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4 Lab Exercise

This document outlines a laboratory exercise on solving steady-state material balances on a separation train using MATLAB. The exercise involves: 1) Solving systems of linear equations representing material balances for separation processes and writing MATLAB code to solve them. 2) Determining molar flow rates and compositions for streams in distillation columns separating paraxylene, styrene, toluene, and benzene. 3) Writing MATLAB functions using commands like disp(), input(), and fprintf() to interactively solve material balance problems.

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roxette
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226 views

4 Lab Exercise

This document outlines a laboratory exercise on solving steady-state material balances on a separation train using MATLAB. The exercise involves: 1) Solving systems of linear equations representing material balances for separation processes and writing MATLAB code to solve them. 2) Determining molar flow rates and compositions for streams in distillation columns separating paraxylene, styrene, toluene, and benzene. 3) Writing MATLAB functions using commands like disp(), input(), and fprintf() to interactively solve material balance problems.

Uploaded by

roxette
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Laboratory Exercise No.

4
Steady-state Material Balances on a Separation Train
1. Objective:
The activity aims to solve a chemical engineering problem dealing with steady-state material balances
on a separation train using matlab.
2. Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs):
The students shall be able to:
2.1 solve problem involving steady-state material balances on a separation train.
3. Discussion :
A mass balance, also called a material balance, is an application of conservation of mass to the analysis
of physical systems. By accounting for material entering and leaving a system, mass flows can be
identified which might have been unknown, or difficult to measure without this technique. The exact law
used in the analysis of the system depends on the context of the problem, but all revolve around mass
conservation, i.e. that matter cannot disappear or be created spontaneously.
Therefore, mass balances are used widely in engineering and environmental analyses. For example,
mass balance theory is used to design chemical reactors, to analyze alternative processes to produce
chemicals, as well as to model pollution dispersion and other processes of physical systems. Closely
related and complementary analysis techniques include the population balance, energy balance and the
somewhat more complex entropy balance. These techniques are required for thorough design and
analysis of systems such as the refrigeration cycle.
4. Resources:
Matlab
5. Procedure:
1. For the four equations four unknowns as shown below :
2w + 5x - 3y - 4z = 9
-3w - 2x +4y - 5z = 23
2w + 5x + 3y - 6z = 39
w + 5x + 4y - 2z = 29
a. Obtain the four by four matrix of the LHS of the system of equations and assign it to variable A.
Run it in the matlab command window. Show the results.
b. Obtain the one by four matrix of the RHS of the system of equations and assign it to variable
B. Run it in the matlab command window. Show the results.
c. Using the command A\B and assign to it to variable w, x, y and z values. Run it in the matlab
command window. Show the results.
d. Create an m-file for the solution of the system of equations. Run it and show the results.
e. Create an m-file using disp( ), input( ), and fprintf( ) commands. Run it and show the results.

2. Provide a unique system of equations, ten equations in ten unknowns and answer the following:
a. Obtain the ten by ten matrix of the LHS of the system of equations and assign it to variable A.
Run it in the matlab command window. Show the results.
b. Obtain the one by ten matrix of the RHS of the system of equations and assign it to variable B.
Run it in the maltlab command window. Show the results.
c. Using the command A\B and assign it to ten distinct variables. Run it in matlab command
window. Show the results.
d. Create an m-file for the solution of the system of equations. Run it and show the results.
e. Create an m-file using disp( ), input( ), and fprintf( ) commands. Run it and show the results.
3. In this problem, we are separating paraxylene, styrene, toluene and benzene via continuous
distillation in three columns. Continuous distillation is typically a steady-state process as the
lighter components (lower boiling temperatures at the operating pressure) will collect overhead
and the heavier will collect in the bottoms. Depending on what your purity specifications are will
then determine how you want to operate your equipment. A schematic with the problem details is
shown below:

a. Using 1 minute of operation, obtain the system of equations, four equations in four unknowns,
involving material balances of xylene, styrene, toluene, and benzene.
b. Obtain the four by four matrix of the resulting system of equations in 3a and assign it to variable A.

Run it in the matlab command window. Show the results.


c. Obtain the one by four matrix of the resulting system of equations in 3a and assign it to variable B.
Run it in the matlab command window. Show the results.
d. Using the command A\B, assign it to four distinct variables representing the molar flow rates of
D_1, B_1, D_2, and B_2. Run it in the matlab command window. Show the results.
e. Create an m-file for the solution of system of equations in 3a. Run it and show the results.
f. Create an m-file using disp( ), input( ) and fprintf( ) matlab commands. Run it and show the results.
4. For the illustration as shown below,

a. Using Column #2, provide for the matlab command that will determine the flowrate of stream D.
Run it in the matlab command window. Show the results.
b. Provide for matlab commands that will determine the mole fraction of xylene, styrene, toluene,
and benzene in stream D. Run them in the command window. Show the results.
c. Create an m-file that will provide solutions in 4a and 4b. Run it and show the results.
d. Create an m-file using disp( ), input( ) and fprint( ) matlab commands that will provide solutions

in 4a and 4b. Run it and show the results.


5. Using Figure1,
a. Using Column #2, provide for the matlab command that will determine the flowrate of stream B.
Run it in the matlab command window. Show the results
b. Provide matlab commands that will determine the mole fraction of xylene, styrene, toluene, and
benzene in stream B. Run them in the command window. Show the results.
c. Create an m-file that will provide solutions in 5a and 5b. Run it and show the results.
d. Create an m-file using disp( ), input( ), and fprint( ) matlab commands that will provide solutions
in 5a and 5b. Run it and show the results.

Course:
Group No.:
Group Members:

6. Data and Results:


Procedure
1a
1b
1c

Laboratory Exercise No.:


Section:
Date Performed:
Date Submitted:
Instructor:
Results

1d
1e
2a
2b
2c
2d
2e
3a
3b
3c
3d
3e
3f
4a
4b
4c
4d
5a
5b
5c
5d

7. Conclusion:

8. Assessment (Rubric for Laboratory Performance):

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