NAME: OVIEHAYE EMMANUELLA

MAT NUMBER:

LEVEL: 400

COURSE CODE: CHE401

DEPAETMENT: CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

GROUP NUMBER: A2

SERIAL NUMBER: 18

EXPERIMENT DATE: 17/02/20

EXPERIMENT TITLE: RECYCLE LOOP

EXPERIMENT NUMBER: 04

EXPERIMENT AIM: TO DETERMINE THE EFFECT OF

RECYCLE ON A STEADY STATE

SYSTEM.

INSTRUCTOR: MRS OKHONMINA J.O.

1
TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. LIST OF FIGURES/TABLE 3

2. ABSTRACT 4

3. INTRODUCTION 5

4. THEORY 8

5. DESCRIPTION OF APPARATUS 14

6. PROCEDURE 17

7. RESULT 19

8. CONCLUSION 26

9. DISCUSSION 27

10. RECOMMENDATION 28

11. REFERENCE 29

12. APPENDIX 30
LIST OF FIGURES

1. Steady state equilibrium diagram 11

2. Recycle Operation 12

3. Process flow diagram for recycle loop 13

4. The recycle loop apparatus 14

LIST OF TABLES

1. Data showing flow rates, volumetric and 19

mass flow rate for all streams.

2. Data for recycle loop fluid density 22

ABSTRACT

This experiment was conducted to determine the effect of recycle on a

steady state system.

The Armfield recycle loop apparatus was used to perform this experiment.

The inlet valve was adjusted to give an indicated flow rate of about

1litre/min. It was observed that the outlet flow rate gotten was similar to

the inlet flow rates. Though the recycle flow rate was increased by

0.5litres/min, finally stopping at 3litres/min, it seems not to have any effect

on the inlet and outlet flow rates obeying the steady state theorem, which

connotes that inlet variable, is equal to outlet variable.

After the readings for the different recycle flow rates were taken the inlet

mass flow rate and the outlet mass flow rate were calculate and they both

had similar values of 0.01667kg/s.

Therefore, it is seen that this experiment agrees with the theoretical results

for the steady state mass balance seeing that the increase in the recycle loop

flow rate does not affect the outlet flow rate.

INTRODUCTION

Recycling is the act of taking one stream in a process and reusing it in an

earlier part of the process rather than discarding it. It can also be seen as a

process of taking a stream and returning it to its original condition so that

the operation can begin again. It is used in a wide variety of processes.

Recycling is of different types; environmental recycling and process

recycling. Environmental recycling involves the gathering of waste or

already used materials to reuse as a raw material in order to achieve a

desired product while process recycling involves taking or bringing some

quantity of the product stream back to the inlet stream to achieve a desired

quality of a product. The recycle loop is an equipment used in carrying out

a recycle process.

The recycle loop connects the product stream to the feed stream. The

recycle process increases the efficiency of the process, reduces the amount

of waste, increases the quality of the product stream and reduces the

impurities in the process. The recycle loop takes back some quantity of the
product back to the feed but it does not affect the product components that

are formed (i.e. the product formed after recycle is not different from the

product formed without recycling, the substances and components remain

the same). A recycle stream affect the composition, level of impurities,

quality of the product, product quality and the amount of waste but it

doesn’t change the density, temperature and chemical properties. A recycle

stream is based on the phenomenon of mass transfer, heat transfer, material

balance, energy balance, fluid flow, thermodynamics and transport

phenomena.

Recycle operations are performed for the following reasons:

 Increase in the quality of a product

 Maximum utilization of available reactants

 Better operating conditions of the system

 Decrease in amount of waste product exiting the system

 Maintaining high process rate value

During the course of this experiment, recycle operations were carried out

under steady state conditions and flow rate is not affected by the recycle
element. In addition, there is no build-up or accumulation of materials in

the system.
THEORY

When undergoing the recycle loop experiment, considerations are usually

made on the following:

 Steady state mass balance

 Steady state heat balance

 Unsteady state heat balance

 Steady state energy balance

In this report, more emphasis will be placed on the steady state mass

balance operation.

In the recycle loop experiment, the conservation of mass is greatly

considered.

The law of conservation of mass or principle of mass conservation states

that for any system closed to all transfers of matter and energy, the mass of

the system must remain constant over time, as the system's mass cannot

change, so quantity can neither be added nor be removed. Therefore, the

quantity of mass is conserved over time.

The law implies that mass can neither be created nor destroyed, although it

may be rearranged in space, or the entities associated with it may be

changed in form. For example, in chemical reactions, the mass of the

chemical components before the reaction is equal to the mass of the

components after the reaction. Thus, during any chemical reaction and low-

energy thermodynamic processes in an isolated system, the total mass of

the reactants, or starting materials, must be equal to the mass of the

products. The law of conservation of mass also conforms to the general

balance equation.

