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1. (a) This is a semi-batch process where the moist airstream should be considered as an
infinite source of water that flows with non-depleting moiture content, whereas the
silica gel initially has low moisture content and continues to adsorb moisture from
airstream until it reaches equilibrium. Hence the moisture content of airstream both at
the begining and end will be same, as equivalent to 12 mmHg partial pressure or
12 18.02
Y = = 0.009968652 kg of water/kg of dry air
760 − 12 29
which will reach equilibrium with silica gel at X2 = 0.2835 as observed from the graph.
Further, 4.54 kg of moist silica gel initially has 5 wt% adsorbed water. Hence the weight
of dry silica gel is Rs = 4.54 (1 − 0.05) = 4.313 kg and its initial moisture content is
0.05
X1 = = 0.052632 kg of water/ kg of dry silica gel
1 − 0.05
Hence the mass of additional water that the gel has adsorbed will be Rs (X2 − X1 ) =
4.313 (0.2835 − 0.052632) = 0.995736 kg of water or nearly one kg of water.
(b) This is a batch operation. Initial air, p = 15 mmHg
15 18.02
Y1 = = 0.012511 kg of water/kg of dry air
760 − 15 29
Initial silica gel, 5 wt% water
0.05
X1 = = 0.052632 kg of water/kg of dry silica gel
1 − 0.05
Amount of dry silica gel is
From the point P , coordinates (X1 , Y1 ) in the figure, the operating line of slope −0.03276
is drawn, to reach the equilibrium point Q which provides the final coordinates of
(Xe , Ye ).
Hence the final moisture content of air and silica gel are
Ye
= 0.754%
1 + Ye
and
Xe
= 16.736%
1 + Xe
respectively. Mass of water adsorbed by the gel is
Ky = P K G (1)
1 1 m
= + (2)
Ky ky kx
yAi = mxAi (3)
pAi 25xAi
yAi = = = 2.5xAi
P 10
Hence m = 2.5, putting these values consecutively in eqs.(2) and (1)
1 1 2.5
= +
Ky 8 10
1 1
KG = P = 1
10
2.5
= 0.2667 kmol/(h)(m2 )(∆p,atm)
1
8
+ 10
Ky
0.2667
= kmol/(h)(m2 )(∆p,mm Hg)
760
= 3.51 × 10−4 kmol/(h)(m2 )(∆p,mm Hg)
For calculation of interfacial concentrations, xAi and pAi , following equation will be
helpful
NA = kx (xAi − xAL ) = ky (yAL − yAi ) (4)
ky yAL + kx xAL
xAi = (5)
kx + ky m
where
DAB = 2.137 × 10−6 m2 /s
z = 2 mm = 0.002 m
xA1 = 0.1
xA2 = 0.2
The pressure is 1000 kPa or 106 Pa and temperature is 25◦ C or 298 K. As the gas
mixture follows ideal gas law, P V = nRT , one obtains
n P 106
c= = = = 0.4036 kmol/m3
V RT (8314) (298)
As the flux of N2 (gas B) is 20% of the flux of O2 (gas A) in opposite direction, we have
NB = −0.2NA and hence
NA NA
= = 1.25
NA + NB NA − 0.2NA
The eq.(6) takes the form
DAB c 1.25 − xA2
NA = (1.25) ln
z 1.25 − xA1
−6
(2.137 × 10 ) (0.4036) 1.25 − 0.2
= (1.25) ln
0.002 1.25 − 0.1
−5
= −4.904 × 10
Hence the flux of diffusion of oxygen is 4.904 × 10−5 kmol/(m2 s). The negative sign
indicates the direction of flux i.e. from 20 vol% to 10 vol%.