CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SERIES: HEAT TRANSFER

SOLVED PROBLEMS

The overhead vapors from a pilot acid stripping still are to be totally condensed in an overhead
condenser. Twenty five percent of the condensed vapors are to be refluxed back to the still.
The composition of the acid concentrate (in wt %) is as follows: HCl = 35.55, H 2O = 63.27,
C6H6 = 0.75, Cl2 = 0.45.

Net daily (24 h) production of acid condensate is 316.8 kg. The top temperature of the still is
75C and the condensate is rundown to 30C. The log mean temperature difference across
the condenser is 25C. The over-all heat transfer coefficient is estimated to be 567.83 W/m 2K.
The thermal properties of the components are as follows:
HCl : Heat of solution = 17.4 kcal/gmol
H2O : Heat of condensation = 540.0 kcal/kg
C6H6 : Heat of condensation = 95.0 kcal/kg
Condensat : Sensible heat = 1.0 kcal/kg
e

What minimum heat transfer area (in sq m) must the condensate have?
(Source: CHE BP May 1987)

SOLUTION:

m
ov =m
p+ m
r

m
r=0.25 m
ov

kg
m
ov =316.8 +0.25 m
ov
d

kg
m
ov =422.4
d

Assume all overhead vapors have been condensed, same composition of reflux, acid condensate and overhead
vapor

q=q sensible + q soln + qcond

kcal kg kcal
(
q sensible= 1.0
kg )(
422.4
d )=422.4
d

ENGR. RONNIE V. FLORES Page 1

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SERIES: HEAT TRANSFER
SOLVED PROBLEMS

q soln =(17.4 molkcal x

1mol HCl 1,000 g
x
HCl 36.45 g HCl kg HCl )( 422.4
kg ov 35.55 kg HCl
d
x
100 kg ov )

kcal
q soln =71,682.8444 d

q cond=q H O + qC H2 6 5

kg ov 63.27 kg H 2 O
q H O= 540
2
( kcal
kg H 2 O )(
422.4
d
x
100 kg ov ) =144,316.3392
kcal
d

kcal kg ov 0.75 kg kcal

qC 6 H6 = 95( kg )(
422.4
d
x
100 kg ov )
=300.96
d

kcal
q cond=144,316.3392+300.96=144,617.2292 d

kcal
q=422.4 +71,682.8444+144,617.2292=216,722.5436
d

q=UA T lm

kcal 1 d 1h
216,722.5436 x x
d 24 h 60 min
A=
cal

( W
567.83 2
m K
x
14.34
W
min
x
1 kcal
1,000 cal
( 25 C ) )
A=0.7393 m2 ANSWER

ENGR. RONNIE V. FLORES Page 2