ASSIGNMENT 1: CHE544

Semester: March 2023 – August 2023

Dr Harumi Veny, Dr Ummi Kalthum Ibrahim, Dr Sitinoor Adeib Idris,
Lecturer (s) Dr Norhidayah Ideris, Puan Syafiza Abd Hashib

Programme CEEH220 - Bachelor of Engineering (Hons.) Chemical

Course CHE544 – Separation Processes

Credit Hours 3.0 (3 hours Lecture and 1 hour Tutorial)

Evaluation Assignment 1 (Group Work) 20%

1.0 INTRODUCTION

This project is designed to implement the approach of problem-based learning related to distillation process
in unit operations. Students need understand the fundamental principles of distillation techniques prior to
analysing and proposing solutions to the problem given.

2.0 COURSE AND PROGRAMME OUTCOMES WITH COMPLEX ENGINEERING PROBLEMS &
KNOWLEDGE PROFILE

This assignment addresses one (1) course outcome and one (1) programme outcome (PO) which are
mapped to complex engineering problem characteristics (WP) and the required knowledge profiles (WK)
as shown in Table 1.

Table 1: Mapping of Course Outcomes-Programme Outcome- Complex Engineering Problems (WP) &
Knowledge Profile (WKs)
Course Outcomes Programme Outcomes Complex Engineering Knowledge Profile (WKs)
Problems (WP)
CO3 PO2 WP1 (Knowledge) – in depth WK3 (Engineering
Formulate unit Identify, formulate, engineering knowledge at the Fundamental)
operations for research literature and level of one or more of WK3, A systematic, theory-based
separation processes analyse complex WK4, WK5, WK6 or WK8 formulation of engineering
in chemical chemical/oil and gas which allows a fundamental fundamentals required in the
engineering engineering problems based, first principles engineering discipline.
reaching substantiated analytical approach.
conclusions using first
principles of mathematics, WP2 (Conflicting
natural sciences and requirements) – wide-
engineering sciences. ranging or conflicting
technical, engineering and
other issues.

WP3 (Analysis) – no obvious

solution and require abstract
thinking, originality in analysis
to formulate suitable steel
design structural.
3.0 LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR THE ASSIGNMENT

At the end of this project, the students should be able to:

a) Apply the fundamental knowledge/basic concepts taught in the classroom to directly relate to
engineering problems.
b) Participate actively to distillation process techniques and design.
c) Analyse the identified problem and propose/evaluate the solution.

4.0 DESCRIPTION

Methanol is a primary alcohol that can be used as an industrial solvent to help in creating inks, resins,
adhesives and dyes. Methanol is commonly separated from the mixture of methanol-water by using the
distillation column at a pressure of 1 atm. In current operation of distillation column, the feed rate of
methanol to water is in ratio of 1:2, with percent recovery of 87%. The feed enters the tower partially
vaporized in such a way that 40 mol % is liquid and 60 mol % is vapors. It is targeted to upgrade the current
distillation column for recovery of 95% and above. As a chemical engineer, you and your team are required
to come out with the best design, by estimating the Murphree tray efficiencies as 0.52 for the system (The
optimum reflux is selected between the range of 1.2-1.5 Rm.) (WP1).

After several years of operation, there is a malfunction of heat exchanger prior to column which cause an
excess of heat supply to the feed stream (WP2). Analyse the possibilities of the excess heat supply and
by selecting one of your possibilities, discuss on how it will affect the design of your distillation column.
Support your statement analysis with the evidence of calculation (WP3).

The report should be consisting of the following details:

1. Process Background
• Type of distillation with clear justification
• Chemical properties
• Basis of calculation
• Assumptions
• Block diagram with appropriate label
2. Equipment Design
• Material balance
• Data on vapor pressure of methanol-water system
• Boiling point diagram and equilibrium curve
• Interpretation on boiling point diagram
• Minimum ratio, Rm
• Selection of optimum reflux ratio
• Theoretical and actual number of stages
• Overall efficiency, Eo
3. Analysis on Excess Heat Supply
• List of possibilities
• Calculation based on selected possibility
• Conclusion
4. References
• Extensive selection of references is used to support the calculation performed
Report requirements:
Each group should select different optimum reflux ratio.
Report length should be around 2000 words or 8 pages with font Arial 10, 1.5 spacing and justified.
The report content:
Declaration page: “We hereby declare that this report is the result of our own work except for
quotations and summaries which we have been duly acknowledge” and signed by all team members.

