BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, PILANI

FIRST SEMESTER 2009-2010

COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION
CHE C361: MASS TRANSFER OPERATIONS
DATE: 04.12.2009 Maximum Marks: 120
Note: The question paper consists of two parts. Part A is a Quiz of 20 marks and of 30
minutes duration. Part B question paper can be collected only after submission of Part A
answer sheet.
PART – A
Time: 2.00 – 2.30 P.M. Marks: 20
NAME: ID NO:

X
Given below are ten questions, along with three possible answers for each question.
Choose the answer you consider correct and write the corresponding alphabet in the
answer sheet provided at the end.
1. How does an increase in the gas flow rate affect the gas phase mass transfer
coefficient in a packed tower? The mass transfer coefficient will
(A) increase (B) decrease (C) remain unchanged.

2. How do you define the Stanton number for mass transfer?

(A) Sh/(Re.Sc) (B) Sh/(Re.Sc1/3) (C) Pe/Sc

3. The Sherwood number, Sh

(A) increases with the friction factor (B) increases with the Reynolds number
(C) decreases with Reynolds number

4. The species A diffuses in a gaseous A-B binary from point z = 0, y = yA0 to z = l,

y = yAl at temperature T and total pressure P. The total pressure is now doubled,
but the mole fraction of A at to two locations and the temperature of the medium
remain the same as before. What would be the fraction increase in the flux of A?
(A) It will be doubled. (B) It will be halved. (C) It will remain unchanged.

5. The diffusivity of acetone in water at a low concentration at 25 oC is 1.16x10-9

m2/s. What would be the diffusivity at 60oC? The viscosity values of the solvent
(water) are 0.9 cP at 25oC, and 0.48 cP at 60oC.
(A) 2.34 x10-9 m2/s (B) 1.95 x10-9 m2/s (C) 6.9 x10-9 m2/s

6. The diffusivity of argon in nitrogen at 20oC and 1 atm pressure is 0.194 cm2/s.
What would be the diffusivity of nitrogen in argon at 50oC and 2.5 atm?
(A) 0.194 cm2/s (B) 0.09 cm2/s (C) 0.535 cm2/s

7. The solute C is being transferred from phase A (lighter) to phase B (heavier) in a

counter-current packed tower. The flow rates of the phases (solute-free basis) are
As = 70 kmol/h, Bs = 50 kmol/h, and the equilibrium relation is linear, Y = 0.6X
 (X and Y are mole ratios in phase A and phase B respectively). The phase A
entering at the bottom has 0.1 mol C per mol C-free A, and the phase B entering
at the top is solute free. The overall driving force at the top of the column on the
A-phase basis is (Y)top = 0.001. What is the driving force at the bottom?
(A) 0.012 (B) 0.0005 (C) 0.0169

8. The equilibrium distribution of A in a gas-liquid system (G-L) is linear, Y = X;

 is a function of temperature, ln  = 0.3512 – (26.462/T), T in K. The flow rates
of the phases (solute-free basis) are: Gs = 38 kmol/h and Ls = 49.5 kmol/h; the
feed gas has 8% A in it. At what temperature the absorption factor become unity?
(A) 23oC (B) 55oC (C) 32oC

9. With increase in absorption factor, the number of ideal trays required (for
stripping of a solute from a solution) to achieve a specified degree of separation
will
(A) increase (B) decease (C) remain unchanged.

10. A dissolved gas is being stripped out from a dilute solution in a packed tower
using steam. Concentration of the solute in the inlet liquid is 0.06 (mole fraction)
and that in the lean solution at the bottom must not exceed 0.002. The equilibrium
and the operating lines are nearly straight. The overall liquid-phase driving forces
at the top and at the bottom of the column are found to be 0.00472 and 0.00102
respectively. What is the number of overall liquid-phase transfer units?
(A) 24 (B) 14 (C) 21

ANSWER SHEET (SET – X)

Question No. Correct Answer

1 A
2 A
3 B
4 C
5 A
6 B
7 C
8 C
9 A
10 C
 BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, PILANI
FIRST SEMESTER 2009-2010
COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION
CHE C361: MASS TRANSFER OPERATIONS
DATE: 04.12.2009 Maximum Marks: 120
Note: The question paper consists of two parts. Part A is a Quiz of 20 marks and of 30
minutes duration. Part B question paper can be collected only after submission of Part A
answer sheet.
PART – A
Time: 2.00 – 2.30 P.M. Marks: 20
NAME: ID NO:

Y
Given below are ten questions, along with three possible answers for each question.
Choose the answer you consider correct and write the corresponding alphabet in the
answer sheet provided at the end.