The general balance equation is a fundamental equation in chemical

engineering, which is based on the principle of conservation of mass and

conservation of energy.

The mass balance for a system without a chemical reaction is as follows:

Input = Output + Accumulation - - - (1)

Strictly speaking, the above equation is used also with systems with

chemical reactions if the terms in the balance equation are taken to refer to

total mass; that is the sum of all the chemical species in the system. In the

absence of a chemical reaction, the amount of any chemical species

flowing in and out will be the same as seen in equation 1. However if this is

not the case then the mass balance equation must be amended to allow for

the generation of chemical species.

Therefore, it becomes:

Input + Generation = Output + Consumption + Accumulation - - - (2)

Where;

Input = Material entering the stream

Output= Material leaving the stream

Consumption = Material used up in the system

Generation = Material formed within the system

Accumulation = Material accumulated in the system

 In the absence of a nuclear reaction the number of atoms flowing in

and out must remain the same, even in the presence of a chemical

reaction.

 For a balance to be formed, the boundaries of the system must be

clearly defined.

 Mass balances can be taken over physical systems at multiple scales.

 Mass balances can be simplified with the assumption of steady state,

in which the accumulation term is zero.

The definition of a steady state is a state or condition of a system or process

that does not change in time broadly: a condition that changes only

negligibly over a specified time. Under steady state operation, the variables

that define the behaviour of the system or the process are unchanging with
time. If a system is in a steady state, it is observed that the behaviour of the

system will continue to the future. The general equation for steady state

operation is given as:

Input + Generation = Output +Consumption - - - (3)

While for steady state with no reaction

In = Out - - - (4)

This equation (4) means that whatever is entering the system is equal to

what is leaving the system. There is no generation, consumption or

accumulation.

Inlet Outlet
System

Fig 1: Steady state equation diagram.

At equilibrium, the mass flow rate entering the system is equal to the
rate of mass flow exiting the system, under steady conditions. The mass
flow rate, Qm, refers to the mass of the fluid passing a given point per unit
time. Is mathematically expressed as:
ρV
Qm = t - - - (5)

Where;
V = volume of fluid (m³)
ρ = density of fluid (1000 kg/m³ for water)
t = time in seconds for volume V to pass a given point.
Volume per unit time is the volume flow rate, denoted as Qv, measurable
using flow meters which records in litres/minute. Since the reading should
be expressed in cubic/second, conversion is calculated as:
Recorded flowrate F (1/min)
Qv (m3/s) = - - - (6)
60,000

Hence, the mass flow rate is calculated as:

Qm = ρQv - - - (7)

The recycle Loop experiment is an application of thermodynamics in a

steady state. For there to be recycle there has to be the recycle stream. The

recycle stream is a term denoting a process system that returns materials

from downstream of a process unit back to the process unit

Fig 2: Recycle Operation.

Fig 3: Process flow diagram for recycle loop
DESCRIPTION OF APPARATUS

THE RECYCLE LOOP APPARATUS

In the apparatus below, we have the display meter, rotary selector,

electric circuit, power switch, air bleed screw, pipes, heater and pressure

regulator.

Fig 4: The recycle loop apparatus.

Recycle is a simple phenomenon, which occurs in many aspects of

everyday life, but is also a concept that can lead to confusion in

engineering applications when combined with other principles such as

mass / energy balances and the use of the steady flow energy equation.
The Armfield Recycle Loops apparatus has been designed to

demonstrate clearly, both visually and experimentally, what a recycle

loop is and to enable mass and energy balances to be performed under

steady state and unsteady state conditions. The application modelled is

typical of a heating arrangement in the chemical, food or pharmaceutical

industries whereby the temperature of a product is raised or lowered

offline by recirculating some of the product through a heat exchanger.

The practical training exercises are appropriate to heat transfer and

thermodynamics courses and the training of technicians and engineers in

those disciplines.

A bench top unit designed to introduce students to the characteristics of

a recycle loop and the typical responses under steady state and unsteady

state conditions.

The apparatus consists of a through pipe conveying water from a cold

water supply to a suitable drain with a loop of pipework connected

between the supply and drain connections. This recycle loop

incorporates a circulating pump and a heater to raise the temperature of

the water in the loop. The heater can be switched on or off to generate

step changes when investigating the transient responses of the recycle

loop.
A pair of self-sealing fittings enables a short length of pipe or a

reservoir to be connected in series with the recycle loop to change the

volume of the loop and demonstrate the effect of residence time. The

arrangement also permits different lengths of flexible tubing to be

connected in series with the loop if it is required to create further

changes in residence time.

Water temperatures at the inlet, outlet and within the recycle loop are

measured using K-type thermocouples. Water flow rates at the

corresponding locations are measured using miniature turbine type flow

sensors. Flow sensors are included at the outlet as well as the inlet to

show that these two flow rates are always equal (a simple principle that

is often confusing when water is flowing through the recycle loop).

