time: 13:30 15:30
Duration: 2 hours

Information Section

Answer FOUR questions, including at least one from SECTION B.

Numbers in brackets indicate the marks allocated.

Candidates are expected to make reasonable assumptions

where necessary

Where a distribution of marks within a question is shown, this should not be

taken to be definitive but is for guidance only

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B48BA1

B48BA1

Section A.

1.
a) A 100 m3 tank at 300C contains a gaseous mixture with 12 kg of hydrogen and
56 kg of nitrogen. (Gas constant R = 8.314 kJ kmol-1K-1)
i. Calculate the number of moles of each component.
(3)
ii. Calculate the mole fraction of each component.
(2)
iii. Estimate the total pressure of the gas in the tank and the partial
pressure of each component.
(5)
b) Haber process is an industrial process to manufacture ammonia gas using H 2
and N 2 with iron as a catalyst.
i. Write a balance equation representing the Haber process
(3)
ii. If the process only records a 15% conversion under the above
conditions, what is the number of mole and mass of NH 3
generated?
(6)
-1
iii. Given that the heat of reaction H = -92.22 kJ mol , why is the
Haber process carried out at such a high temperature (300C) and
at a pressure estimated in (a.ii)?
(4)
iv. What is the function of the catalyst?
(2)

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Contd..
2.
A sample of magnetic nanoparticles
Fe 3 O 4 (density = 5.0 g cm-3).

(MNP)

has

the

chemical formula of

a) Calculate the specific surface area in m2 g-1(surface area of a nanoparticle per

unit mass) of this magnetic nanoparticle sample if the particle diameter is also 20
nm. Also, calculate how many iron atoms are there in ONE nanoparticle.
(Atomic mass: Fe = 56, O = 16)
(10)
b) To prepare Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles, a mixed aqueous solution of Fe2+ and Fe3+ at a
1:2 ratio is reacted with a base, e.g. NaOH, at 80C.
i.
ii.

iii.

Write down the balanced equation for this reaction.

(4)
If a target mass of 1 kg of magnetic nanoparticles is required, what
is the minimum mass of NaOH required?
(6)
Draw a flow chart diagram for this process, assuming the Fe2+
and Fe3+ are fed as a mixed aqueous solution. Which reactant
should be in excess if we want to ensure a high conversion?
(5)

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B48BA1

Contd..
3.
A stream of low wine with 20% ethanol and 80% water is fed into a continuous
distillation column at a flow of 200 kg min-1. There are two product streams from the
column with the following compositions:
Top stream: 60% ethanol, 40% water
Bottom stream: 5% ethanol, 95% water
Density of the streams at 20C:

5% ethanol = 0.997 kg dm-3

20% ethanol = 0.995 kg dm-3
60% ethanol = 0.988 kg dm-3

a) Draw a flow chart diagram to represent this distillation system

(3)
b) Calculate the mass flow rates of the two product streams
(5)
c) Calculate the mole fractions of ethanol and water in all three streams
(9)
d) Find out the volumetric flow rate of all three streams
(6)
e) If the pipe has a diameter of 10 cm, calculate the velocity of flow for the top
product streams.
(2)

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B48BA1

Contd..
4.
a) Give the equation for the Gibbs phase rule with a brief description of each term.
Explain the term degrees of freedom.
(3)
b) Use the Gibbs phase rule to determine the number of degrees of freedom in the
following systems:
i.
ii.
iii.

A close system with dry ice and gaseous CO 2

A saturated aqueous solution of copper(II) sulphate (CuSO 4 ) with
CuSO 4 crystals suspended in solution.
A vapour-liquid mixture of methanol, ethanol, and propanol.
(6)

c) The figure below shows a water heater. If the water flows in to the system at a
flow rate of 1L/min at 20C and the hot water flow out at a temperature of 90C.
(Specific heat capacity of water = 4.2 J g-1 K-1)
i.

Calculate the enthalpy required to heat the water (in kJ kg-1)

ii.

A minimum power input for the heater (in kW)

(3)

iii.

(3)
Calculate the heat loss due to conduction if the heater is made of
steel (thickness = 3 mm), and compare this figure with a heater
made of stainless steel (also thickness = 3 mm), consider the
boiler tank as a flat surface for this calculation. Which material will
you use if you are asked to construct a water heater? Give
reasons for your choice in terms of energy efficiency. Given that
the conductivity (k) of steel is 45 W m-1 K-1 and that of stainless
steel is 16 W m-1 K-1. Assuming that the whole heater is at a
constant temperature of 90C and the outside temperature is 20C.

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(10)
Contd..
Section B
Some useful equations and constants
Average kinetic energy per molecule from Kinetic Gas Theory:

Ekin =

Internal energy of a monatomic molecule from Thermodynamics:

Pressure from Kinetic Gas Theory:

P=

m 2
v
2

u1 = Etherm =

3
kT
2

1N
mv 2
3V

M CO2 =44g/mol, M N2 =28g/mol, M O2 =32g/mol, M Ar =18g/mol, M Kr =36g/mol

5.
The dangers of drinking. 5 guys are in and airtight elevator at 0.1MPa and 19.85C.
The gas volume in the elevator is 3m3. It is filled with air, which we assume to consist of
70% N 2 and 30% O 2 given as volume fractions. The guys bought some beer for the
evening. They all bought 0.5L bottles. Due to some mechanical fault the elevator
suddenly stops, causing all the carrier bags to rupture. The 100 bottles fall to the floor
and break. The beer releases 7g of CO 2 per liter of beer.

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B48BA1

a) Calculate the partial pressures and partial volumes of all gases in the elevator
after all the CO 2 is released. Assume that all gases can be treated as ideal
gases.
(16)
b) At a mole fraction above 5% CO 2 causes confusion and unconsciousness. Are
the guys in danger?
(4)
At 20C the internal energy per molecule of N 2 is (5/2)kT.
c) For N 2 at 20C calculate the molar heat capacity at constant volume

du
cV =
where u is the molar internal energy. Provide your answer in
dT V
J/(mol K).
(5)

Contd..

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6.

Thermodynamics and Kinetic Gas Theory. Consider 1L of air at 20C. We assume

that air consist of 70% N 2 and 30% O 2 given as volume fractions. We also assume that
air can be treated as an ideal gas.
a) How many molecules does 1L of air contain?
(4)
Air also contains small amounts of noble gases, such as Argon and Krypton. These
gases are monatomic.
b) For the noble gases Argon and Krypton in air calculate
the velocities of the gas atoms.

v 2 as an estimate of
(9)

Daltons law can be directly obtained from Kinetic Gas Theory.

c) What is Daltons law and how does it result from Kinetic Gas Theory?
(6)
dh
d) The molar heat capacity at constant pressure is given as cP =
where h is
dT P

the molar enthalpy. The Enthalpy is defined as H = U + PV where U is the

internal energy. Calculate the molar heat capacity at constant pressure for
Argon.
(6)

END OF PAPER

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B48BA1