B49CE - Tutorial Topic 2 Questions v3

Tutorial Topic 2 Questions 1
2.5 Tutorial 2
1. A mixture of hydrocarbons of the following composition is flashed in a

separator at 40oC and 1,000 kPa. Determine what fraction leaves the
separator as liquid and the composition of both product streams.
(Use L = 0.5 for the first iteration).
Component Mole Fraction

Methane 0.10
Ethane 0.25
Propane 0.30
n-Butane 0.10
i-Butane 0.20
n-Pentane 0.05
(Answer L= 0.085, compositions:
Component xi yi
Methane 0.006 0.108
Ethane 0.067 0.268
Propane 0.194 0.310
n-Butane 0.201 0.090
i-Butane 0.307 0.190
n-Pentane 0.225 0.034
2. The product from the top of a distillation column passes into a

condenser and is partially condensed at 14 bara and 40oC. It is then
passed into a separator where both phase are separated. The mixture
has a composition as given below.

Ethane 0.20
Ethene 0.17
Propane 0.23
n-Butane 0.21
n-Heptane 0.10
n-Octane 0.09
Determine the fraction of the mixture which is condensed and the

composition of the two phases (Use L = 0.5 for the first iteration).
©HERIOT-W ATT UNIVERSITY B49CE December 2017 v3

(Answers L= 0.600, compositions:
Component xi yi
Methane 0.111 0.333
Ethane 0.071 0.320
Propane 0.221 0.243
n-Butane 0.284 0.099
i-Butane 0.164 0.003
n-Pentane 0.149 0.001
3. Vapour leaving the top plate of a distillation column at a pressure of

6.5 bara has the following composition and is fed to a total condenser.

Ethane 0.12
Propane 0.26
i-Butane 0.62
a) Determine the operating temperature of the condenser (assume no

pressure drop across the condenser and use 40oC as a first
iteration).
b) The temperature of the reflux drum, which receives the condensed

stream, is 5oC higher than that of the condenser. Estimate what
percentage of the liquid stream will re-evaporate (assume no
pressure drop through the reflux drum and use L = 0.5 for the first
iteration).
(Answers a) 12oC and b) 15%)
4. The overhead vapour stream from a fractionating column passing a

condenser has the following composition:

Ethane 0.15
Propane 0.20
i-Butane 0.60
n-Butane 0.05

It is desired to operate so that 75% of the stream is liquefied in the

condenser. If the material leaves the condenser at 25oC, what is the
pressure required and what is the composition of the vapour product?
(HINT: take a first iteration of 1,000 kPa).
(Answer P = 720 kPa, composition:
Component yi
Ethane 0.349
Propane 0.255
i-Butane 0.372
n-Butane 0.022
5. If the overhead vapour stream described in the previous question is in

equilibrium with the liquid leaving the top bubble cap plate in the
column, calculate the range of operating temperatures within which the
top plate can be operated. Assume that the pressure drop between the
top plate of the column and the condenser is 50 kPa (HINT: take 40oC
as the first iteration).
(Answer 17oC to 40oC)
6. A hydrocarbon mixture of the composition below is to be separated

using a distillation column operating at 15 bara:

Methane 0.17
Ethane 0.24
Propane 0.28
n-Butane 0.31
It is required that the feed enters the column as a two-phase mixture.

What is the possible range of feed temperatures (HINT: take -40oC and
50oC as first iterations).
(Answer – 50oC to 54oC)

7. A hydrocarbon stream, of the composition below, is to be partially

condensed by spraying liquid propane into it.

Methane 0.350
Ethane 0.275
Propane 0.375
If the molar ratio of liquid propane to the vapour stream is 1:4 and the
process is carried out at 30 bara and 5oC, calculate the composition
and quantities of both phases leaving the process (Use L = 0.5 for the
first iteration).
(Answers: L = 3.55 moles, V= 1.45 moles(based on 1 mole of liquid

entering, compositions
Component xi yi
Ethane 0.133 0.638

Propane 0.227 0.204
i-Butane 0.639 0.160
8. A sample of a vapour mixture has been partially analysed and has the
following composition:

Methane 0.08
Ethane 0.17
Propane 0.25
Unknown – “X” 0.50
It is suspected that the unknown component is either i-butane or n-

butane. As a test the vapour is cooled at 1.4 bara and it begins to
condense at -14oC. By the time -26oC is reached, approximately half of
the mixture is condensed. Find Unknown X (HINT: the component may
be a mixture).

