Examination for the Bachelor of Chemical Engineering - B.E.

(Chem)
Semester 1, 2012
105527
105438
105994

CHEMENG 3035 Chemical Engineering Applications A

CHEMENG 3022 Pharmaceutical Engineering Applications A
CHEMENG 7050 Chemical Engineering Applications A PG

Official Reading Time:

Writing Time:
Total Duration:

10 mins
180 mins
190 mins

Part

Questions

Time

Marks

A
B

Answer all 1 question

Answer all 3 questions

60 mins
120 mins

60 marks
120 marks
180 Total

Instructions

Part A is a Closed Book examination Calculators are not permitted.

Part B is an Open Book examination during which reference materials may
be consulted, and calculators may be used.
Part A must be handed in before commencing Part B.
Part B may be attempted early provided that Part A has been handed in.
Answer Parts A and B in separate books.
Begin each question on a new page.
The marks for each question are indicated.
Write your name and Student ID number on all loose diagrams/papers.
Examination materials must not be removed from the examination room.

Materials

Course notes and text books are permitted for Part B.

Calculator is permitted for Part B.
The use of a dictionary is permitted.
Graph paper.
Attachments:
1. Drag coefficient Reynolds number chart.
2. Eckert chart and Packing factor data
3. Batch solids flux data.
DO NOT COMMENCE WRITING UNTIL INSTRUCTED TO DO SO

Examination 2012

CHEMENG 3035 (105527)

CHEMENG 3022 (105438)
CHEMENG 7050 (105994)

PART A. CLOSED BOOK

Question 1

(60 marks)

Give brief answers to the following questions. Marks for individual questions are as indicated.

a)

Consider a square plate-shaped particle having sides a and thickness b. Define

and express the following properties of the particle in terms of its dimensions:

b)

A.

Surface area-equivalent diameter (dS)

B.

Surface-area volume diameter (dSV)

C.

Sphericity ()

[6]

Define the surface-volume number mean diameter (dSVn) for a powder

containing non-spherical particles having the same sphericity (). Explain how
dSVn can be calculated from size distribution data based on (1) particle number
measurement, and (2) particle mass measurement.

c)

[4]

How do you know if the particle sizes of a particulate solid follow log-normal
size distribution? What are the key features of this size distribution function? [3]

d)

Under

what

condition

does

hindered

settling

occur?

Describe

the

characteristics of this type of settling behaviour, and explain how the hindered
settling velocity can be determined experimentally and analytically.
e)

Describe the effects of surface tension and gravity on the shape and terminal
velocity of a rain drop falling in air.

f)

[4]

[3]

For flow through porous media, give the definitions and applications of the
following terms, and show that they are equivalent characteristic dimensions of
a porous medium:

g)

A.

Hydraulic radius

B.

Specific surface area (per unit mass of solids)

[4]

Consider a porous medium initially filled by a liquid. A gas is then introduced

under pressure in order to displace the liquid from the medium. Describe the
flow behaviour of both fluid phases in terms of relative permeability as a
function of saturation, and discuss the effects of wettability and surface tension
on the mobility of the fluids.

Chemical Engineering Applications A/Pharmaceutical Engineering Applications A

[4]

Page 2 of 9

Examination 2012

h)

CHEMENG 3035 (105527)

CHEMENG 3022 (105438)
CHEMENG 7050 (105994)

Consider counter-current flows of a gas and a liquid through a packed column.

Describe how the frictional pressure drop across the packing varies with the gas
and liquid flow rates. Define the critical conditions referred to as loading and
flooding, and explain how design of such a system is carried out.

i)

[5]

Describe incipient fluidisation, and explain how the minimum fluidising

velocity can be determined experimentally and analytically for beds containing
(1) uniform particles and (2) particles of different sizes?

j)

[4]

Under what conditions would a bed of particles be aggregatively fluidised?

Describe the various stages of bubbling fluidisation as the fluid velocity is
increased.

k)

[4]

What is a solids flux plot? Describe the procedure used to construct the solids
flux plot from batch settling data.

l)

[4]

Describe the four possible concentration zones in a type II settling slurry.

Show how the movements of the interfaces associated with these zones can be
predicted from batch solids flux data.

m)

[5]

The general filtration equation is usually given in the following form:

R dV
CS
=
P
V+ m
2
A dt
A

A.

Outline the basic steps involved in the development of the above equation,
and define all terms.

B.

[4]

Describe how the parameters and Rm for incompressible materials can

be determined from laboratory filtration experiments.

n)

[3]

Describe the various stages of a filtration cycle in a continuous rotary drum

filter.

[3]

END OF PART A

Chemical Engineering Applications A/Pharmaceutical Engineering Applications A

Page 3 of 9

Examination 2012

CHEMENG 3035 (105527)

CHEMENG 3022 (105438)
CHEMENG 7050 (105994)

PART B. OPEN BOOK

Question 2

(40 marks)

A vessel with a diameter of 2 m contains 3400 kg of granular solids with a surfacevolume mean diameter of 600 m, sphericity of 0.81 and density of 1500 kg/m3. The
initial depth of the packed bed is 1.2 m. The particles are to be fluidised using a liquid
of specific gravity of 1.0 and viscosity of 1 cp.
a.

