UNOCHB2 UNIT OPERATIONS 2B (MEMO) 2019: Test 3

FACULTY : Engineering and the Built Environment (FEBE)

PROGRAMME : Chemical Engineering
COURSE : UNIT OPERATIONS 2B
COURSE CODE : UNOCHB2
DATE : 23 October 2019
TEST NO. : Three (MEMO)
DURATION : 1.5 hours
TOTAL MARKS : 50
_________________________________________________________________________

INTERNAL EXAMINER(S) : N Seedat

NO. OF PAGES : 09
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HINTS AND INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATE(S):
- The purpose of this assessment is to determine not only if you can write down an answer, but also
to assess whether you understand the concepts, principles and expressions involved. Set out your
solutions in a logical and concise manner with justification for the steps that you follow.

- ATTEMPT ALL QUESTIONS.

- Number each question clearly; questions may be answered in any order.

- Make sure that you read each question carefully before attempting to answer the question.

- Show all steps (and units) in calculations.

- Answers must be to FOUR significant figures

- List all assumptions

- This is a ‘closed book’ test.

- Use of a scientific (non-programmable) calculator is permitted (only one per candidate).

- Write clearly and legibly.

GOOD LUCK!
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Page 1 of 8
UNOCHB2 UNIT OPERATIONS 2B (MEMO) 2019: Test 3

Question One [22 Marks]

A single effect evaporator A batch dryer removes water from a solid at a rate of 0.00311 kg/s
during the constant rate period. Critical free moisture content is 0.7 kg H 2O/kg dry solid. The
equilibrium moisture content of the material is 0.065 kg H 2O/kg dry solid. The drier is initially
charged with 100 000 g of total material, which contains 85 kg of moisture. The final product
should contain 0.12 kg H2O/kg dry solid. The falling rate period can be represented by a
straight line. The total drying area is 1.8 m2.

1.1 What is equilibrium moisture content? [4]

1.2 Determine the total drying time (in hours) to produce the product. [18]

1.1
When a wet material is left exposed to air/atmosphere, with the air having a certain moisture
content (referred to as humidity) and at a specific temperature, the wet material will either gain
additional moisture or lose some of the moisture until an equilibrium is established between
the moisture in the solid and the moisture in the air. The concentration of water in the solid
(i.e. moisture content) at equilibrium is referred to as the equilibrium moisture content.
Similarly, concentration of water in a gas (predominantly air) is referred to as humidity.
[4 Marks]
1.2
The following information is given in the problem:

𝑅𝑐 = 0.00311 𝑘𝑔/𝑠 = 11.196 𝑘𝑔/ℎ

[2 Mark]
𝑤 = 0.12 𝑘𝑔 𝐻2 𝑂/𝑘𝑔 𝑑𝑟𝑦 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑
[1 Mark]
𝑤𝑒 = 0.065 𝑘𝑔 𝐻2 𝑂/𝑘𝑔 𝑑𝑟𝑦 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑
[1 Mark]
𝑓𝑐 = 0.7 𝑘𝑔 𝐻2 𝑂/𝑘𝑔 𝑑𝑟𝑦 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑
[1 Mark]
Now we can calculate 𝑓, the free moisture content:

𝑓 = 𝑤 − 𝑤𝑒
= 0.12 − 0.065
= 0.055 𝑘𝑔 𝐻2 𝑂/𝑘𝑔 𝑑𝑟𝑦 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑
[2 Marks]
Critical moisture content is then:

𝑓𝑐 = 𝑤𝑐 − 𝑤𝑒
0.7 = 𝑤𝑐 − 0.065
∴ 𝑤𝑐 = 0.765 𝑘𝑔 𝐻2 𝑂/𝑘𝑔 𝑑𝑟𝑦 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑
Page 2 of 8
UNOCHB2 UNIT OPERATIONS 2B (MEMO) 2019: Test 3

