Energy Balance

CHAPTER 4
ENERGY BALANCE
Energy balance is the calculations of the energy requirements for the process, like the heating,
cooling, pressure, and enthalpy. Energy is categorized in several forms like kinetic energy,
potential energy, heat energy, electrical energy, mechanical energy. According to law of
conservation of energy, energy can neither be created nor be destroyed. A general equation of
conservation of energy is:
Energy out = Energy in + generation – consumption – accumulation
It is also called 1st law of thermodynamics. The total enthalpy of outlet stream is not equal to inlet
stream if it’s generated or consumed.[1]
Reference temperature = 25ºC

4.1 Energy Balance around Preheater:

Purpose:
Primary objective of the preheater is to increase the thermal efficiency of the process. It is used to
heat the process stream which result in decrease the duty of the next utility. It is used alone or to
replace the steam coils or recuperative heat system.

C₁
F₁= 89.88kmole/hr
F₁ F
F= 89.88kmole/hr
C₂

Components F1(kmol/hr) F(kmol/hr) Mole fraction

C3H6 35.08 35.08 0.39
C3H8 1.76 1.76 0.02
H2O 53.04 53.04 0.59

Inlet temperature = 25ºC

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 Energy Balance

Outlet temperature = 270ºC

There are three components entering in the preheater. If specific heat of each component will be
find and apply the enthalpy balance then result is not so accurate just like the case of heat exchanger
a chemical engineer find the log mean temperature difference instead of finding the inlet and outlet
temperature for point to point temperature difference and it gives more accurate results. So here
Cp weighted has to be calculated for the accuracy of the result. Because it gives resultant Cp of
each components.
Cp weighted = 99.92 kJ/kgmol.ºC[2]

Q = mCp  T
=89.88*99.92*(270-25) = 2200298 kJ/hr

Steam required for heating:

Q =mʎ
Steam enters at 290ºC
ʎ = 27800 kJ/kgmol[3]
m =79.147kgmol/hr
m =1424.65kg/hr

4.2 Balance around reactor:

Chemical reactors are the vessels designed to contain the chemical reactions or a vessel in which
chemical reaction takes place in the presence of the catalyst.
In this operation isothermal plug flow reactor is used with tungsten oxide catalyst.

Coolant out
F= 89.88 kgmole/hr
F= 2508.58 kg/hr
F

Coolant in

R= 68.66 kgmole/hr
R= 2508.96 kg/hr
R

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 Energy Balance

Mole Mole Cp at 270ºC

Components F(kmol/hr) R(kmol/hr)
fraction fraction (kJ/kgmol.K)[4]
C3H6 35.08 0.39 13.866 0.202 126.5
C3H8 1.76 0.02 1.76 0.026 146.1
H2O 53.04 0.59 32.029 0.466 98.73
C3H8O ---- ---- 20.799 0.303 237.6
C6H14O ---- ---- 0.208 0.003 292.6

Reference Temperature = 25ºC

Tinlet = 270 ºC
Toutlet = 270 ºC
Heat of reaction = -1754000 kJ/hr
Heat of reaction (side reaction) = -13271009.9 kJ/hr[1]

Qreactants = mCp  T
= 2433192 kJ/hr

Qproducts = mCp  T
= 2493218.875 kJ/hr
Total heat of reaction = -15025009.9 kJ/hr

Q =∑(𝑚𝐶𝑝  T)p − ∑(𝑚𝐶𝑝  T)r +  HR

= -14964982.89 kJ/hr

Water required for cooling:

Coolant used other than the water are:

 Ethylene glycol (Cp= 149.5 J/mol⁰C)

 Polyalkylene glycol(Cp=2.303J/mol⁰C)
 Propylene glycol(Cp=1770 J/mol⁰C)[5]

Instead of these, water is used as a coolant because the water has the following properties:
 Higher specific heat
 Economical
 Abundantly available
 Easy handling
 Nontoxic and non-corrosive

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 Energy Balance

Q = mCp  T
Where,
Tin = 25ºC
Tout = 60ºC

ΔT =35⁰C

Tavg = 42.5ºC
Here average temperature will be fined for the calculation of the specific heat Cp of the coolant.
So specific heat will be,
Cp = 75.376 kJ/kgmol.ºC[aspen hysys]
m = 5672.5 kmol/hr
= 102196.36 kg/hr

If the coolant flow rate in the reactor is very high then there will be smaller heat transfer, which result
decrease in the efficiency of cooling and wastage of coolant is large. For efficient cooling the flow
rate of coolant is kept small. Coolant used for cooling should have high thermal capacity,
low viscosity, is low cost, non-toxic, chemically inert, and neither causes nor
promotes corrosion of the cooling system.

4.3 Energy Balance around Stripper

It is the physical separation process in which one or more components are removed from a liquid
stream by vapor stream. In the industries the liquid and the vapor streams have co-current or the
counter current flows. It is usually carried out either in packed or trayed column. It works on the
principal of mass transfer which involves the gas liquid interface.

