UNIVERSITY OF MORATUWA

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL AND PROCESS ENGINEERING

B.Sc. Engineering Honors Degree
Semester 5 Examination: 2014 (11 Batch)

CH 3013: UNIT OPERATIONS II

Time allowed: 3 Hours September 2014

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL: Steam tables, Graph papers

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES:
1. This paper consists of 6 questions in 10 pages.
2. Answer any FIVE questions.
3. The maximum attainable mark for each question is given in brackets.
4. This examination accounts for 70% of the module assessment.
5. This is a closed book examination. Please leave all notes and other material outside the
examination hall.
NB: It is an offence to be in possession of unauthorised material during the
examination.
6. Only calculators approved and labelled by the Faculty of Engineering are permitted.
7. Assume reasonable values for any data not given in or with the examination paper.
Clearly state such assumptions made on the script.
8. In case ofany doubt as to the interpretation of the wording of a question, make suitable
assumptions and clearly state them on the script.
9. This paper should be answered only in English.
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Page 2 of 10
Question 1
(a) Define the term bubble point of a liquid mixture and explain the method of [20]
calculation of the bubble point of a mixture.

(b) Two Chemical Engineering undergraduates (A and B) have performed calculations [60]
to determine the bubble point of the following feed at 4.0 atm. A has estimated the
bubble point as 65 ºC while B has estimated as 70ºC. The tutor informed that one
of them has got the correct answer. Perform bubble point calculations and determine
the correct answer.

Comp n-butane n-pentane n-hexane n-heptane

Mole frac. 0.40 0.25 0.20 0.15

Equilibrium ratios are given in Fig. Q 1.

(c) Explain briefly, without detailed mathematics how the work of Fenske, Underwood [20]
and Gilliland can be used in determination of number of stages for a multi-
component distillation column.

Question 2
(a) Explain the boiling point rise (BPR) of a solution and how BPR is taken into account [20]
in evaporator design.

(b) A solution of NaOH is concentrated from 10% to 25% by weight in a single effect
evaporator. The feed enters the evaporator at its boiling point (relevant to evaporator
pressure) at a rate of 5000 kg/h. Saturated steam at 110 ºC is available and the
evaporator is maintained at 0.5 bar.
[50]
(i). Calculate the steam consumption.
(ii). Determine the overall heat transfer coefficient of the calendria if the heat [20]
transfer area is 35 m2.
(iii). What is the steam economy of the evaporator? [10]

Dühring lines and Enthalpy data for NaOH is provided in Fig. Q 2 (a) and Q 2(b).

Page 3 of 10
Question 3
(a) Air-water vapor mixture at 35 °C contains 0.03 kg of water vapor per kg of dry air at
1 atm. This mixture is heated to 90 ºC and humidified and cooled adiabatically. Show
the flow path in the psychrometric chart provided (Fig. Q3(a)) and determine;
(i). The temperature and humidity of the mixture if air leaves at saturated
condition. [20]
(ii). Temperature and humidity if the mixture leaves at 70 % RH.

(b) A counter current packed tower of 3 m diameter and 17 m height is used to cool
water using ambient air at 28 °C (dry bulb) with a wet bulb temperature of 22 °C.
Water flows to the tower at 33.33 kg/s at 50 ºC and leaves at 30 ºC. Exit air leaves at
45 ºC (dry bulb) at fully saturated condition. The heat transfer resistance in the liquid
phase is negligible.

(i). Construct the operating line on the Fig Q3(b) provided. [25]
(ii). Calculate the air flow rate in the tower. [15]
(iii). Calculate the Height of a Transfer Unit (HTU) value for the tower and hence
[25]
determine the Number of Transfer Units (NTU) for the given operation.
(iv) What is the air-water interface temperature in the tower at which the [15]
water temperature is 45 ºC?

Data: ky a = 0.9 kg/s m3

Specific heat of water = 4.2 kJ/kg K

Psychrometric chart for air-water vapour system is provided in Fig. Q3(a). Saturated
gas enthalpy vs. liquid temperature plot is given in Fig Q3(b) for necessary graphical
constructions.
The following equations for cooling tower design with usual notations can be used.

Hg2
G' dH g
Z=
kya S ∫
H g1
(H i − H g )
= HTU × NTU

Hi − H g hL a
=−
ti − t L kya

Lav C wL  L C t 
Hg = t L +  H g1 − av wL L1 
G'  G' 

Page 4 of 10
Question 4
(a) Show that for a multi-component mixture concentrations of liquid and vapour phases,
which are in equilibrium, are related by,
α i , j xi
yi =
∑ (α i , j xi )
Where yi and xi are the mole fractions of the ith component in the vapour and liquid
phases respectively.
[20]
αi,j – relative volatility

(b) Explain briefly the terms ‘Entrainment’, Weeping’ and ‘Flooding’ with respect to a
sieve tray distillation column. [20]

(c) Explain two commonly used methods of achieving super saturation in crystallization. [20]
(d) 2000 kg of a Na2CO3 aqueous solution containing 25% by weight of Na2CO3 is
cooled to 20 °C. The salt crystallizes as the deca-hydrate. What will be the yield of
Na2CO3.10H2O crystals if the solubility is 21.5 kg anhydrous Na2CO3/100 kg of total
water if,
(i). No water is evaporated.
(ii). 2 % of the total weight of the solution is lost by evaporation of water in [40]
cooling.
(Molecular weights : Na -23, C-12, O -16, H -1)

Question 5
(a) Nitrogen dioxide, NO2, is to be removed from air by adsorption onto silica gel in a
continuous counter-current adsorber. The gas enters the adsorber at the rate of 0.25
kg/s contains 1.5 NO2 mole% and 85 percent of the NO2 is to be removed. Operation
is to be isothermal at 25° C, 760 mmHg. The entering gel will be free of NO2. The
equilibrium isotherm at this temperature and pressure is given by the following data;

Partial Pressure, NO2 mmHg 0 2 4 6 8 10 12

kg NO2/100 kg gel 0 0.4 0.9 1.65 2.60 3.65 4.85

(Molecular weights : N -14, O -16, air -29)

(i). Plot equilibrium data for the system on a graph paper. [30]
(ii). Calculate the minimum flow rate of gel required.
(iii). For twice the minimum gel rate calculate the number of equilibrium stages [30]
required.
[25]

(b) Explain the technique used in temperature swing adsorption. [15]

Page 5 of 10
Question 6
(a) Explain why time required to remove a certain moisture content in the constant rate
period is low compared to the time required in the falling rate period to remove the
same moisture content. [30]

(b) When wet granular solids placed on a tray were dried in a stream of hot air, two
falling rates, both linear with moisture content was obtained. The constant drying
rate was 2.5 kg/m2.h and the critical moisture content was 0.18 kg moisture/kg dry
solids. The moisture content at the end of the first falling rate period was 0.1 kg
moisture/kg dry solids and the equilibrium moisture content was zero.

At a solid loading of 7 kg/m2.h, it took 1.68 hrs to dry the material from 0.1 to 0.03
moisture content. Calculate the time required to dry the material from an initial [70]
moisture content of 0.35 to final moisture of 0.01 under the given condition.

Page 6 of 10
Fig. Q 1
Fig.Q 2 (a) and (b) : Enthalpy data and DÜhring lines for NaOH solutions
Fig.Q3(a)
 Index No:………………………..

300

250
Sat. Gas Enthalpy kJ/kg

200

150

100

50

0
10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55
liquid temperature C

Fig Q. 3(b): Sat. gas enthalpy vs liquid temperature plot – to be attached to the answer
book

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