[1] A single-effect evaporator is to concentrate 10,000 lb/hr of a 10%

NaOH solution to 75%. The feed enters at 120°F and the evaporator is to
operate at an absolute pressure of 14.7 psi. The 75% NaOH solution leaves
at the evaporator equilibrium temperature. Assume the solution enthalpies
entering and leaving the evaporator are 81 and 395 Btu/lb solution,
respectively, and the enthalpy of the saturated steam is 1150 Btu/lb
steam. For what heat transfer rate (Btu/hr) should this industrial
evaporator be designed?

Solution
❖ Given:-
𝑖𝑏
 MF = 10000
ℎ𝑟

 XF = 0.1
 TF = 120 ℉ evaporator Vapor ( Md )

 𝑃 = 14.7 𝑝𝑠𝑖 Feed Saltwater

 𝑋𝑏 = 0.75 ( Mf ) Brine ( Mb )

𝐵𝑡𝑢
 ℎ𝐹 = 81 Steam
𝑙𝑏
𝐵𝑡𝑢
 ℎ𝑏 = 395
𝑙𝑏
𝐵𝑡𝑢
 ℎ 𝑑 = 1150
𝑙𝑏

1 | Page
 ❖ Req:-
what heat transfer rate (Btu/hr)?
Q̇ = ∆H = 𝑚𝑖 ∗ ℎ𝑖
❖ analysis:-
From Material Balance:

Mf = Md + Mb and Mf * Xf = Mb * Xb
𝑀 𝑓 ∗ 𝑋 𝑓 = 𝑀 𝑏 ∗ 𝑥 𝑏 = 10000 ∗ 0.1 = 𝑀 𝑏 ∗ 0.75

𝑀 𝑏 = 1333.33 𝑖𝑏/ℎ𝑟

𝑀 𝑓 = 𝑀 𝑏 + 𝑀 𝑑 = 10000 = 1333.33 + 𝑀 𝑑

M d = 8666.66 ib/hr

Calculate the evaporator heat required

Q̇ = ∆H = 𝑚𝑖 ∗ ℎ𝑖

= 𝑚𝑑 ∗ ℎ𝑑 − 𝑚𝑓 ∗ ℎ𝑓 + 𝑚𝑏 ∗ ℎ𝑏

= (8666.66 ∗ 1150) − (10000 ∗ 81) + (1333.33 ∗ 395)

Q̇ = 9683324.35 Btu/hr

2 | Page
[2] A 10,000 lb/hr feed of seawater (3.5% salt) is fed to a desalination
unit.

(a) Calculate the discharge streams, flow rate and concentration, if 0.04%
salt is present in the discharge potable water stream and the system
provides a 75% production rate.

(b) Assume the desalination system was designed to produce 5,000 lb/hr
of the 0.04% potable water stream. Solve the problem.

Solution
❖ Given:-
𝑖𝑏
 MF = 10000
ℎ𝑟

 XF = 0.035

Vapor ( Md )

evaporator
Feed Saltwater

( Mf ) Brine ( Mb )

3 | Page
 ❖ analysis:-

ib
(a) M d = 0.75 ∗ 10000 = 7500 , 𝑋𝑑 = 0.0004
hr

Req:- 𝑀 𝑏 , 𝑋𝑏

From Material Balance:

Mf = Md + Mb and Mf * Xf = Mb * Xb + Md * Xd

𝑀 𝑓 = 𝑀 𝑏 + 𝑀 𝑑 = 10000 = 7500 + 𝑀 𝑏
𝑖𝑏
𝑀 𝑏 = 2500
ℎ𝑟
𝑀𝑓 ∗ 𝑋𝑓 = 𝑀 𝑏 ∗ 𝑥 𝑏 +𝑀𝑑 ∗ 𝑥 𝑑

10000 ∗ 0.035 = 2500 ∗ 𝑋𝑏 + 7500 ∗ 0.0004

𝑋𝑏 = 0.1388 = 13.88 %
ib
(b) M d = 5000 , 𝑋𝑑 = 0.0004
hr

Req:- 𝑀 𝑏 , 𝑋𝑏

From Material Balance:

