Energy Balance & conservation of Energy

Thermal condition was determined by using values of enthalpy from the appropriate Wankat
diagram. The thermal condition of the reflux was found to be at a sub-cooled liquid. The
column must be adiabatic, meaning no heat flow, to assume Constant Molal Overflow (CMO)
(Wankat 106). CMO cannot be assumed because heat loss takes place in this distillation
column
Energy out = Energy in + generation - consumption - accumulation
The conservation of energy, however, differs from that of mass such that energy can be
generated (or consumed) in the process. Material can change form, new molecular species
can be formed by chemical reaction, but the total mass ow into a process unit must be equal
to the ow out at the steady state.
The same is not true of energy. The total enthalpy of the outlet streams will not equal that of
the inlet streams if energy is generated or consumed in the processes; such as that due to heat
of reaction.
Energy can exist in several forms: heat, mechanical energy, electrical energy, and it is the
total energy that is conserved. In process design, energy balances are made to determine the
energy requirements of the process: the heating, cooling and power required. In plant
operation, an energy balance (energy audit) on the plant will show the pattern of energy
usage, and suggest areas for conservation and savings.
Factors which may contributes to the energy loss are :
the value of conductivity of the material being used for design, that is carbon steel
Lack of insulation
Throttling the flow by pumps