Reference no: EM131433671

Problem -

A flow sheet of the processes to be analyzed is shown on the next page. Liquid isopropanol (or 2-propanol) at 25^oC and 1 atm (S1) is fed at the steady rate of 3.6 kmol/h to a vaporizer where it is converted isopropanol vapor at 150^oC and 1 atm. From the vaporizer, the isopropanol vapor stream (S2) goes to an equilibrium reactor where isopropanol reacts at 150°C and 1 atm to form diisopropylether and water according to the stoichiometry,

2(CH₃)₂CHOH_(g) ↔ (CH₃)₂CH-O-CH(CH₃)_2(g) + H₂O_(g)

The reactor effluent (S3) goes to a partial condenser where 70% of the water vapor present in the stream is condensed at 1 atm and removed as a part of the liquid stream leaving the condenser (S5). The other stream leaving the condenser is the overhead vapor stream (S4).

The heat duty of the vaporizer is provided by the heat released by the combustion of a methane-air mixture in a combustion furnace operated at 200°C and 1 atm. The methane combustion reaction is given by CH₄ + 2O₂ → CO₂ + 2H₂O and it goes to completion. Before entering the combustion furnace (as stream S7), the methane-air mixture (S6) is preheated by the combustion effluent (S8) in a countercurrent heat exchanger. The methane-air mixture (S6) is originally at 25°C and 1 atm, and it contains 14.79 mol % methane, 29.58 mol % oxygen, and 55.63 mol % nitrogen. The furnace effluent enters and leaves the heat exchanger at 200^oC and 100^oC, respectively. The heat exchanger has an overall heat transfer coefficient of 50 kcal/(h.m².K).

Part A - Hand Analysis

Use the data provided on the next page and an ideal vapor assumption to determine

(a) the heat duty of the vaporizer,

(b) the conversion of isopropanol and the equilibrium composition of reaction mixture in the equilibrium reactor,

(c) the heat duty of the equilibrium reactor,

(d) the operating temperature and heat duty of the partial condenser,

(e) the compositions and flow rates of the liquid and vapor streams leaving the condenser,

(f) the molar flow rate of the methane-air mixture stream,

(g) the heat duty and heat transfer area of the heat exchanger.

Part B - List and discuss the safety issues that need to be taken into account in the production, handling and storage of diisopropylether.

Attachment:- Data.rar