Mass Transfer II (CH31010)

Tutorial Sheet No.: MT-II/NCP/2016/2

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1.

A once-through cooling tower is to cool hot process water at the rate of 3.5 x 105 kg/h by air
coming from a blower at a rate of 2.5 x 105 kg/h. The air enters the tower at a dry-bulb
temperature of 26oC and humidity of 0.006 kg water/kg dry air. It leaves the tower at a dry-bulb
temperature of 38oC with 0.036 kg water/kg dry air. The hot process water enters the tower at
45oC. Estimate the temperature of the water returned to the process operation.
DATA: Heat capacity of air = 1.005 kJ/(kg)(oC)
Heat capacity of water vapour = 1.884 kJ/(kg)(oC)
Latent heat of vaporization of water at 0oC = 2500 kJ/kg
[Ans. 30.55oC]

2.

A cooling tower operates in counter-current mode with entering air of humidity 0.013 kg/kg
dry air at a dry bulb temperature of 27oC. Hot process water enters the tower at 48oC and cold
water leaves at 27oC. The cross sectional area of the tower is 63.6 m2. Determine the height of
the tower required to meet the process requirements. Air is supplied to the tower by a blower
having a capacity of 4.2x105 m3/hr and the water loading is 7244 kg/m2 hr.
DATA: Heat capacity of air = 0.24 kcal/(kg)(oC)
Heat capacity of water vapour = 0.45 kcal/(kg)(oC)
Latent heat of vaporization of water at 0OC = 597 kcal/kg
KYa = 2.28 kg/m3 s (Y)
[Ans. 2.0 m]

3.

It is planned to cool water from 42oC to 28oC in a packed counter-current water cooling tower
by air at a rate of 6850 kg/m2 at 30oC with 0.016 kg water/kg dry air. The water flow rate is
9800 kg/m2 h. The overall mass transfer coefficient (KYa) is given as 0.88 kg/m3 s (Y).
Calculate the height of the tower needed for the cooling operation.
[Ans. 10.13 m]

4. A process requires 6500 kg air/h at 20% humidity and 50oC. This air is to be obtained by
conditioning air at 10% humidity and 30oC by first heating, then humidifying adiabatically to
the desired humidity and finally reheating the humidified air to 50oC. The humidification step
is to be conducted in a spray chamber. Assuming the air leaving the spray chamber is to be
2.5oC warmer than the adiabatic saturation temperature, to what temperature the air be
preheated, at what temperature it will leave the spray chamber, how much heat will be required
for pre- and reheat and what should be the volume of the spray chamber?
DATA: Heat capacity of air = 1.005 kJ/(kg)(oC)
Heat capacity of water vapour = 1.884 kJ/(kg)(oC)
hGa, volumetric heat transfer coefficient = 5675 kJ/(m3)(h)(oC).
[Ans. 61oC, 26oC, 200600 kJ/h, 159060 kJ/h, 3.12 m3]
5. It is desired to dehumidify 2.0 m3/s of air, available at 40oC dry-bulb and 30oC wet-bulb, to a
wet-bulb temperature of 15oC in a counter-current tower using water chilled to 10oC. The
packing will be 50mm Raschig rings. To keep entrainment at a minimum, the air rate will be 1.5
kg dry air/m2 s and a liquid rate of 1.5 times the minimum will be used. The volumetric mass
transfer coefficient, KYa is given as 2.34 kg/m3 s (Y).
(i) Determine the diameter and height of the packed portion of the tower.
(ii) What will be the temperature of the outlet water?
[Ans. 1.358 m, 1.73 m, 23.33oC]