UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO

FACULTY OF APPLIED SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

MID-TERM EXAMINATION
CHE324F Process Design
Calculator Type 2
Dr. G.W. Norval
October 9, 2008; 17:30 19:00
Duration: 90 minutes
Instructions:
1.
There are three questions attempt all three
2.
Use available space in your answer book
3.
Do not separate pages from the answer book
1)

5 marks

A cylindrical tank contains water at a height of 50.00 mm, as shown below. Inside is a small
open cylindrical tank containing mercury (of height, h). The following pressures are known from
the indicated gauges: PB = 18.92 kPa gauge, and PC = 14.76 kPa gauge. What is the gauge
pressure PA, and the height of mercury, h? The density of mercury is 13.600 g/mL.

This question is directly from an old final exam in CHE211F. It relies on the fact that p = gh.
PC is given, and PC = PA + 1 g/mL * 9.81 m/s2 * 50 mm. Then, PB = PA + (1 g/mL * 9.81 m/s2 *
(50-h) mm) + (13.6 g/mL) * 9.81 m/s2 * h mm.

2)

5 marks

Why do most centrifugal pumps have a larger inlet opening than the outlet?
Explain the concept of equivalent length in fluid mechanics.
What is a blank flange?
What are stages of a project, and the degree of accuracy of the economic estimates?
Need to minimize pressure drop on suction side to prevent cavitation
Equivalent length relates the pressure drop of elbows and fittings to linear lengths of pipe
a blank or blind flange is a solid plate that seals a flanged end when it is not in service
stages
feasibility
+-50%
Study
+/-25%
Scope
+/-20%
Definitive
+/-10%
Detailed
+/-5%

3)

10 marks

The photograph below is of a 500 gallon tank, typically used for propane storage. The typical
dimensions are 37 top to bottom and 120 end to end.

Vapour Pressure of Propane

a)
Calculate the external surface area of the tank assume that the ends of the tank are
spherical (surface area of a sphere = 4 r2)
b)
The heat of combustion for propane is 2044 kJ/mole (LHV). A typical house has a
maximum heating demand of 40,000 kJ/d. How much propane must be supplied to the house
(m3/day STP R = 8.314 kPa L/mole K).
c)
The heat of vapourization of propane is 18.8 kJ/mol; what is the heating requirement for
the propane tank in order to supply propane to a house?
d)
A typical heat transfer coefficient for an air heated exchanger is 2 W/m2C. Estimate the
temperature difference for this evaporator.
e)
Does the temperature difference make sense reflect on seasonality, and think about
implications on the pressure in the tank, and provide a short explanation.
All of the information needed to solve this question is supplied in the question.
a)

surface area = 9 m2

b)

propane demand = (40,000 kJ/d 2044 kJ/mol) = 19.6 mol/d or 439 L/day

c)
The propane is stored as a liquid, and removed from the cylinder as a gas. The heat of
vapourization must come from somewhere 367 kJ/day from ambient air.
d)

Q = UAT, gives T = 0.2 C

e)
the demand is greatest in winter and propane flows into the house from a pressurized
cylinder. A very small delta T means that even at -40C, there is sufficient heat to evaporate
propane at the needed rate. Also note that the pressure is not too very large in summer. There
is a reason that propane is used for such service!