2009

3)

a) Sketch a typical drying curve which would be expected from the results of
a batch drying experiment, highlighting the critical features. [5 marks]


b) In batch drying, the time for drying is given by the equation:


}
=
1
2
X
X
N
dX
A
L
t
where L Mass of solid, kg
A Surface area for drying, m
2

N Drying rate, kg/m
2
s
X
1,2
Initial and final solid moisture
content, kg/kg

Show that the total time for drying of a solid with 0 kg/kg equilibrium moisture
content and with X
2
<X
C
<X
1
(X
C
is the critical moisture content) can be written
as:


( )
(

|
|
.
|

\
|
+ =
2
1
ln
X
X
X X X
AN
L
t
c
c c
c


[8 marks]

c) Experimental data collected when a sample of moist solid was dried using
air at 150C shows that after 10 minutes the moisture content fell from 0.80
kg/kg to 0.30 kg/kg, with a critical moisture content of 0.60 kg/kg. If the
solid load was 4.8 kg/m
2
, calculate the constant rate of moisture removal.
What is the time required to dry a sample of the same material from a initial
moisture content of 0.5 kg/kg to a final content of 0.1 kg/kg?
[7 marks]


2009
4)
3 kg/s of air (dry basis) is used in a co-current adiabatic tunnel dryer to dry 0.4
kg/s of wet sand from a moisture content of 0.07 kg water/kg dry solid to 0.005
kg water/kg dry solid. The air enters the tunnel at a dry bulb temperature of
54C and a wet bulb temperature of 25C. The solid enters the dryer at 20C.
The diameter of dryer is 1.5 m. Calculate:

a) the humidity of the air leaving the dryer [4 marks]
b) the temperature of the air leaving the dryer [3 marks]
c) the number of transfer units [7 marks]
d) the length of the dryer. [6 marks]

Assume that the overall mass transfer coefficient, U, is given by the relation:

D
G
aU
5 . 0
3 . 0 =

where G is the mass velocity of dry air in kg/s,m
2
and D is the diameter of the
dryer in m.

(A psychrometric chart is attached)

2009
5)
a) With the aid of an appropriate diagram, explain the dependence of the drag
coefficient on the Reynolds number for a sphere. Indicate the different flow
regimes and the correspondent range of Reynolds numbers in which they
happen.
[3 marks]

b) Spherical particles of density 2000 kg/m
3
and size range 20-100 m are fed
continuously into a steam of water flowing upwards in a vertical large
diameter pipe.

i) What maximum water velocity is required to ensure that no particles
of diameter greater than 50m are carried upwards with the water?
[4 marks]
ii) What maximum water velocity is required if we do not want any of
the particles to be carried upwards?
[5 marks]
iii) List the assumptions made in undertaking the calculations at points
i) and ii) above [3 marks]

Suppose that the solid particles are now substituted with air bubbles:

iv) List the relevant dimensionless groups when bubbles in water are
considered instead, and explain the additional effect that becomes
important when dealing with bubbles [5 marks]

2007

1)

From a force balance, show that the terminal velocity of an isolated spherical
particle is given by

=
18
g d ) (
U
2
p
0

assuming Stokes Law applies and by

=
dg ) (
74 . 1 U
p
0

for fully developed laminar flow.
[5 marks]

Two powdered ores, densities 2600kg/m
3
and 9400kg/m
3
, are to be separated
by elutriation in water. Calculate the maximum ratio of particle sizes which
may be separated assuming Stokes Law applies to both phases.
[5 marks]
Repeat the assessment assuming fully developed laminar flow applies.
[4 marks]

Over what range of particle sizes would the Stokes Law result be useful?
[6 marks]

For Stokes Law, the drag coefficient is given by C
D
=24/Re and for fully
developed laminar flow the drag coefficient is given by C
D
=0.44.
Stokes Law is applicable for Re<0.2. Take the density of water to be
1000 kg/m
3
and its viscosity to be 0.001 Pa.s

Symbols:
C
D
Drag coefficient

d Particle diameter
Re Reynolds number
U
0
Terminal velocity
Viscosity
Fluid density

p
Particle density
2007

5)

A triple effect evaporation plant is used to concentrate a feed liquor from 5
mass % to 50 mass % solids. The unit is backward-feed and each effect has
65 m
2
of heat transfer area. The overall heat transfer coefficients in each of
the three effects are U
1
= 2.5, U
2
= 2.0, and U
3
= 1.6 kW m
-2
K
-1
, respectively.
Dry saturated steam at 205 kN m
-2
(abs) is fed to the heating element of the
first effect, and the condensate is removed at the steam temperature in each
effect. The third effect operates at 13 kN m
-2
(abs). Assuming that boiling
point rise, sensible heat effects, and heat losses are negligible, determine the
following:

(a) the temperature of each effect [8].
(b) the pressure of each effect [2].
(c) the vapour stream flowrates from each effect [3].
(d) the feed liquor rate with which the unit can cope [3].
(e) the liquor stream flowrates from each effect [2].
(f) the condensate stream flowrates from each effect [2].
(g) water required to condense the final vapour stream by a water jet
condenser if the water available is at 20
0
C and saturated. Assume
that water at the exit from the jet condenser is at 30
0
C and
saturated [3].
(h) the steam economy of the plant [2].