Department of Chemical Engineering

IIT Bombay
CL 356, Process Plant Utilities
Spring Semester Mid-term Examination 2008
February 19, 2008
Answer all questions
Answer Section A and Section B in separate answer books
Total marks: 30
Section A
No
Question
Marks
1. Moist air at an atmospheric pressure of 1.033 kg/cm^2a and 27 deg C 5
has a percentage relative humidity of 25. If the vapour pressure of
water at saturated conditions at the same temperature is 3.6 kpa
determine the following:
1. The partial pressure of water vapour in the air
2. The absolute humidity of the air
Assume ideal gas law and MW of air as 29
Solution:
Basis : 1 m^3 of air
Partial pressure = 3.6* 0.25 =0.9 kpa
Mass of water vapour
PV = nRT
P = 1 atmos (1.013* 10^5 pa)
V = 1 m^3
R = 8314
T = 300 K
Mass of vapour = (900*1*18)/(8314*300) = 0.0065 kg
Mass of air =((101.3 0.9) * 1000 * 29)/(8314 * 300) = 1.167 kg
Humidiity = 0.0065/1.1167 = 0.0056 kg/kg
At saturation conditions:
Mass of vapour = 3600 *1*18/(8314*300) = 0.026 kg/kg
Mass of air = (101.3-3.6) * 1000 * 29/8314*300 = 1.136 kg
Humidity = 0.026/1.136 = 0.0229
Absolute humidity = 100 * 0.0056/0.0229 = 24.45%
(I had missed out giving the operating temperature so unless you had
made an assumption for the temperature, you could not solve the
second part. Hence the second part of the question is annuled)
2. In a pumping system the pressure is 2 kg/cm2 g at some point.
5
If the fluid has a density of 680kg/m 3 , express this pressure in the
following units:

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1.
2.
3.
4.

mlc (g) = 2/0.068 = 29.4 mlc

bara = 3. 033 kg/cm^a*0.9807 = 2.97 bar
Atmospheres (gauge) = 2/1.033 = 1.94 at
mm of mercury, absolute (density of mercury as
13.6 gm/cc ) = 3.033* (10/13.60)* 1000 = 2230
mm
5. Metres of water column(g) = 20 mlc
3. A boiler has a maximum continuous rating (MCR) of 50 tons/hr. The 5
maximum permissible TDS in the boiler system is 3000 ppm. Make up
water is fed in at 10% of boiler MCR. If the make up water has a TDS
of 300 ppm, what is the blow down required?
Solution:
COC = (E + B)/B = 10
MU = E + B = 5 tph
10 = (5)/B
10B = 5
B = 5/11 = 0.5 tons
4. Cooling water flowing in the tube side of a shell and tube heat 5
exchanger has a heat transfer coefficient of 1500 W/m2K and the shell
side fluid has a heat transfer coefficient of 900 W/m2K. The shell side
fluid is clean but cooling water has a dirt factor of 0.0004 Km 2/W. If
based on clean coefficients the required area is 100 m2, what would be
required area based on fouled coefficients for the same duty
conditions. Assume tube wall thickness is zero.
Solution:
Clean
!/U = 1/1500 + 1/900
U = 562 units
Dirty
459 units
Clean area * Clean U = Dirty area * Dirty U
Dirty area = 562*100/459 = 122 m^2

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Section B
No
Question
5. The following analysis is reported for a water sample:
Calcium as Ca
Magnesium as Mg
Sodium as Na
Chlorides as Cl
Sulphates as SO4
M-alkalinity as HCO3
P alkalinity
Turbidity
Colloidal Silica
Fe
pH

Marks
4

24 ppm
7.2 ppm
10 ppm
21.3 ppm
57.6 ppm
48.8 ppm
Nil
10 NTU
5 ppm
Nil
7.2

a) Establish the consistency of the above analysis. If it is not

consistent, which constituent would you adjust and by how much?
b) Calculate TDS
c) What is the hardness of the above water expressed as CaCO3?
d) Based on the above analysis, what would be your inference
regarding the source of the water?
(Data: Ca 40, Mg 24, Na 23, Cl 35.5, S 32, O 16)
6.
1. Explain with the aid of relevant chemical equations why 6
water can have alkalinity and still be at a pH below 7?
2. State one main advantage and one main disadvantage of
Reverse Osmosis process vis--vis Ion Exchange
process.
3. What is the significance of SDI? Comment on a water
sample having a SDI of 10.
4. A laboratory reported the following analysis of a
wastewater sample:
5. BOD 260 mg/lit, COD 160 mg/lit.
6. Comment on this with your justification.
7. Distinguish between a coagulant and a flocculant.
8. State 3 harmful effects of microbiological growth in
cooling water circuit.

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