Calculate the minimum flow rate required to fluidise the bed. No information
about the voidage at minimum fluidisation is available.

b.

What should be the maximum operating liquid flow rate for this fluidised bed?

c.

In operation, the bed will be expanded to 2.5 times its initial depth. Calculate the
fluidising flow rate required and the pressure drop across the bed under this
condition. State any assumption made.

d.

Would particulate fluidisation occur in the bed?

Question 3

(40 marks)

A column, packed with 3 m of 50-mm plastic Pall rings, uses hot air to remove impurity
from an absorber oil. The oil (SG = 0.9, viscosity = 10 cp) is fed at the top of the column
at a rate of 300 kg/min, and the air (1.3 atm and 200oC) enters the bottom of the column
at 20 kg/min.
a.

Calculate the minimum column diameter that can be used without flooding.

b.

If the column diameter is 15 percent greater than the minimum size, what is the
pressure drop across the packing?

c.

After a long period of operation, scales built up on the surfaces of the packing,
reducing its performance. Consequently, the tower will flood if operated under the
condition stated in (b). Determine the new flow rate of the oil such that the tower
can operate, without flooding, at the same pressure drop as in (b).

Data: MW of air = 29; Gas constant: R = 8.314 m3.kPa/(kgmol.K); 1 atm = 101.325 kPa
Eckert correlation and Packing Factor data can be found in Attachment 2.

Chemical Engineering Applications A/Pharmaceutical Engineering Applications A

Page 4 of 9

Examination 2012

CHEMENG 3035 (105527)

CHEMENG 3022 (105438)
CHEMENG 7050 (105994)

Question 4

(40 marks)

A residue mineral slurry containing 30 wt% solids in water is concentrated by gravity

sedimentation to remove as much water as possible prior to disposal. The slurry is
fed to a continuous thickener at a rate of 300 m3/h, and the thickened underflow is
discharged by a slurry pump at 120 m3/h. The thickener has a diameter of 15 m in the
vertical cylindrical section. The specific gravity is 2.5 for the dry solids and 1.0 for
water. Laboratory batch solids flux data for the slurry is attached (Attachment 3).
a.

By means of the continuous solids flux method, assess the performance of the
thickener by determining the solids concentrations in the underflow, in the
overflow and in the thickening zone below the feed line of the thickener.

b.

What is the highest underflow concentration (in %wt solids) that can be
achieved with the thickener?

c.

Although the current operation is satisfactory, the management is considering

replacing the existing thickener with a smaller unit having a diameter of 11 m. If
all operating conditions remain unchanged, would this option work? Present
your case with detailed analysis of the new thickeners performance supported
by calculations of the solids concentrations of all streams leaving the thickener.

END OF PART B
END OF THE PAPER

Chemical Engineering Applications A/Pharmaceutical Engineering Applications A

Page 5 of 9

Examination 2012

CHEMENG 3035 (105527)

CHEMENG 3022 (105438)
CHEMENG 7050 (105994)

ATTACHMENT 1: Drag Coefficient Reynolds Number chart for non-spheres

Chemical Engineering Applications A/Pharmaceutical Engineering Applications A

Page 6 of 9

Examination 2012

CHEMENG 3035 (105527)

CHEMENG 3022 (105438)
CHEMENG 7050 (105994)

ATTACHMENT 2: Eckert Correlation

G 2FP L0.2 w

g G L L

Table: Packing Factor (Fp) for Some Plastic Packing Materials

Packing Type
Intalox saddles, plastic
(polypropylene)
Pall rings, plastic
(polypropylene)

Nominal size, mm
25
50
75
25
38
50
90

Packing factor Fp, m-1

105
69
50
170
105
82
52

Chemical Engineering Applications A/Pharmaceutical Engineering Applications A

Page 7 of 9

Examination 2012

CHEMENG 3035 (105527)

CHEMENG 3022 (105438)
CHEMENG 7050 (105994)

ATTACHMENT 3: Batch Solids Flux Data for Question 4

0.16

Solids flux, (mm/s)

0.14
0.12
0.1
0.08
0.06
0.04
0.02
0
0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.4

0.5

Solids volume fraction, c

0.16

Solids flux, (mm/s)

0.14
0.12
0.1
0.08
0.06
0.04
0.02
0
0

0.1

0.2

0.3

Solids volume fraction, c

Chemical Engineering Applications A/Pharmaceutical Engineering Applications A

Page 8 of 9

Examination 2012

CHEMENG 3035 (105527)

CHEMENG 3022 (105438)
CHEMENG 7050 (105994)

Chemical Engineering Applications A/Pharmaceutical Engineering Applications A

Page 9 of 9