1. The diffusivity of argon in nitrogen at 20oC and 1 atm pressure is 0.194 cm2/s.
What would be the diffusivity of nitrogen in argon at 50oC and 2.5 atm?
(A) 0.194 cm2/s (B) 0.09 cm2/s (C) 0.535 cm2/s

2. The solute C is being transferred from phase A (lighter) to phase B (heavier) in a

counter-current packed tower. The flow rates of the phases (solute-free basis) are
As = 70 kmol/h, Bs = 50 kmol/h, and the equilibrium relation is linear, Y = 0.6X
(X and Y are mole ratios in phase A and phase B respectively). The phase A
entering at the bottom has 0.1 mol C per mol C-free A, and the phase B entering
at the top is solute free. The overall driving force at the top of the column on the
A-phase basis is (Y)top = 0.001. What is the driving force at the bottom?
(A) 0.012 (B) 0.0005 (C) 0.0169

3. The equilibrium distribution of A in a gas-liquid system (G-L) is linear, Y = X;

 is a function of temperature, ln  = 0.3512 – (26.462/T), T in K. The flow rates
of the phases (solute-free basis) are: Gs = 38 kmol/h and Ls = 49.5 kmol/h; the
feed gas has 8% A in it. At what temperature the absorption factor become unity?
(A) 23oC (B) 55oC (C) 32oC

4. With increase in absorption factor, the number of ideal trays required (for
stripping of a solute from a solution) to achieve a specified degree of separation
will
(A) increase (B) decease (C) remain unchanged.

5. A dissolved gas is being stripped out from a dilute solution in a packed tower
using steam. Concentration of the solute in the inlet liquid is 0.06 (mole fraction)
and that in the lean solution at the bottom must not exceed 0.002. The equilibrium
 and the operating lines are nearly straight. The overall liquid-phase driving forces
at the top and at the bottom of the column are found to be 0.00472 and 0.00102
respectively. What is the number of overall liquid-phase transfer units?
(A) 24 (B) 14 (C) 21
6. How does an increase in the gas flow rate affect the gas phase mass transfer
coefficient in a packed tower? The mass transfer coefficient will
(A) increase (B) decrease (C) remain unchanged.

7. How do you define the Stanton number for mass transfer?

(A) Sh/(Re.Sc) (B) Sh/(Re.Sc1/3) (C) Pe/Sc

8. The Sherwood number, Sh

(A) increases with the friction factor (B) increases with the Reynolds number
(D) decreases with Reynolds number

9. The species A diffuses in a gaseous A-B binary from point z = 0, y = yA0 to z = l,

y = yAl at temperature T and total pressure P. The total pressure is now doubled,
but the mole fraction of A at to two locations and the temperature of the medium
remain the same as before. What would be the fraction increase in the flux of A?
(A) It will be doubled. (B) It will be halved. (C) It will remain unchanged.

10. The diffusivity of acetone in water at a low concentration at 25 oC is 1.16x10-9

m2/s. What would be the diffusivity at 60oC? The viscosity values of the solvent
(water) are 0.9 cP at 25oC, and 0.48 cP at 60oC.
(A) 2.34 x10-9 m2/s (B) 1.95 x10-9 m2/s (C) 6.9 x10-9 m2/s

ANSWER SHEET (SET – Y)

Question No. Correct Answer

1 B
2 C
3 C
4 A
5 C
6 A
7 A
8 B
9 C
10 A
 BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, PILANI
FIRST SEMESTER 2009-2010
COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION
CHE C361: MASS TRANSFER OPERATIONS
DATE: 04.12.2009 Maximum Marks: 120
PART – B
Time: 2.30 – 5.00 P.M. Marks: 100
1. (15 Marks)
Calculate the rate of diffusion of NaCl at 18oC through a stagnant film of water 1 mm
thick when the concentrations are 20% and 10%, respectively, on either side of the film.
Given densities of 20% and 10% NaCl solution are 1149 kg/m3 and 1071 kg/m3,
respectively. The molecular weight of NaCl is 58.5 and the diffusivity of NaCl-water
system is 0.04896 cm2/h.

2. (30 Marks)
Two mixtures of A and B are to be fractionated at constant pressure in a distillation
column equipped with a total condenser and a total reboiler.
Quantity (kmol/h) Composition (xA) Thermal condition
Feed 1 50 0.5 Saturated liquid
Feed 2 100 0.35 Saturated vapour
Distillate - 0.9 Sat. liquid
Bottoms - 0.05 Sat. liquid
AB = 4.0, R = 1.5. The Murphree vapour efficiency varies with the liquid composition:
xA 0.05 0.20 0.4 0.6 0.8 0.9
EMGE 0.67 0.67 0.67 0.5 0.5 0.5
(a) How many actual stages are required? (b) At what stage is each feed introduced?
(c)What is the overall stage efficiency?

3. (30 Marks)
A stream of wastewater containing 2% benzoic acid is to be extracted with benzene at a
rate of 2000 kg/h in order to remove 98% of the solute. If water and benzene are assumed
to be mutually insoluble and the distribution coefficient is K = x/y* =1.707 at the given
temperature (where x and y are mass fractions of the solute in water and benzene phases
respectively), calculate (a) the minimum rate of benzene required for countercurrent
separation of the mixture, (b) the number of stages required if 1.3 times the minimum
solvent is used, and (c) the total amount of solvent required for the separation in a four-
stage cross-current device if the same amount of solvent is fed to each stage.

4. (25 Marks)
A solid feed containing 22% of solute, 3% water and 75% inerts (insolubles) is to be
extracted at a rate of 1000 kg per hour with water in a countercurrent leaching cascade.
The strong leachate leaving the unit should have 16% of the solute in it. Desired recovery
of the solute in the feed is 99%. The overflow does not have any entrained inert in it, and
the amount of solution retained in the sludge is 0.45 kg solution per kg inert. Determine
the number of stages required for the separation.
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