Latent (phase change) heating or cooling

When a material changes phase (water to steam, water to ice) without a change in temperature, we call this
process latent heating or latent cooling.
Considering phase changes with only one inlet stream and one outlet stream and where the phase change
occurs isothermally at the temperature for which we have a value for Δ�phase change, we can write
�^out−�^in=Δ�^phase change
This relationship, when combined with our energy balances, leads to
Steady-state energy balance for phase change
�˙phase changeΔ�^phase change=�˙phase change

Chemical reactions
∑outputstreams(�˙�^)���−∑inputstreams(�˙�^)��=(moles A reactedtime)Δ�~reaction,
A=�consumption, A�~reaction, A
Steady-state energy balance for systems with chemical reactions
�consumption, AΔ�~reaction, A=�˙reaction
Exercise: Energy balance for a system with a chemical reaction
Suppose the following reaction is carried out in a chemical reactor: A+B⟶C.
The reactor has a single inlet and a single effluent (outlet) and the entire reactor system is at constant
density (�=0.9kg/L).
The desired conversion of � is 0.8.
Operating conditions and parameter values
 feed conditions:
o �˙feed=50L/hr
o �A, feed=1M
o �feed=50°C
 heat (enthalpy) of reaction:
o Δ�~reaction, A=−200kJ/mol of A
 heat capacities:
o �p, feed=1.7kJ/kgK
o �p, outlet=2.1kJ/kgK
1. Assuming that the reactor is perfectly insulated (adiabatic), what would be the temperature of the
effluent stream?
2. If we want the system to act isothermally and have the temperature of the effluent stream equal to that of
the inlet stream, how much energy per time (in Watts=J/s) would we have to add or remove from the
system?
Solution
Procedure for using the energy balance
Similar to those used in material balances, here are the recommended steps in solving problems in which
energy balances are relevant:
1. Draw a diagram if one is not already available.
2. Write all known quantities (flow rates, densities, etc.) in the appropriate locations on the diagram.
 3. Identify and assign symbols to all unknown quantities and write them in the appropriate locations on
the diagram.
4. Write the appropriate simplified energy balance depending on whether the problem involves sensible
heating/cooling, phase change, or chemical reaction. Along with the balance equation, write down
the given information associated with that equation, such as average heat capacities, enthalpy
changes for a phase change. or enthalpy changes of reaction.
5. Construct appropriate material balance equations to aid in determining unknown flow rates or other
material-re lated information. Continue to seek such equations, as needed, until the total number of
equations equals the number of unknowns.
6. Solve the equations to determine the desired unknown quantities.

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© Copyright 2023, Brad Reisfeld.