[2 Mark]
85 𝑘𝑔 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟
𝑤𝑖 = = 0.85 𝑘𝑔 𝐻2 𝑂/𝑘𝑔 𝑑𝑟𝑦 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑
100 𝑘𝑔 𝑑𝑟𝑦 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑
[1 Mark]
Assume that the drying area is, 𝐴 = 1.8 𝑚 2 . We know that:
𝑤𝑖 − 𝑤𝑐
𝑡𝑐 =
𝑅𝑐 𝐴
(0.85 − 0.765)
=
11.196 × 1.8
= 0.004218 ℎ/𝑘𝑔 𝑑𝑟𝑦 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑 × 100 𝑘𝑔 𝑑𝑟𝑦 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑
= 0.4218 ℎ
[3 Marks]
Remember that the moisture contents, 𝑤𝑖 and 𝑤𝑐 , were expressed relative to the mass of dry solid,
hence these quantities have to be multiplied by the total mass of dry solid to obtain the total
moisture contents for the sample at different points during the drying cycle (i.e. in the beginning and
at the critical point).

Finally, we can determine the drying time during the falling rate period:
𝑓𝑐 𝑄 𝑓𝑐
𝑡𝑓 = ln ( )
𝑅𝑐 𝐴 𝑓
Once again, remember that we have expressed different moisture contents relative to the mass of
dry solid, hence these will have to be multiplied with the mass of dry solid to obtain total moisture
contents for the sample.
0.7 × 100 0.7
𝑡𝑓 = ln
11.196 × 1.8 0.055
= 8.84 ≈ 12 ℎ
[2 Marks]
Therefore, the total drying time is:

𝑡 = 𝑡𝑐 + 𝑡𝑓

[1 Mark]
= 0.4218. +8.84
= 9.26 ℎ
[2 Marks]

Question Two [28 marks]

A forced draft counter current water-cooling tower is to cool water from 46ºC to 26ºC. The air
enters the bottom of the tower at 24ºC with a wet bulb temperature of 21ºC. The minimum air
flowrate is found to be 3 kg dry air/m2.s. It is required to operate the column at 2.5 times the
minimum air flowrate. The water flow rate is 5.00 kg water/m2·s. The value of HOG for the flow
conditions is 3 m.

Page 3 of 8
UNOCHB2 UNIT OPERATIONS 2B (MEMO) 2019: Test 3

c L = 5.75 kJ/kg

The equilibrium data has already been plotted for you, make use of the attached graph.

2.1 Determine the height of the cooling tower required at the operating conditions. [26]
2.2 Comment on the answer obtained in 2.2 in terms of cost and if the process would be
viable to implement. [2]

2.1

The humidity of the inlet air at 24oC and wet bulb temperature of 21oC is obtained from the
psychometric chart as 0.0146 kg H2O/kg dry air.

[1 Marks]

𝐻𝑦 1 (𝑘𝐽/𝑘𝑔𝑑𝑟𝑦𝑎𝑖𝑟) = (1.005 + 1.88 × 0.0146)(24 − 0) + 2501.4 × 0.0146 = 61.30

[2 Marks]
𝑎𝑖𝑟
𝐺 = 2.5 × 3 = 7.50 𝑘𝑔 𝑑𝑟𝑦
𝑚2 . 𝑠
[1 Mark]

𝐺(𝐻𝑦2 − 𝐻𝑦1 ) = 𝐿𝑐𝐿 (𝑇𝐿2 − 𝑇𝐿1 )

7.5(𝐻𝑦2 − 61.30) = 5 × 5.75(46 − 26)

[2 Marks]
𝐻𝑦2 = 137.97 kJ/kg dry air

[1 Mark]

Operating line:

Lc L
H y2 = (TL 2 − TL1 ) + H y1
G
[1 Mark]

Plot the equilibrium curve from (T1, H1) to (T2, H2)

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UNOCHB2 UNIT OPERATIONS 2B (MEMO) 2019: Test 3

