A general strategy for solving

material balance problems

Reference book

Basic Principles and Calculations in Chemical

Engineering 7th edition by David M. Himmelblau/James
B.rigg
Chapter 7 (Page 166-187)

Learning outcomes

Comprehend and execute the 10 elements of effective

problem solving
Understand and apply a degree of freedom analysis

A general strategy for solving

material balance problems
Todays lecture contents
Develop an understanding about different
employed in solving material balance problems

steps

Material balance problem

The catalytic dehydrogenation of propane is carried out in a
continuous packed bed reactor. One thousand kilograms per hour of
pure propane is preheated to a temperature of 670OC before it
passes into the reactor. The reactor effluent gas, which includes
propane, propylene, methane, and hydrogen is cooled from 800 OC
to 110 OC and fed to an absorption tower, where the propylene and
propane are dissolved in oil. The oil then goes to a stripping tower
in which it is heated, releasing the dissolved gases, these gases are
recompressed and sent to a distillation column in which the propane
and propylene are separated. The propane stream is recycled back to
join the feed to the reactor preheater. The product stream from the
distillation column contains 98% propylene, and the recycle stream
is 97% propane. The stripped oil is recycled to the absorption tower.

A general strategy for solving

material balance problems

How similar material balance problems are!!!

No cramming just exercise will make you perfect
Different methods can be employed depending upon
individual thinking but a well defined process eases the
process of problem solving

A general strategy for solving

material balance problems

An orderly method of analysing problems and

presenting their solutions represents training in logical
thinking is of considerably greater value then mere
knowledge of how to solve a particular type of problem.

Read and understand the problem

statement
What is given and what is to be accomplished?
Rephrase the statement to make sure that you understand
it.
How many months have 30 days?
Recognize a system as open, close, steady state, un
steady state, continuous, batch, semi batch.

Draw a sketch of the process and

specify the system boundary
Drawing a sketch of the process or physical system
A simple box
A continuous mixer mixes NaOH with H2O to produce
an aqueous solution of NaOH. Determine the
composition and flow rate of the product if the flow rate
of NaOH is 1000 kg/hr and the ratio of the flow rate of
the H2O to the product solution is 0.9

Placing Labels
Place labels (symbols, numbers and units) on the diagram
for all of the known flows, materials, and compositions.
Insert symbols and units for the unknown compositions.
Avoiding looking back at the problem
Stream flow rates (F = 100kg/min)
Compositions of each stream
Given flow rates
Efficiency
Molecular weights

Unit Association

Be sure to include the units associated with the flows

Mark the unknown variables as x.

Placing the knowing information

Since no information is provided about the composition

of the both inlet streams it is assumed that they are
100% water and sodium hydroxide.

Placing the knowing information

Placing the knowing information

Obtain any data you need to solve the problem, but

are missing
Stream flow that contains two components NaOH and
H2O. Concentration of NaOH is 22%.
Calculate the value of 78% in your head and write it
down.

Symbols used in this book

Choosing a basis

What do I have?
What do I want to find?
What is convenient?
What basis would you choose for the problem
mentioned before?

Number of variables

Determine the number of variables whose value is

unknown
From example we do not know the values of W,P, PNaOH
and PH2O

A general strategy for solving

material balance problems

What we have learnt so far!!!

Understanding the problem
Sketch drawing
Placing symbols
Choosing a basis
Determining the number of variables

A general strategy for solving

material balance problems
What we will learn today
Determine the number of independent equations and
carry out a degree of freedom of analysis
Writing down the equations to be solved
Solving the equations
Checking answers

A general strategy for solving

material balance problems
One thousand kilogram per hour of a mixture of benzene
(B) and toluene (T) containing 50% benzene by mass is
separated by distillation into two fractions. The mass
flow rate of the benzene in the top stream is 450 kg B/h
and that of toluene in the bottom stream is 475 kg B/h.
the operation is at steady state. Calculate the unknown
component flow rates in output stream.

Degree of freedom of analysis

In order to solve a problem the number of unknown

variables must be equal to the number of independent
equations

Degree of freedom of analysis

Concept of independent equations!

3x1 + 4x2 = 0
6x1 + 8x2 = 0
Are the above equations independent of each other? If
yes, find the value of x1 and x2 !!!
How many independent equations we can formulate
from the given problem

Degree of freedom analysis

Degree of freedom = number of unknowns number of

independent equations
ND = NU NE
If Nu = NE exactly specified a solution exists
NU is greater than NE underspecified more independent
equations are required

Degree of freedom analysis

NU is less than NE over specified in general no solution

exists unless some constraints are eliminated or some
additional unknowns are included in the problem
How many number of unknowns and number of
independent equations do exist in the given problem?

Degree of freedom analysis

You can write as many independent material balances as

there are species involved in the system.
In the specific given problem there are two specie such
as NaOH and H20
Hence two independent equations can be written

Degree of freedom analysis

Degree of freedom analysis

Let Nsp = the number of species

Ns = The number of streams
Nu = the total number of variables
For one stream Nu = Ns(Nsp +1) and for the whole
process
Nu = 3(2+1)

Determining the value of NE

Specifications and values of variables that are given in
the problem statement such as
The ratio of two flow rates is some specific value
The percent conversion in a reaction is given
The values of concentration, flow rate, temperature,
pressure, density, volume, and so on is given
A variable is not present in a stream, hence its value is
zero

Determining the value of NE

One specification of the ratio of the two variables i.e.
W/P = 0.9
For the example problem you can write two independent
material balances, one for NaOH and the other for H2O.
The total balance can be substituted for either one of the
two respective component balances.

Example

A stream of humid air enters a condenser in which 95%

of the water vapour in the air is condensed. The flow
rate of the condensate (the liquid leaving the condenser)
is measured and found to be 225 L/hr. dry air may be
taken to contain 21 mole% oxygen, with the balance
nitrogen. Calculate the flow rate of the gas stream
leaving the condenser and the mole fraction of oxygen,
nitrogen, and water in the stream.

Reference to the problem

Elementary principles of chemical processes 3rd edition

by Richard M. Felder and Ronald W. Rousseau Chapter
4 Fundamentals of Material Balance Page 100

Degree of freedom of analysis

Degree of freedom of analysis

Writing down of equations

What would be the material balance equations for?

NaOH
H2O
Given Ratio
Sum of components

Writing down of equations

Can we substitute the total mass balance as 1000 + W =

P
Given ratio
W = 0.9P
Find out P?

Solve the equations and calculate

the quantities asked for in the
problem
When data is given in AE system do not convert the
units to SI, first solve the problem and when you have
the answer you can convert to any desired unit
Introduces unnecessary opportunities for numerical
errors to occur
Calculate mass fraction

Checking answers

mass fraction should fall between zero and one

Flow rates should be non negative

Summary
Read and understand the problem statement
Draw a sketch and specify the system boundary.
Place labels for unknown variables and values for known variables
on the sketch.
Obtain any missing data needed.
choose a basis
Determine the number of unknowns
Determine the number of independent equations and carry out a
degree of freedom analysis
Write down the equations to be solved
Check your answers