SCHOOL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

CEIC3001 Advanced Thermodynamics and Separation

Tutorial 1

Question 1

a) Using the vapour pressure data below, construct a Txy diagram for the binary
system consisting of benzene (1) and toluene (2) at a total pressure of 1 atm (760
mmHg). It can be assumed that the system conforms to Raoult's law. Explain the
procedure for constructing the Txy diagram. Provide some sample Txy data in a
table. Include labels showing the bubblepoint and dewpoint curves.

b) Calculate the bubblepoint of a subcooled liquid mixture containing 65 mol%

benzene and 35 mol% toluene. Specify the type of VLE calculation required in
your answer and show all working and relevant equations.

c) What is the composition of the first bubble of vapour formed at the bubblepoint of
the liquid mixture in part (b)?

Pure component vapour pressure data (mmHg)

Pi sat 60 100 200 400 760 1520

T2 (C) 40.3 51.9 69.5 89.5 110.6 136.5
T1 (C) 15.4 26.1 42.2 60.6 80.1 103.8

Assume that a linear relationship exists between ln P sat and reciprocal temperature (K-1).

Question 2

a) Assuming Raoult's law to be valid, prepare a Pxy diagram for a temperature of

60C and a Txy diagram for a pressure of 100 kPa for the n-pentane (1)/n-heptane
(2) binary system. Explain the procedure for constructing each type of diagram.
Provide some sample Pxy and Txy data in a table. Include labels showing the
bubblepoint and dewpoint curves.

b) Using the diagrams constructed in part (a), determine the following: BUBL P at
x1 = 0.4, DEW P at y1 = 0.9, BUBL T at x1 = 0.2, and DEW T at y1 = 0.9.
Question 3

A soft drink manufacturer is trying to develop a new type of soda water containing 2
wt% CO2 when it is sealed under pressure at a temperature of 10°C. The manufacturer
proposes to package this soda water in a plastic bottle. The burst pressure of the plastic
bottle is rated at 5 bar. Assuming that the soda water contains only CO2 and water, is
the plastic bottle suitable for this type of soda water?

Assume that Henry's law is applicable to CO2 and that Raoult's law is applicable to
water. Henry's constant for CO2 at 10°C is 990 bar.

Question 4

The equilibrium ratio, Ki, is defined as

yi
Ki 
xi

K-values for systems of light hydrocarbons are presented in Figure 1. Using the
information in Figure 1:

a) Calculate the bubble point of a liquid mixture consisting of 20 mol% methane, 30

mol% ethylene and 50 mol% ethane at 0F.
b) Calculate the dew point of a vapour mixture consisting of 20 mol% methane, 30
mol% ethylene and 50 mol% ethane at 400 psia.

Describe the procedure for each type of calculation and show all equations used in
arriving at your answers.
Fig 1