Mf = Md + Mb and Mf * Xf = Mb * Xb + Md * Xd

𝑀 𝑓 = 𝑀 𝑏 + 𝑀 𝑑 = 10000 = 5000 + 𝑀 𝑏
𝑖𝑏
𝑀 𝑏 = 5000
ℎ𝑟
𝑀𝑓 ∗ 𝑋𝑓 = 𝑀 𝑏 ∗ 𝑥 𝑏 +𝑀𝑑 ∗ 𝑥 𝑑

10000 ∗ 0.035 = 5000 ∗ 𝑋𝑏 + 5000 ∗ 0.0004

𝑋𝑏 = 0.0696 = 6.96 %

4 | Page
[3] Determine the percentage of a river’s stream flow available to an
industry for cooling such that the river temperature does not increase more
than 10°F. Fifty percent of the industrial withdrawal is lost by evaporation
and the industrial water returned to the river is 60°F warmer than the river.

Solution
❖ Given:-
 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑑𝑜𝑒𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛 10°𝐹
 𝑞 𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑠 = 50% 𝑞 𝑖𝑛 = 𝑞 𝑜𝑢𝑡 [1]
 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑖𝑠 60°𝐹 𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑚𝑒𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑟

𝑞 𝑖𝑛
❖ Req :- 𝑞 𝑢𝑝
??

❖ analysis:-
𝑞 𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑠 = 50% 𝑞 𝑖𝑛 = 𝑞 𝑜𝑢𝑡
𝑞 𝑏𝑦𝑝 = 𝑞 𝑢𝑝 − 𝑞 𝑖𝑛
𝑞 𝑚𝑖𝑥 = 𝑞 𝑏𝑦𝑝 + 𝑞 𝑜𝑢𝑡 = (𝑞 𝑢𝑝 − 𝑞 𝑖𝑛 + 𝑞 𝑜𝑢𝑡 )
𝑇 𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 𝑇 𝑢𝑝 + 60°𝐹

𝑇 𝑚𝑖𝑥 = 𝑇 𝑢𝑝 + 10°𝐹

5 | Page
 Energy balance

q byp (Cp) (Tup)+ qout (Cp) (Tout )= (qmix )(Cp ) (Tmix )

( assuming the heat capacity of all streams is equal )

q byp ∗ T up + q out ∗ T out = q mix ∗ T mix

( 𝑞 𝑢𝑝 − 𝑞 𝑖𝑛 ) ∗ T up + 50% 𝑞 𝑖𝑛 ∗ T out = (𝑞 𝑢𝑝 − 𝑞 𝑖𝑛 + 50% 𝑞 𝑖𝑛 ) ∗ T mix

( 𝑞 𝑢𝑝 − 𝑞 𝑖𝑛 ) ∗ T up + 50% 𝑞 𝑖𝑛 ∗ 𝑇 𝑢𝑝 + 60°𝐹
= (𝑞 𝑢𝑝 − 𝑞 𝑖𝑛 + 50% 𝑞 𝑖𝑛 ) ∗ 𝑇 𝑢𝑝 + 10°𝐹

10 q up = 35 q in

the percentage of a river’s stream flow available to an industry for cooling

𝑞 𝑖𝑛 10
= = 0.2857 = 28.57%
𝑞 𝑢𝑝 35

6 | Page
[4] A single-effect evaporator is to concentrate 10,000 lb/hr of a 10%
NaOH solution to 75%. The feed enters at 120°F and the evaporator is to
operate at an absolute pressure of 14.7 psi. The 75% NaOH solution leaves
at the evaporator equilibrium temperature. Assume the solution enthalpies
entering and leaving the evaporator are 81 and 395 Btu/lb solution,
respectively, and the enthalpy of the saturated steam is 1150 Btu/lb
steam.
(a) For what heat transfer rate (Btu/hr) should this industrial evaporator be
designed?
(b) Calculate the area requirement of the evaporator if the overall heat
transfer coefficient is 500 Btu/hr-ft2-°F and 103 psig saturated steam (T =
340°F) is employed in the steam chest.
(c) Recalculate the area requirement if atmospheric steam is employed in
the steam chest

7 | Page
 Solution
(a)
❖ Given:- evaporator Vapor ( Md )

𝑖𝑏
 MF = 10000 Feed Saltwater
ℎ𝑟

 XF = 0.1 ( Mf ) Brine ( Mb )