[2 Marks]
TL(ºC) Hy (kJ/kg) Hy* (kJ/kg) Hy*-Hy 1/(Hy*-Hy) dHy 1/(Hy*-Hy)av dHy/[1/(Hy*-Hy)av]
26 61.2992 81.0838 19.7846 0.05054436
30 76.63253 100.3943 23.761767 0.04208441 15.3333333 0.046314388 0.710153947
34 91.96587 122.8919 30.926033 0.03233522 15.3333333 0.037209815 0.570550496
38 107.2992 149.9049 42.6057 0.02347104 15.3333333 0.027903127 0.427847955
42 122.6325 185.1122 62.479667 0.01600521 15.3333333 0.019738122 0.302651211
46 137.9659 223.5251 85.559233 0.01168781 15.3333333 0.013846508 0.212313125
sum 2.223516734

1 Mark 3 Marks 3 Marks 1 Mark 1 Mark 1 Mark 1 Mark 3 Marks

[14 Marks total for table]

𝐻𝑦2
𝑑𝐻𝑦
𝑧 = 𝐻𝑂𝐺 ∫
𝐻𝑦1 𝐻𝑦∗ − 𝐻𝑦
𝑧 = 3 × 2.223516734

𝑧 = 6.6706 𝑚

[2 Marks]

2.2

The height of the column is almost 6.6 m which is below 200 m of maximum cooling towers.
Hence the capital cost would quite low to implement.

[2 Marks]

_________________________________________________________________________
END [Total: 50 Marks]
Page 5 of 8
UNOCHB2 UNIT OPERATIONS 2B (MEMO) 2019: Test 3

Question 3.2
Full name:
Student Number:

Page 6 of 8
UNOCHB2 UNIT OPERATIONS 2B (MEMO) 2019: Test 3

APPENDIX A

USEFUL EQUATIONS AND FORMULAE

𝑃1 𝑉1 𝑃2 𝑉2 𝑉𝑡 𝑢𝐴 𝑉
𝑃𝑉 = 𝑛𝑅𝑇; 𝑇1
= 𝑇2
; 𝑣= 𝑚
; 𝑚̇ = 𝑢𝐴𝜌; 𝑛̇ = 𝑣𝑀;𝜌 = 𝑣 −1 ; 𝑉̇ = 𝑡

t(oC) = T(K) – 273.15; t(oF) = T(R) – 459.67; t(oF) = 1.8t(oC) + 32;

𝐹 𝑚𝑔 𝜌𝑉𝑔 𝐴ℎ𝜌𝑔
𝑃𝑔 = 𝐴 = 𝐴
= 𝐴
= 𝐴
; 𝑃𝑎𝑏𝑠 = 𝑃𝑔 (𝑜𝑟 𝜌𝑔ℎ) + 𝑃𝑎𝑡𝑚
𝑋 −𝑋 𝑋−𝑋1 𝑀1 (𝑋2−𝑋)+𝑀2 (𝑋−𝑋1)
Interpolation: 𝑀 = (𝑋 2−𝑋 ) 𝑀1 + (𝑋 ) 𝑀2 OR 𝑀=
2 1 2 −𝑋1 𝑋2 −𝑋1

Double Interpolation:

1
Raoult’s law: 𝑦𝑖 𝑃 = 𝑥𝑖 𝑃𝑖𝑠𝑎𝑡 where 𝑃 = ∑𝑖 𝑥𝑖 𝑃𝑖𝑠𝑎𝑡 or 𝑃 = ∑ 𝑠𝑎𝑡
𝑖 𝑦𝑖 ⁄𝑃𝑖

1
Modified Raoult’s law: 𝑦𝑖 𝑃 = 𝑥𝑖 𝛾𝑖 𝑃𝑖𝑠𝑎𝑡 where 𝑃 = ∑𝑖 𝑥𝑖 𝛾𝑖 𝑃𝑖𝑠𝑎𝑡 or 𝑃 = ∑ 𝑠𝑎𝑡
𝑖 𝑦𝑖 ⁄𝛾𝑖 𝑃𝑖

𝛼𝑥
Equilibrium relationship: 𝑦 = 1+(𝛼−1)𝑥

𝐿 𝑥 𝑑𝑥
Rayleigh Equation: ln (𝐿1 ) = ∫𝑥 1 𝑦−𝑥 , 𝑥1 𝐿1 = 𝑥2 𝐿2 + (𝐿1 − 𝐿2 )𝑦𝑎𝑣
2 2

