GATE

PSUs

Workbook 2023

Detailed Explanations of
Try Yourself Questions

Chemical Engineering
Mass Transfer

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 Diffusion, Mass Transfer Coefficient

1 and Basic Theories for

Mass Transfer Coefficients

: Solution

T1 : Solution

(0.5286)
VH 2 = 14.3 and MH 2 = 2
Vair = 29.9 and Mair = 28.9
From kinetic theory of gases, where D in cm2/sec.
1/ 2
T 3/ 2 ⎛ 1 1⎞
D = 435.7 =⎜ +
1/ 3
P(VA + VB ) 1/ 3 2 ⎝ MA MB ⎟⎠

(298)3/ 2
435.7
(1.01325 × 105)[14.31/ 3 + 29.91/ 3 ]2
1/ 2
⎡1 1 ⎤
×⎢ + ⎥ = 0.5286 cm2/sec
⎣ 2 28.9 ⎦

T2 : Solution

(0.0536 m/sec)
Colburn’s j - factor for heat transfer
f
jH = = (St )H ⋅ Pr2/3
2
From heat and mass transfer analogy, Colburn’s factor for mass transfer is
f
jM = (St )M ⋅ Sc 2/3 =
2
From these results we know j H = j M
f
(St )H Pr2/3 = (St )M Sc2/3 =
2
hx
(St )H Stanton number for H.T. =
ρu ∞Cp
 Detailed Explanations of Try Yourself Questions : GATE 2023 3

km
(St )M Stanton number for M.T. =
u∞
hx k
Pr2 / 3 = m Sc 2 / 3
ρu ∞ C p u∞
2/3
hx ⎛ Pr ⎞
km =
ρCp ⎜⎝ Sc ⎟⎠
2/ 3
56.8 ⎛ 0.74⎞
km = 3 ⎜⎝ 0.61⎟⎠
= 0.0536 m/sec
1.2 × 1.005 × 10

T3 : Solution

(7.29 × 10–6)
Effective diffusivity of a component in mixture is given by
1 1
Deff = =
yi ⎛ yO ⎞ ⎛ y N ⎞
∑D ⎜⎝ D ⎟⎠ + ⎜⎝ D ⎟⎠
Ci CO CN

T 3/ 2
From KTG, diffusivity is proportional to then (D1)CO diffusivity of O2 w.r.t. CO is at temperature 310 K
P
and 3 atm.
3/2
D2CO ⎛ T2 ⎞ ⎛ P1 ⎞
= ⎜ ⎟ ⎜⎝ P ⎟⎠
D1CO ⎝ T1 ⎠ 2
3/ 2
⎛ 273⎞
18.5 × 10–6 = D1CO × ⎜ ×3
⎝ 310⎟⎠
3/ 2
⎛ 310⎞ 1
D1 CO = 18.5 × 10−6 × ⎜ × = 7.46 × 10–6 m2/sec
⎝ 273⎟⎠ 3
Diffusivity of N2 w.r.t. CO is at temperature 310 K and 3 atm is
3/ 2
⎛ 310⎞ 1
D1 CN = 19.5 × 10−6 × ⎜ × = 7.25 × 10–6 m2/sec
⎝ 288⎟⎠ 3
Composition of O2 and N2 on a carbon monoxide free basis is
0.18
yO = = 0.2
1 − 0.1
0.72
and yN = = 0.8
1 − 0.1
The effective diffusivity of carbon monoxide is
1
Deff = = 7.29 × 10–6 m2/sec
⎛ 0.2 ⎞ ⎛ 0.8 ⎞
⎜⎝ ⎟ +⎜ ⎟
7.46 × 10 −6 ⎠ ⎝ 7.25 × 10 −6 ⎠

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 2 Absorption, Stripping and
Packed Tower Design

: Solution

T1 : Solution

(2.5 ft)
Height of an overall liquid phase transfer unit is
Ls
HOL = Ht l + Htg
mGs
1800
HOL = 0.9 + × 1.2
18 × 1.5 × 50
HOL = 2.5 ft

T2 : Solution

(0.0375)
Y1 = 0.03, Y2 = 0.0003
and X2 = 0, X1 = 0.013
Gs = 0.015 kmol/m2-sec
Height of tower = 7.79 m
Number of transfer unit

⎡ (Y − mX 2 ) ⎛ 1 1⎞ ⎤
ln ⎢ 1 ⎜⎝ 1 − + ⎟⎠ ⎥
⎣ 2Y − mX 2 A A ⎦
NTU =
ln(A)

⎡ 0.03 ⎛ 1 ⎞ 1 ⎤
ln ⎢ ⎜⎝ 1 − ⎟⎠ + ⎥
⎣ 0.0003 1.142 1.142 ⎦
NTU =
ln(1.142)
= 19.50
 Detailed Explanations of Try Yourself Questions : GATE 2023 5