 TF = 120 ℉ Steam

 𝑃 = 14.7 𝑝𝑠𝑖
 𝑋𝑏 = 0.75
𝐵𝑡𝑢 𝐵𝑡𝑢 𝐵𝑡𝑢
 ℎ𝐹 = 81 ℎ𝑏 = 395 ℎ 𝑑 = 1150
𝑙𝑏 𝑙𝑏 𝑙𝑏

❖ Req:-
what heat transfer rate (Btu/hr)?
Q̇ = ∆H = 𝑚𝑖 ∗ ℎ𝑖
❖ analysis:-
From Material Balance:

Mf = Md + Mb and Mf * Xf = Mb * Xb
𝑀 𝑓 ∗ 𝑋 𝑓 = 𝑀 𝑏 ∗ 𝑥 𝑏 = 10000 ∗ 0.1 = 𝑀 𝑏 ∗ 0.75

𝑀 𝑏 = 1333.33 𝑖𝑏/ℎ𝑟
𝑀 𝑓 = 𝑀 𝑏 + 𝑀 𝑑 = 10000 = 1333.33 + 𝑀 𝑑

M d = 8666.66 ib/hr

Q̇ = ∆H = 𝑚𝑖 ∗ ℎ𝑖 = 𝑚𝑑 ∗ ℎ𝑑 − 𝑚𝑓 ∗ ℎ𝑓 + 𝑚𝑏 ∗ ℎ𝑏
= (8666.66 ∗ 1150) − (10000 ∗ 81) + (1333.33 ∗ 395)
Q̇ = 9683324.35 Btu/hr

8 | Page
(b)
❖ Given:-
Btu
 U = 500 ∗ ft 2 ∗ °F
hr
 𝑇 𝑠 = 340°𝐹 𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑚 𝑖𝑛𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒
 𝑇 𝑏𝑜𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 = 212 °𝐹 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒

❖ Req:-
Calculate the area requirement of the evaporator? A
❖ analysis:-

Q = UA ΔT

Q 9683324.35
A= = = 151.3019 ft 2
(U ΔT) 500 ∗ (340 − 212)

A = 151.3019 ft 2

(c)
Recalculate the area requirement if atmospheric steam is employed in the
steam chest.
If T = 212°F
Q 9683324.35
A= = = ∞
(U ΔT) 500 ∗ (212 − 212)

A=∞

9 | Page
[5] An evaporator is to be fed 5,000 lb of solution containing 2% dissolved
solids by weight. The feed, F, is at a temperature of 100°F. It is to be
concentrated to a solution of 5% solute by weight in an evaporator
operating at a pressure of 1 atm in the vapor space. In order to carry out
the evaporation, the heating surface is supplied with steam at 5 psig
(227°F) and the overall heat transfer coefficient of the evaporator, U, is 280
Btu/hr-ft2-°F. What is the mass of vapor produced, the total mass of steam
required, and the surface area required? Neglect enthalpy of solution
effects.

Solution
❖ Given:-
 U = 280 Btu⁄hr ∗ ft 2 ∗ °F
 MF = 5000 ib
 XF = 0.02
 TF = 100 ℉
 𝑋𝑏 = 0.05
 Tb = 212 ℉ Tsaturation 𝑎𝑡 14.7 𝑝𝑠𝑖 (𝑎𝑡𝑚)
 Tsteam = 227 ℉ , Ps = 5 𝑝𝑠𝑖𝑔 Td = 212 ℉
10 | P a g e
 ❖ Req:-
mass of vapor produced, the total mass of steam required, and the
surface area required?
❖ analysis:-
From Material Balance:

Mf = Md + Mb and Mf * Xf = Mb * Xb
𝑀 𝑓 ∗ 𝑋 𝑓 = 𝑀 𝑏 ∗ 𝑥 𝑏 = 5000 ∗ 0.02 = 𝑀 𝑏 ∗ 0.05

𝑀 𝑏 = 2000 𝑖𝑏
𝑀 𝑓 = 𝑀 𝑏 + 𝑀 𝑑 = 5000 = 2000 + 𝑀 𝑑

M d = 3000 ib

Energy balance

Input =output

𝑚𝑓 ∗ ℎ𝑓 + 𝑚𝑠 ℎ𝑠 = 𝑚𝑐 ℎ𝑐 + 𝑚𝑏 ∗ ℎ𝑏 + 𝑚𝑑 ∗ ℎ𝑑

hf from steam tables at 100°F hf 68 btu/ib

hd from steam tables at 1.0 atm(14.7 psig ) hg 1150 btu/ib
hb from steam tables at 212°F hf 180 btu/ib
hs from steam tables at 227°F and 5 psig hg 1156 btu/ib
hc from steam tables at 227°F and 5 psig hf 195 btu/ib