All power supplies, signal conditioning circuitry etc. are contained

inside the molded ABS support and integral console with appropriate

current protection devices and an RCD for operator protection.

Readings from the sensors are displayed on a digital meter with selector

switch and all corresponding signals are routed to an I/O port for

connection to a PC using an optional interface device included with

educational software package.

PROCEDURES

 The Armfield Recycle loop apparatus is connected to an external power

source and the devices is switched ON from the power button.

 With the aid of the rotary selector switch, the electrical console was

switched on to select the output from the Inlet flow meter F1.

 The inlet valve was adjusted to give an indicated flow rate of about

1L/min.

 The rotary selector was then switched on to change the display between

the sensor as required

 The inlet and outlet flow rates F1 and F2 and the inlet flow temperature

were recorded.

 The inlet flow temperature and the table provided in data sheet in the

appendix was used to determine the inlet flow density.

 The display was changed to give an output from the recycle loop flow

meter Fj, and the recycle loop was turned on

 The recycle loop valve was opened to give an indicated recycle flow

rates of about 1 L/min.

 The flow velocities were allowed to stabilize (laminar flow) for some

minutes.

 Then the flow rates for the inlet, outlet and the recycle loops were

recorded.

 The recycle loop valve was opened to give recycle flow rates increments

of 0.5 L/min.

 The flow rates at each step was recorded; Care was also taken such that

the flow rates of 3L/min were not exceeded.

 RESULT

Experiment A: Steady State Mass Balance Objective.

Table 1: Data showing flow rates, volumetric and mass flow rate for all

streams.

Inlet Recycle Outlet Inlet Recycle Outlet Inlet Recycle Outlet

flow loop flow volumetric Loop volumetric mass loop mass
rate flow rate flow rate volumetri flow flow mass flow rate
rate c rate rate flow rate
flow rate
F1 F2 F3 Qv1 Qv2 Qv3 Qm1 Qm2 Qm3
(L/mi (L/min) (L/min) (m3/s) (m3/s) (m3/s) (Kg/s) (Kg/s) (Kg/s)
n)
1.00 0.00 1.00 1.667X10-5 0.000 1.667x10-5 0.0166 0.000 0.0166
1.00 1.00 1.00 1.667X10-5 1.667x10-5 1.667x10-5 0.0166 0.0166 0.0166
1.00 1.50 1.00 1.667x10-5 2.50x10-5 1.667x10-5 0.0166 0.0250 0.0166
-5 -5 -5
1.00 2.00 1.00 1.667X10 3.33x10 1.667x10 0.0166 0.0330 0.0166
1.00 2.50 1.00 1.667X10-5 4.167x10-5 1.667x10-5 0.0166 0.0415 0.0166
1.00 3.00 1.00 1.667X10-5 5.00x10-5 1.667x10-5 0.0166 0.0500 0.0166

The initial temperature of the water is 30.8oC. Temperature is measured in

kelvin (K), therefore:

Temperature = 30oC + 273.15 = 303.95K

Also,

Qv = Volumetric flow rate (m3/s)

F1 = Inlet flow rate (L/min)

F2 = recycle loop flow rate (L/min)

F3 = outlet flow rate (L/min)

Qv1 = Inlet volumetric flow rate

Qv2 = Recycle loop volumetric flow rate

Qv3 = Outlet volumetric flow rate

Qm1 = Inlet mass flow rate

Qm2 = Recycle loop mass flow rate

Qm3 = Outlet mass flow rate

Calculation for Inlet volumetric flow rate (Qv1):

Flow rate readings were taken in Litre per min (L/min). Converting to

cubic metre per second (m3/s):

1 Litre = 0.001m3

1 Min = 60 seconds

Converting 1L/min of inlet flow rate into m3/s

1L m3 1 min m3 1
× × = ×
min 1000 L 60 s s 60000

= 1.667 × 10-5m3/s

Therefore, 1 L/min equals 1.667 × 10 -5m3/s which is same for all Inlet flow

rate
 Calculation for Recycle loop volumetric flow rate (Qv2):

First reading:

0.0 L/min = 0.00 m3/s

Second reading:

1.0 L/min = 1 × 1.667 × 10-5 = 1.667 × 10-5 m3/s

Third reading:

1.5 L/min = 1.5 × 1.667 × 10-5 = 2.500 × 10-5 m3/s

Fourth reading:

2.0 L/min = 2 × 1.667 × 10-5 = 3.33 × 10-5 m3/s

Fifth reading:

2.5 L/min = 2.5 × 1.667 × 10-5 = 4.167 × 10-5 m3/s

Sixth reading:

3. 0 L/min = 3 × 1.667 × 10-5 = 5.00 × 10-5 m3/s

Calculation for Outlet volumetric flow rate (Qv3):

Since the inlet and outlet volumetric flow rates are equal for each reading,

therefore:

Qv3 = 1.667 × 10-5 m3/s

For all readings.

