CHEN21112: Process Design and Simulation Problem-based learning

Week 5 Flash calculations

A feed stream that is a mixture of ethane, propane, n-butane, n-pentane and n-hexane with the
composition below is to be described as an ideal mixture. The Antoine equation and its constants (see
below) will be used to estimate the vapour pressure of the components..
Antoine equation:
|
|

\
|
+
=
i
i
i
sat
i
C T
B
A p exp

where T is the temperature in K and p
sat
is the vapour pressure in bar.

Table 1 Data for flash calculations. Note: Table 1 is in the Excel spreadsheet Flash calculations.xlsx
Antoine constants
Component Feed flow
(kmol h
1
)
A
i
B
i
C
i
Distillate flow
(kmol h
1
)

Ethane 5 9.0435 1511.4 -17.16 4.999
Propane 25 9.1058 1872.5 -25.16 23.75
n-Butane 30 9.0580 2154.9 -34.42 3.00
n-Pentante 20 9.2131 2477.1 -39.94 0.020
n-Hexane 20 9.2164 2697.6 -48.78 0

1 Show that Raoults law, together with the definition of the vapour-liquid equilibrium constant and
the Antoine equation, allows equilibrium constants, K
i
, to be expressed in terms of the
temperature, pressure and Antoine constants only:

(

+
=
i
i
i i
C T
B
A
P
K exp
1
2 Apply Raoults law and the Antoine equation to estimate the bubble point pressure (pressure of
saturated liquid at which first bubble of vapour appears) at 45C for the mixture above.
3 Apply Raoults law and the Antoine equation to estimate the bubble point temperature for the
above mixture at 10 bar. (This mixture is a saturated liquid mixture.)
4 Calculate the equilibrium constants and relative volatilities relative to n-butane (
ij
= K
i
/K
j
where j
= 3) for the saturated liquid mixture at 10 bar (i.e. use your answers from part 3)
5 Derive the mass balance equation shown on slide L04-57 relating the composition and K
i
values of
the feed into a flash unit to

its overall mass balance, expressed as V/F:

) / ( 0
1 ) 1 (
) 1 (
F V f
K
F
V
K z
NC
i
i
i i
= =
+

6 Apply the mass balance equation to estimate the vapour fraction V/F when the Feed mixture in
Table 1 is flashed at a temperature of 65C and 10 bar. (Use Solver in Excel.)
7 Calculate the molar composition of the vapour obtained in this case.
8 Apply the flash mass balance equation to estimate the temperature required to flash 30% of the
feed at 10 bar.
9 The liquid distillate composition shown in Table 1 for a distillation column operating at a pressure
of 10 bar throughout the column. Determine the bubble point temperature of this distillate. Use
this result to judge whether an operating pressure of 10 bar is appropriate for this column. (Hint:
See slides L04-62 L04-65 regarding how operating pressure of a column should be selected.)
10 Use HYSYS to carry out flash calculations on the feed mixture presented in Table 1. You may use the
Peng-Robinson equation of state as the physical property model.
Estimate the bubble point pressure (pressure of saturated liquid at which first bubble of
vapour appears) at 45C for the feed mixture.
Estimate the bubble point temperature for feed mixture at 10 bar.
Determine the equilibrium constants for the saturated liquid mixture at 10 bar. Hence
calculate the relative volatilities (relative to n-butane).
Determine the fraction of the feed that is flashed (i.e. the vapour product of the flash unit)
at a temperature of 65C and 10 bar. Determine the molar composition of the vapour
obtained.
Determine the temperature required to flash 30% of the feed at 10 bar.