5000 ∗ 68 + 𝑚𝑠 ∗ 1156 = 𝑚𝑠 ∗ 195 + 2000 ∗ 180 + 3000 ∗ 1150

𝑚𝑠 = 3610.82 𝑖𝑏
Q = 𝑚𝑠 ∗ (hs − hc ) = 3610.82 ∗ (1156 − 195) = 3470000 𝑏𝑡𝑢

Q 3470000
A= = = 826.2 ft 2
(U ΔT) 280 ∗ (227 − 212)

11 | P a g e
[6] (a) Verify that the quantities provided in following Figure satisfy both
a componential and overall material balance.
(b) calculate the permeate flux and the membrane selectivity.

(c) If the applied pressure gradient across a membrane is 500 psi and the
membrane Thickness is 10 µm, determine the permeability of the
membrane in m/sec-Pa.

Solution
(a)

❖ where
 Q = volumetric flow rates
 C = solute concentration
 and subscripts f, r, and p refer to the feed, retentate, and permeate

12 | P a g e
 𝑚3
𝑄𝑓 = 𝑄𝑝 + 𝑄𝑟 = 200 + 600 = 800 ✓
𝑑𝑎𝑦

𝑄𝑓 ∗ 𝐶𝑓 = 𝐶𝑝 ∗ 𝑄𝑝 + 𝐶𝑟 ∗ 𝑄𝑟 = 800 ∗ 35000 = 200 ∗ 350 + 600 ∗ 46650 ✓

Both balances are satisfied.

(b) calculate the permeate flux and the

𝑄𝑝 200
𝐽𝑝 = = = 20 𝑚3 /𝑚2 . 𝑑
𝐴𝑚 10

𝐶𝑓 − 𝐶𝑝 35000 − 350
membrane selectivity 𝑅 % = × 100 = = 99%
𝐶𝑓 35000

(c) If the applied pressure gradient across a membrane is 500 psi and the
membrane Thickness is 10 µm, determine the permeability of the
membrane in m/sec-Pa.
𝐽𝑝 ∗ 𝑡𝑚 20 ∗ 10 ∗ 10−6 1
𝐾𝑠 = = ∗
∆𝑝 − ∆𝜋 500 ∗ 6894.76 60 ∗ 60 ∗ 24
= 6.71 ∗ 10−16 𝑚2 ⁄𝑠𝑒𝑐 ∗ 𝑝𝑎

13 | P a g e
[7] A new membrane material (#CSS-1) is to be evaluated for its solute and
solvent permeability. A small test cell is utilized with a 5.0 cm diameter
circular membrane. The test solution contains 6,000 mg/L of NaCl in water
at 25°C. Assume that the following relationship holds for osmotic pressure
of NaCl in water. At an operating pressure gradient of 750 psi, the
permeate flow rate is 0.0152 cm3/sec = 0.0152 g/sec, and the permeate
solute concentration is 150 mg/L. Assuming there is no concentration
polarization and that the operating Conditions remain constant,
(a) determine the water flux in g/cm-sec and the solute flux in g/cm2-sec.
(b) Calculate the percent solute rejection, i.e. the membrane selectivity.

Solution
❖ Given:-
 d = 5cm
 CF = 6000 mg/l
 Cp = 150 𝑚𝑔/𝑙
 𝑄𝑝 = 0.0152 𝑔/𝑠𝑒𝑐
𝜋∗𝐷2
(a) 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝐴𝑚 = = 19.63 𝑐𝑚2
4

