DEGREE-OF- FREEDOM ANALYSIS FOR A S.

S FLOW
SYSTEM

Types of variables involved & Types of Equation used

(A) Types of variables involved:

Temperature of a stream
Pressure of a stream
Species flow in a stream, or composition of a stream
plus total flow
Extent of reaction
 (B) Types of Equation used
• Independent materials balances
• Energy balance
• Phase equilibrium relations
• Chemical equilibrium relations
• Variables with specified values
• Conversion or extent of reaction specified
• Heat flow and work specified
• Recycle ratio specified
 Example
• The following example illustrates a degree-of-freedom
analysis that includes an energy balance when a
reaction occurs.
(1) In analysis of the degree of freedom for a Combustion
Process, Methane is burned with 5% excess air in a
furnace.
Fig below shows the stream compositions and those
variables whose values are specified. The process occurs
with each stream at 1atm. Determine if the number of
degrees of freedom for the process is zero.
 Q

CH4 100%
F1 P3 = 1 atm
P1 = 1atm T3
T1 specified
Furnace CO2 F3
P2= 1 atm CO specified
T2 specified O2
F2 N2
O2 H2O
N2
 Solution
A table is needed to make the count of the
variables and equilibrium.
The Energy balance is assumed to reduce to
Q = ∆H; replaced as a variable with p and T
Number of variables in the process :
Species in F1 1
F2 2
F3 5
Total no of species is 8
 contd
Total Stream Flows 3
Stream temperature 3
Stream Pressure 3
Q 1
Extent of reaction
(2 reactions) 2
Total 20
 Number of Equations:
Independent species materials balance 6
Sum of species in each of the 2 streams
(∑nj,I = Fj) 2
Energy balance 1
Specification of the value of a variable
Total stream inflows (F1, the basis and F2 comes
from 5% excess air)2
Species values (CO) specified 1
Pressures (p1 =p2= p3 = 1 atm) 3
 CONTD.
Temperatures (T1 and T2) 2
O2 to N2 ratio specified in F2 1
Complete reaction (no CH4 in exit stream exist)
Hence the extent of reaction is I plied for both
reactions (to CO and CO2) 2
TOTAL 20
Thus, the degrees of freedom are zero
 Energy balances for closed systems
• The essence of a closed system is one in which no mass
goes in or out of the system.
• For a closed [un s.s] system the macroscopic mass balance
for a given time is:
• [Accum. of mass within the system boundary from t1 to
t2] = [net transfer of mass into the system through the
system boundary from t1 to t2] – [net transfer of mass
out of the system through the system boundary from t1
to t2.]
• ∆m system = m in - m out
• same for Energy balance
• ∆ (U + PE + KE) inside ≡ ∆E = Q + W