Ls 0.0342
where, A = = = 1.142
mGs 2 × 0.015
Gs (Y1 – Y2) = Ls (X1 – X2)
0.015 (0.03 – 0.003) = Ls × 0.013
Ls = 0.0342
Height of tower = NTU × HTU
Height of tower 7.79
HTU = = = 0.399 m
NTU 19.50
Gs
AC 0.015
HTU = =
KG ⋅ aPt KG ⋅ a(1)
0.015
KG ⋅ a = = 0.0375 kmol/atm. m3 sec
0.399

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 3 Distillation

: Solution

T1 : Solution

(38)
V ′ = 29.5
Rmin = 0.98
Rinternal = 0.98 × 1.3 = 1.274
L
Rinternal reflux =
V
L = R×V
= 1.274 × 29.5 = 37.583  38

T2 : Solution

(a)

PAV = 0.1 bar, PBV = 1.8 bar

ηA PAV mole of 'A'

= =
ηB PBV mole of 'B'

ηA E PAV
=
ηB PBV
where E is vaporization efficiency.
5
mole of ‘A’ = = 0.027 kmol
180
ηA ⋅ PBV 0.027 × 1.8
mole of ‘B’ (ηB ) = =
E PAV 0.85 × 0.1
= 0.588 kmol
 Detailed Explanations of Try Yourself Questions : GATE 2023 7

Mass of steam = 0.588 × 18 = 10.58 kg steam

Steam rate = 10 kg/hr
10.58
Time required = = 1.05 hr
10
Correct option is (a).

T3 : Solution

(1)
Intersection point of rectifying and stripping section is at x = 0.5 and y = 0.625. The feed is an equimolar
mixture (x = 0.5) so the feed line is vertical and feed is saturated liquid.
Value of ‘q’ = 1

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 4 Humidity (Humidification,
Cooling Tower)

: Solution

T1 : Solution

(30.12%)
Since the first droplet of water condenses at 15°C and 200 kpas, at this conditions the air is 100% humidity.
PA P − PS
Percentage humidity = × t S A × 100
(Pt − PA ) PA
= 100
PA PAS
=
Pt − PA Pt − PAS

1.7051
Molal humidity of water vapor per mole of dry air = = 0.0086 and it is constant, so PA at 30°C
200 − 1.7051
is
PA PA
= 0.0086, = 0.0086
Pt − PA 150 − PA
PA = 1.279 kPa
PA
% relative humidity = × 100
PAsat
1.279
= × 100 = 30.12%
4.246
 Detailed Explanations of Try Yourself Questions : GATE 2023 9

T2 : Solution

(26.29°C)
(Yw′ − Y ′)λ
T – Tw =
h
kY
where, Y ′ = 0, λ = 360 kJ/kg

h
= 2 kJ/kg.K and Tw = 7.6°C
kY

5 58
Yw′ = × = 0.1038
101.3 − 5 29
360 × (0.1038 − 0)
T – 7.6 =
2
T = 7.6 + 18.69 = 26.29°C

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 5 Liquid-Liquid Extraction
and Adsorption

: Solution

T1 : Solution

(20.58) [20 to 21]

If the desired separation is to be performed by using the minimum quantity of clay, the system must reach
equilibrium at the end of the treatment.
Mass balance:
LS (Yi – YF ) = Wmin XF*
YF
where, XF* =
4.2 × 10 −4
1
= = 2380.95
4.2 × 10 −4
LS = 1000 then
1000 (50 – 1) = W × 2380.95
(Minimum quantity of adsorbent in kg)
Wmin = 20.58 kg

T2 : Solution

(a)
(180) S, y = 0, Y0

100 0.05
F, xF, X0 1 Rs, x1, X1

S = 180, y1, Y1
 Detailed Explanations of Try Yourself Questions : GATE 2023 11

Rs = Fs = 95
Rs = 100 (1 – 0.05) = 95
Mass balance on mixer settler
0
RS X0 + S Y0 = RS X1 + S Y1

95 X 0 = 95 X1 + 180 Y1
5 = 95 X1 + 180 × 0.8 X1
5
= X1 = 0.0209
239
Amount in raffinate phase = 95 X1 = 1.9874 kg
Percentage extraction of acetone
5 − 1.9874
= × 100 = 60.28
5

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 6 Drying and Leaching

T1 : Solution

(1 kg)
Rate of drying at constant rate period
NC = KG ΔPA = KG (PA * − PA )
PA * = Partial pressure of water vapor at equilibrium
PA = Partial pressure of water vapor in drying air
KG = Mass transfer coefficient
NC = 5.34 × 10–4 (4232 – 2360) = 1 kg/hr.m2

T2 : Solution

(16.2 hrs)

0.2 0.05
Initial moisture Xi = = 0.25 , Final moisture XF = = 0.0526
0.8 0.95
Time required in constant rate period

XC
SS S dX
θC =
NC AC
(X i − X c ) = − S
AC ∫ NC
Xi

θC = 45.8 × (0.25 – 0.193) × 0.8196 = 2.139 hr

Time required in falling rate period
XF
Ss dX
θF = −
Ac ∫ N
= 45.8 × 0.307 = 14.06 hr
XC

Total time θ = θC + θF = 16.2 hrs

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