𝑄𝑝 0.0152
𝐽𝑤 = = = 7.74 ∗ 10−4 𝑔⁄𝑐 𝑚2 . 𝑠𝑒𝑐
𝐴𝑚 19.63

150
𝑄𝑝 ∗ 𝐶𝑝 0.0152 ∗ 1000 −7
𝐽𝑠 = = = 1.16 ∗ 10 𝑔⁄𝑐 𝑚2 . 𝑠𝑒𝑐
𝐴𝑚 19.63

𝐶𝑓 −𝐶𝑝 6000−150
(b) 𝑅%= × 100 = × 100 = 97.5 %
𝐶𝑓 6000

14 | P a g e
[8] An evaporator is fed with 5,000 lb/hr of a 20% solution of sodium
hydroxide at 100°F. This is to be concentrated to a 40% solution. The
evaporator is supplied with saturated steam at 5 psig. Although the unit
operates with the vapor space at a pressure of 4 in Hg absolute, the boiling
temperature of the solution in the evaporator is 198°F (due to the
superheat created by the exposed heating element). The overall heat
transfer coefficient is 400 Btu/hr-ft2-°F. Calculate the steam rate and the
required heat transfer area. Assume a basis of 1 hour.

Solution
❖ Given:-
𝑖𝑏
 MF = 5000 XF = 0.2
ℎ𝑟

 TF = 100 ℉ 𝑋𝑏 = 0.4
 𝑃 𝑒𝑣𝑎𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑟 = 4 𝑖𝑛 𝐻𝑔 = 4 ∗ 0.49116 = 1.965 𝑝𝑠𝑖
 𝑃𝑠 = 5 + 14.7 = 19.7 𝑝𝑠𝑖 𝑈 = 400 Btu⁄hr. ft 2 . °F
 Tb = 198 ℉

hf from steam tables at 100°F hf 68 btu/ib

hd from steam tables at (1.965 psi ) hg 1115.8 btu/ib
hb from steam tables at 198°F hf 168 btu/ib
hs from steam tables at 227°F and 5 psig hg 1156 btu/ib
hc from steam tables at 227°F and 5 psig hf 195 btu/ib

❖ Req:-
Calculate the steam rate and the required heat transfer area.

15 | P a g e
 evaporator Vapor ( Md )

Feed Saltwater

( Mf ) Brine ( Mb )

Steam

From Material Balance:

Mf = Md + Mb and Mf * Xf = Mb * Xb

𝑀 𝑓 ∗ 𝑋 𝑓 = 𝑀 𝑏 ∗ 𝑥 𝑏 = 5000 ∗ 0.2 = 𝑀 𝑏 ∗ 0.4

𝑀 𝑏 = 2500 𝑖𝑏/hr
𝑀 𝑓 = 𝑀 𝑏 + 𝑀 𝑑 = 5000 = 2500 + 𝑀 𝑑

M d = 2500 ib/hr

Energy balance

Input =output

𝑚𝑓 ∗ ℎ𝑓 + 𝑚𝑠 ℎ𝑠 = 𝑚𝑐 ℎ𝑐 + 𝑚𝑏 ∗ ℎ𝑏 + 𝑚𝑑 ∗ ℎ𝑑
5000 ∗ 68 + 𝑚𝑠 ∗ 1156 = 𝑚𝑠 ∗ 195 + 2500 ∗ 168 + 2500 ∗ 1115.8
𝑚𝑠 = 2986 𝑖𝑏/ℎ𝑟
Q = 𝑚𝑠 ∗ (hs − hc ) = 2986 ∗ (1156 − 195) = 2869546 𝑏𝑡𝑢

Q 2869546
A= = = 341.6 ft 2
(U ΔT) 280 ∗ (228 − 198)

16 | P a g e
[9] You have been requested to calculate the required membrane area for a
proposed RO desalination plant. The following design information has
been provided:
Permeate (pure water) design flow rate, qp = 50 m3/hr
Membrane design pressure drop, ∆P = 175 kPa
Membrane resistance coefficient, Rm = 3.9 x 1012 m-1
Operating temperature = 6°C
Seawater viscosity @ 6°C = 0.00155 Pa-sec.

Solution
❖ Given:-
 𝑄𝑝 = 50 𝑚3 /ℎ𝑟
 ∆𝑃 = 175 𝑘𝑃𝑎
 𝑅𝑚 = 3.9 𝑥 1012 𝑚−1
 𝜇 = 0.00155 Pa. sec

𝑄𝑝 ∆𝑃 175000
𝐽𝑝 = = =
𝐴𝑚 𝜇 ∗ 𝑅 0.00155 ∗ 3.9 ∗ 1012

𝑄𝑝
𝐴𝑚 = = 480 𝑚2
𝐽𝑝

17 | P a g e