(Answer: The unknown component “X” is likely a mixture of i-butane

and n-butane in a 4:1 ratio. The dew point and liquid fraction
calculations tend point in this direction)
9. The vapour product from the top of a distillation column has the
following composition:

Ethane 0.11
Propane 0.66
n-Butane 0.23
The mixture passes to a partial condenser operating at 10 bara. The

vapour is taken off as a product and the liquid is refluxed to the column.
Estimate the operating temperature of the condenser (HINT: try 40oC) if
the reflux ratio is 5:1 (Note the reflux ratio is the ratio of liquid returned
to the column to the product removed from the condenser). Also
evaluate the composition of the product and reflux streams.
What would be the effect on the K value for propane if the ethane were
replaced by methane?
(Answer: 25oC, compositions
Component xi yi
Ethane 0.079 0.261

Propane 0.660 0.660
n-Butane 0.260 0.078
10.
a) Explain the circumstance under which the Lewis-Randall rule and
Raoult’s law are valid.
b) 100 kmols of an equimolar mixture of octane and water flows into a

flash separator maintained at 10.3 bara and 205oC. Evaluate the
amounts of vapour and liquid formed and the composition of both

phases. Use Raoult’s law and the vapour pressure given below in
your calculation (Use L = 0.5 as the first iteration).
B
lnP sat  A 
T
(cont……)
In which P sat = vapour pressure (N/m2) and T = temperature (K.).
Component A B
Octane 22.66 -4468.6
Water 24.99 -5068.6
c) Can you see any reasons why your answer should be inaccurate or
invalid?
(Answers: a)The Lewis-Randall rule applies to……….Raoult’s law

applies to……..b) 50 kmol of liquid and 50 kmol of vapour formed,
compositions
Component xi yi
Octane 0.631 0.370

Water 0.368 0.632
(Answer: c) Validity? Accuracy?)

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Tutorial Topic 2 Questions 1

1. A mixture of hydrocarbons of the following composition is flashed in a

Component Mole Fraction

(Answer L= 0.085, compositions:

2. The product from the top of a distillation column passes into a

Component Mole Fraction

Determine the fraction of the mixture which is condensed and the

©HERIOT-W ATT UNIVERSITY B49CE December 2017 v3

(Answers L= 0.600, compositions:

3. Vapour leaving the top plate of a distillation column at a pressure of

Component Mole Fraction

a) Determine the operating temperature of the condenser (assume no

b) The temperature of the reflux drum, which receives the condensed

(Answers a) 12oC and b) 15%)

4. The overhead vapour stream from a fractionating column passing a

Component Mole Fraction

©HERIOT-W ATT UNIVERSITY B49CE December 2017 v3

It is desired to operate so that 75% of the stream is liquefied in the

(Answer P = 720 kPa, composition:

5. If the overhead vapour stream described in the previous question is in

(Answer 17oC to 40oC)

6. A hydrocarbon mixture of the composition below is to be separated

Component Mole Fraction

It is required that the feed enters the column as a two-phase mixture.

(Answer – 50oC to 54oC)

©HERIOT-W ATT UNIVERSITY B49CE December 2017 v3

7. A hydrocarbon stream, of the composition below, is to be partially

Component Mole Fraction

(Answers: L = 3.55 moles, V= 1.45 moles(based on 1 mole of liquid

Ethane 0.133 0.638

Component Mole Fraction

It is suspected that the unknown component is either i-butane or n-

©HERIOT-W ATT UNIVERSITY B49CE December 2017 v3

(Answer: The unknown component “X” is likely a mixture of i-butane

Component Mole Fraction

The mixture passes to a partial condenser operating at 10 bara. The

(Answer: 25oC, compositions

Ethane 0.079 0.261

b) 100 kmols of an equimolar mixture of octane and water flows into a

©HERIOT-W ATT UNIVERSITY B49CE December 2017 v3

In which P sat = vapour pressure (N/m2) and T = temperature (K.).

(Answers: a)The Lewis-Randall rule applies to……….Raoult’s law

Octane 0.631 0.370

(Answer: c) Validity? Accuracy?)

©HERIOT-W ATT UNIVERSITY B49CE December 2017 v3

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