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Worksheet 2

This document contains three unsteady-state process modeling problems involving mixing tanks and continuous stirred-tank reactors. The first problem involves developing a dynamic temperature model for a mixing tank that is heated with a constant heat input and loses heat to the ambient. The second problem involves developing dynamic models for the mass fractions of chemical species in a continuous stirred-tank reactor undergoing an irreversible first-order chemical reaction. The third problem involves developing a dynamic model for the volume and temperature of a stirred tank with a variable volume that is being heated.

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13 views3 pages

Worksheet 2

This document contains three unsteady-state process modeling problems involving mixing tanks and continuous stirred-tank reactors. The first problem involves developing a dynamic temperature model for a mixing tank that is heated with a constant heat input and loses heat to the ambient. The second problem involves developing dynamic models for the mass fractions of chemical species in a continuous stirred-tank reactor undergoing an irreversible first-order chemical reaction. The third problem involves developing a dynamic model for the volume and temperature of a stirred tank with a variable volume that is being heated.

Uploaded by

rahmat qambari
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© © All Rights Reserved
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CHEN90032

Process Dynamics and Control

Worksheet 2 – Unsteady-State Models

One of the earliest techniques any chemical engineer learns is how to perform
steady-state material and energy balances. These steady-state balances are
one of the key tools in designing a process.

In order to design a complete control system we need to understand how the


important process variables change in time – in other words, we require a
dynamic model of the system. This dynamic model is often arrived at by
performing unsteady-state material and energy balances. Unsteady-state
models are more complex to develop and to solve than their steady-state
counterparts, as they constitute a system of differential equations; often non-
linear PDEs. Reasonable models can typically be obtained by approximating
the system as a set of linear ODEs that can be solved analytically or
numerically.

The problems in this worksheet illustrate unsteady-state material and/or


energy balances around some relatively simple processes involving mixing,
heating and chemical reaction. Each of these models constitutes a linear ODE
or set thereof. We will also consider the degrees of freedom in the system to
see if a solution can be obtained, and will attempt a numerical solution for one
case. In the final problem we will use the model to guide our thinking about
designing the control scheme, i.e., assigning variables as controlled or
manipulated and pairing them up appropriately.

W2-1
1) An enclosed stirred tank is used to heat a water stream flowing at F kg/min
from temperature Ti to T. Heat is supplied by a heating coil at a constant rate,
Qheater. Heat is lost to the surrounding ambient air at rate Qloss.

(a) Develop a dynamic model describing the temperature in the tank if the
incoming and ambient temperatures can both vary.

(b) Perform a degrees of freedom analysis to identify which variables need to


be assigned to solve for T(t).

Assume: The water density (ρ) and heat capacity (Cp) are constant. The inlet
temperature (Ti) is always larger than the ambient temperature (Ta). Heat loss
to the surroundings is described by Qloss = hAs∆T, where h is the overall heat
transfer coefficient (constant) and As is the tank surface area.

W2-2
2) A continuously stirred tank reactor is used to convert component A to B in
an irreversible first-order chemical reaction. A liquid stream containing A at
mass fraction xA,i = 0.02 in water enters the reactor with mass flow rate F = 50
kg/min.

(a) Develop a dynamic model to describe the mass fractions of A and B as a


function of time.

(b) Conduct a unit balance to demonstrate unit consistency for each of the
terms in the dynamic model.

The reactor is of constant volume V = 3 m3, with liquid of constant density


1000 kg/m3. The reaction A → B proceeds with rate constant k = 1×10-3 min-1.
The process is isothermal.


Solve the dynamic model numerically by adapting the MATLAB code for the
mixing tank without chemical reaction. Investigate the effect of k on the mass
fraction of A and B. Assume that the tank initially contains only water (i.e., xA =
xB = 0).

3) A stirred tank of variable volume is used to heat a process stream.

(a) Develop a dynamic model to describe both the volume (V) and
temperature (T) in the heated stirred-tank as a function of time. Liquid enters
the tank at flowrate Fi and leaves at flowrate F. Heat is supplied at rate Q.
Assume constant density and heat capacity.

(b) Perform a degrees of freedom analysis to determine if the model is


soluble. Design a control scheme to regulate the tank volume and
temperature, assigning variables as disturbance and manipulated variables.

W2-3

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