𝑑𝑐𝐴
Fick’s Law: 𝐽𝐴 = −𝐷𝐴𝐵
𝑑𝑧

𝐷𝐴𝐵 𝑝𝑡 𝑝̅𝐵1 −𝑝̅𝐵2 𝐷𝐴𝐵

Mass transfer : 𝑁𝐴 = (𝑝̅𝐴1 − 𝑝̅𝐴2 ) , 𝑝̅𝐵 ,𝑀 = 𝑝̅ , 𝑁𝐴 = (𝑝̅𝐴1 − 𝑝̅𝐴2 )
𝑅𝑇𝑧𝑝̅𝐵,𝑀 ln ̅ 𝐵1 𝑅𝑇𝑧
𝑝𝐵2

𝑅𝑚 𝑥 −𝑦
Minimum reflux: = (𝑥𝑑−𝑥𝑒 )
𝑅𝑚 +1 𝑑 𝑒

𝑞 𝑓 𝑥
Feed operating line: 𝑦 = 𝑥 + 𝑞−1
𝑞−1

Feed condition relationship: 𝐿𝑚 = 𝐿𝑛 + 𝑞𝐹 , 𝑉𝑚 = 𝑉𝑛 + (𝑞 − 1)𝐹

𝑦 −𝑦 Z
Number of transfer stages:
1
𝑁𝑂𝐺 = (𝑦−𝑦 ∗)
2
, N OG =
𝐿𝑀 H OG

(𝑦1 − 𝑦1 ∗ ) − (𝑦2 − 𝑦2 ∗)
(𝑦 − 𝑦 ∗)𝐿𝑀 = (𝑦 −𝑦1 ∗ )
ln (𝑦1 ∗
2 −𝑦2 )

GM
, H OG =
𝐺
Height of transfer stage: 𝐻𝑂𝐺 =
𝑘𝑦𝑎(1−𝑦)∗ 𝐿𝑀 K G aP

Page 7 of 8
 UNOCHB2 UNIT OPERATIONS 2B (MEMO) 2019: Test 3

(1 − 𝑦1 ) − (1 − 𝑦1 ∗ )
(1 − 𝑦)∗ 𝐿𝑀 =
(1−𝑦 )
ln (1−𝑦 1∗ )
1

GM (Y1 − Y2 ) A = KG aPTOT (Y − Ye ) lm A Z K G aP =
GM
H OG

Rate of Heat Transfer: 𝑄 = 𝑈𝐴∆𝑇 = 𝑈𝐴(𝑇𝑠 − 𝑇1 ) = 𝑆𝜆 = 𝑆(𝐻𝑠 − ℎ𝑠 )

Tb = Ta + BPR , ΔT = Tsteam – Tb

𝑑𝑤 ℎ𝑐 𝐴∆𝑇
Drying rate: 𝑊 = = , 𝑅𝑐 = 𝑚𝑓𝑐
𝑑𝑡 𝜆

𝑤𝑖 −𝑤𝑐 𝑓𝑄 𝑓
Drying time: ttot = tc + tf , 𝑡𝑐 = 𝑄 , 𝑡𝑓 = 𝑅𝑐 𝐴 𝑙𝑛 𝑓𝑐 , f = w - we , fc = wc – we
𝑅𝑐 𝐴 𝑐

𝐺 𝐻𝑦2 𝑑𝐻𝑦
Tower Height: 𝑧 = 𝑀 ∫𝐻𝑦1 𝐻 −𝐻
𝑘
𝐵 𝐺 𝑎𝑃 𝑦𝑖 𝑦

Heat Balance: 𝐺(𝐻𝑦2 − 𝐻𝑦1 ) = 𝐿𝐶𝐿 (𝑇𝐿2 − 𝑇𝐿1 )

Enthalpy: 𝐻𝑦 = (1.005 + 1.880𝐻)𝑇°𝐶 + 2501.4𝐻

𝐻𝑦 = (0.24 + 0.45𝐻)(𝑇 − 32℉) + 1075.4𝐻

Page 8 of 8