Calculation for mass flow rate (Qm):

Qm = ℓQv

Where;

ℓ = Density

Qv = Volumetric flow rate

In order to find the density of water used in the recycle loop, we use the

temperature of the water, which is 303.95K, from the table in the appendix

we will need to interpolate to find the density using the give temperature.

From the table, we have that:

Temperature Density
303.15 995.6502
303.95 X
304.15 995.3440

Table 2: Data for recycle loop fluid density

Interpolating:

303.95−303.15 X−995.6502
=
304.15−303.15 995.3440−995.6502

0.8 X−995.6502
=
1 −0.3062

Cross multiplying,
0.8 (-0.3062) = X-995.6502

-0.24496 = X-995.6502

Making X subject formula,

X = -0.24496 + 995.6502

X = 995.40524 kg/m3, which is the Density of water at 303.95K.

Now we have our density value, we can then solve for our mass flow rate.

Calculation for Inlet mass flow rate (Qm1):

Qm1 = ℓQv1

ℓ = 995.40524 kg/m3

Qv1 = 1.667 × 10-5 m3/s

Therefore;

Qm1 = 995.40524 × 1.667 × 10-5

Qm1 = 0.0166 kg/s

The value for Qm1 is same for each reading in the Inlet mass flow rate since

Qv1 is constant too.

Calculation for Recycle loop mass flow rate (Qm2):

First reading:

0 m3/s = 0 kg/s
Second reading:

= 1.667 × 10-5 × 995.40524

= 0.0166 kg/s

Third reading:

= 2.5 × 10-5 × 995.40524

= 0.0250 kg/s

Fourth reading:

= 3.33 × 10-5 × 995.40524

= 0.033 kg/s

Fifth reading:

= 4.167 × 10-5 × 995.40524

= 0.0415 kg/s

Sixth reading:

= 5 × 10-5 × 995.40524

= 0.05 kg/s

Calculation for Outlet mass flow rate (Qm3):

Since the inlet and outlet volumetric flow rates are equal for each reading,

therefore:

Qm3 = 1.667 × 10-5 × 995.40524

Qm3 = 0.0166 kg/s

For all readings.

DISCUSSION

The objective of experiment A was to determine the effect of a recycle loop

on the total mass flow rate of a steady state system.

The inlet and outlet volumetric flow rates remained constant as the recycle

loop flow rate increased. The inlet and outlet volumetric flow rates were

roughly 1.67×10-5 m3/s throughout the experiment. As expected, there was

no mass accumulation resulting from the introduction of the recycle loop

and thus the outlet flow rates were nearly equivalent to the inlet flow rates.

The minor difference in value can be attributed to random error in the flow

sensor measurements. These results agree with the theoretical result for the

steady state mass balance.

CONCLUSION

From the experiment conducted and the result achieved, the mass flow rate

of the inlet and the mass flow rate of the outlet were found to be equal with

a value of 0.0166kg/s.

It can be concluded therefore that the experiment was a success since the

results achieved corresponds with theoretical result for the steady state

mass balance.
RECOMMENDATION

For the experiment to be performed effectively, the following

recommendations can be adhered to:

 Students are advised to perform research on the experiment before it

is carried out to achieve better results and to rectify problems that

may occur during the experiment.

 The setup should be free from leakage as it may affect experiment

result if there should be one.

 Students should ensure that all bubbles in the inlet stream are

removed before the start of the experiment.

REFERENCES

1. Himmelblau, David M. (1967). Basic Principles and Calculations in

Chemical Engineering (2nd ed.). Prentice Hall.

2. Weber, Walter J., Jr. (1972). Physicochemical Processes for Water

Quality Control. Wiley-Interscience. ISBN 0-471-92435-0.

3. Perry, Robert H.; Chilton, Cecil H.; Kirkpatrick, Sidney D. (1963).

Chemical Engineers' Handbook (4th ed.). McGraw-Hill. pp. 4–21.

4. Gagniuc, Paul A. (2017). Markov Chains: From Theory to

Implementation and Experimentation. USA, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

pp. 46–59. ISBN 978-1-119-38755-8.

5. Smith, J. M.; Van Ness, H. C. (1959). Introduction to Chemical

Engineering Thermodynamics (2nd ed.). McGraw-Hill. p. 34. ISBN

0-070-49486-X.

6. Zemansky, M. W.; Van Ness, H. C. (1966). Basic Engineering

Thermodynamics. McGraw-Hill. p. 244. ISBN 0-070-72805-4.

7. Armfield TH4 Recycle loop apparatus

https://armfield.co.uk/product/th4-recycle-loops/
APPENDIX

Table 3: Density of water at different temperatures