5.0 SUBMISSION

Date : Week 3 (7 April 2023)

Time released : 5 pm
Submission Due Date : Week 7 (12 May 2023)
Submission Due Time : 5 pm

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. This is group assessment of 3 to 5 students. The project should be submitted only by the group
leader in pdf file to the assessment folder.
2. Plagiarism is totally prohibited. PENALTY will be given to those involved.
3. Complete the project in 4 weeks.
4. Late submission will not be entertained and will be considered as no submission.
5. The assignment should be submitted in a form of report. Group number and name of group
member should be stated in the report.
6. Use the following file name for the assessment submission:
Group Number_EH2204X_Assignment 1

7.0 EVALUATION SCHEME

The detailed rubric of each area based on criterion is given in the appendix.

Prepared by: Vetted by:

Dr Norhidayah Ideris Dr Harumi Veny

School of Chemical Engineering, College of

School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering
Engineering
UiTM Shah Alam
UiTM Shah Alam
Date: 6 April 2023
Date: 6 April 2023
 Appendix
Assessment Rubric

Unacceptable Moderate Acceptable

WP Evaluation Criteria
(0-1) (2-3) (4-5)
- VAGUE elaboration of the type of
- NO elaboration on the type of distillation - CLEAR elaboration of the type of
distillation used
used distillation used
Process - SOME related chemical properties
- NO related chemical properties provided - ALL related chemical properties provided
1 WP1 Background provided
- NO basis of calculation provided in - CLEAR basis of calculation provided in
(10 marks) - SOME basis of calculation provided in
methanol recovery and no assumptions methanol recovery and no assumptions
methanol recovery and no assumptions
provided for the system provided for the system
provided for the system

Block Diagram & - Block diagram provided with NO - CLEAR block diagram with complete
- NO block diagram and calculation of
2 WP1 Material Balance COMPLETION of stream label stream label
material balance provided
(5 marks) - INCORRECT calculation of mass balance - CORRECT calculation of mass balance

- Vapor pressure data provided is

- Data on vapor pressure provided but CORRECT and CLEAR
INACCURATE - Boiling point diagram & equilibrium curve
- NO data on vapor pressure of methanol- - Boiling point diagram & equilibrium curve is provided with CLEAR
water system is provided but with NO INTREPRETATION
Equipment Design - NO boiling point diagram & equilibrium INTREPRETATION - Calculation on Rm is CORRECT and
(Theoretical curve provided - DETAIL calculation for Rm is not shown CLEAR
3 WP1
Stages) - NO calculation on Rm - SELECTION of optimum reflux ratio is not - SELECTION of optimum reflux ratio is
(20 marks) - NO selection of optimum reflux ratio clear clear
- NO calculation on operating lines - DETAIL calculation for operating is not - Calculation on operating line is
- NO graph provided shown CORRECT and CLEAR
- Graph is provided but NOT CLEAR with - Graph provided is CLEAR and
some errors. CORRECT with no of stages is clearly
shown.
- CLEAR and CORRECT calculation on
tray efficiency
- CLEAR and CORRECT calculation of
Equipment Design - INCORRECT calculation on tray actual no of stages
WP1 (Tray Efficiency & - NO calculation on tray efficiencies efficiency
4
Actual Stages) - NO calculation on actual stages - INCORRECT calculation of actual no of
(15 marks) stages
 Analysis on
ONLY 1 list of possibility on distillation 2-3 list of possibilities on distillation column
Excess Heat NO list of possibilities on distillation column
5 WP2 column is provided with NO CLEAR is provided with CLEAR explanation on
Supply is provided
explanation each of them
(10 marks)

Analysis on
Excess Heat SOME calculation included to support the
NO calculation and discussion to elaborate CLEAR and ACCEPTABLE calculation and
6 WP3 Supply discussion with some elaboration on the
the analysis discussion to elaborate the analysis
(20 marks) analysis

CLEAR overview of the report and

WP3 Conclusions INCOMPLETE overview of the report and
7 No conclusion mentioned summary of the result/design with clear
(10 marks) summary of the results and design
justification

Supporting
EXTENSIVE selection of supporting
Document & SOME related documents and references
8 WP3 No supporting document and references documents and recent references is used
References to support design and analysis is shown
to support the design and findings
(10 marks)