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 Energy Balance

Condensate out

S₃
S₂
S₃=22.814 kgmol/hr
S₂= 38.064 kgmol/hr

Steam in

R₁= 15.25 kgmol/hr

R₁

S2 Cp S3 Cp Latent heat
Components
(kmole/hr) (kJ/kgmol.⁰C) (kmole/hr) (kJ/kgmol⁰C) (kJ/kgmole)
C₃H8O 18.381 298 18.381 232.8 1830000
C6H14O 0.116 307.4 0.116 286.3 3702000
C3H8 1.762 131.1 1.762 145.9 1927000
C3H6 0.861 117.5 0.861 127.2 2045000
H2O 16.944 96.69 1.694 93.6 29331.97

Latent heat = mʎ

Qfeed = mCp  T
= 38.064*196.62*(250-25)
= 1683901kJ/hr

At the top of the column latent heat of vaporization is used because at top the process streams
changes its phase

Qtop = mCp  T + mʎ
= 40467384.21 kJ/hr

Qbottom = mCp  T

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 Energy Balance

= 331745.8kJ/hr

Overall balance around the stripper:

ΔQ = Qbottom + Qtop - Qfeed

=39115228.95kJ/hr

Steam requirement for heating:

Super-heated steam is used for heating in the stripper due to the following advantages

 To improve thermal efficiency and work capability

 It minimize the risk of damage from erosion or carbonic acid corrosion
Saturated and super critical steam is not suitable because they decrease the efficiency of the
stripper.
T = 270 ºC

ʎ = 27885.34kJ/kg[unit operation McCabe Smith]

Q = mʎ
m = 1402.72kgmol/hr
m = 25248.9kg/hr

4.4 Energy Balance around Partial Condenser:

Partial condenser may be required if the boiling point of the distillate is low enough to make
complete condensation difficult.

C₂ C₂=2.623kgmol/hr

S₃=22.815kgmol/hr
C₁=20.1921kgmol/hr

S₃ C₁

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 Energy Balance

Cp at 250ºC Cp at 250 ºC
S₃ Mole C₁ Mole C₂ Mole
Comp & 20.3MPa & 10.13MPa
(kmol/hr) fraction (kmol/hr) Fraction (kmol/hr) Fraction
(kJ/kgmol.ºC) (kJ/kmol.ºC)

C3H6 0.861 0.038 ---- ---- 0.861 0.328 127.2 117.5

C3H8 1.762 0.077 ---- ---- 1.762 0.672 145.9 131.1
H2O 1.694 .074 1.694 0.084 ---- ---- 93.6 96.69
C3H8O 18.381 0.806 18.381 0.91 ---- ---- 232.8 298
C6H14
0.116 0.005 0.116 0.006 ---- ---- 286.3 307.4
O

It is partial condenser it only changes the phase of the feed not the temperature.
Tin = 250ºC
Tout = 250ºC
Tref = 25 ºC

Latent heat of IPA at 250⁰C =ʎ = 1830000 kJ/kgmole[aspen hysys]

Latent heat of ether at 250⁰C =ʎ = 3702000 kJ/kgmole[aspen hysys]

Latent heat of water at 250⁰C =ʎ = 29331.97 kJ/kgmole[aspen hysys]

Cp weighted = 212.06 kJ/kgmol.ºC

Qin = mCpΔT

= 1088428.73 kJ/hr

In this condenser there are more than one component entering and leaving so for each component
Cp weighted has been calculated for point to point specific heat variation of each components.
Cp weighted = 263.45 kJ/kgmol.ºC
At top outlet of the condenser phase changes so latent heat of vaporization is used.

Qout = mCpΔT + mʎ

= 35468410 kJ/hr

ΔQ = Qout – Qin

= 34379981.5 kJ/hr

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 Energy Balance

Water required for cooling:

Water is used as a coolant because the water has the following properties:
 Higher specific heat
 Economical
 Abundantly available
 Easy handling
 Nontoxic and non-corrosive
Q = mCpΔT

34379981.5 = m*75.376*(60-25)
m = 13031.8 kgmol/hr
= 234572.4547 kg/hr

4.5 Energy Balance around Propylene Column

It is an essential column used in the distillation of the liquid mixture so as to separate the mixture
into its components parts, or fractions, based on the difference in volatilities.

R₂
S₄
R₂=13.866 kgmol/hr
S₄=15.628 kgmol/hr

P₁=1.762 kgmol/hr

P₁

Tref =25ºC

Feed temperature =52⁰C

Temperature at bottom =57.9⁰C

Temperature at top =46.5⁰C

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 Energy Balance

Enthalpy of Feed:
Qf = 𝑚𝐶𝑝𝛥𝑇

= 15.628 ∗ 91.14 ∗ (52 − 25)

= 38457.07 kJ/hr

Enthalpy at Bottom:
Qbottom = 𝑚𝐶𝑝𝛥𝑇

= 1.762 ∗ 161.1 ∗ (57.9 − 25)

= 9338.935 kJ/hr

Enthalpy at Top:
Qtop = 𝑚𝐶𝑝𝛥𝑇

= 13.866 ∗ 137.3 ∗ (46.5 − 25)

= 40931.74 kJ/kg

Heat Removed by Condenser:

Latent heat:
As the phase changes in the condenser so latent heat of fusion is used.

Qc = 𝑚ʎ

ʎ = 1927000 kJ/kgmol[McCabe and smith unit operation]

m = 13.866 kgmole
Qc = 26719782 kJ/hr

Sensible heat:
Tin = 52ºC
Tout = 46.5ºC

For finding the specific heat of the components, find the average temperature. Because specific
heat is different at inlet and outlet temperature.
Tave = 49.25ºC
At average temperature specific heat is,

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 Energy Balance

Cp = 141.5 kJ/kgmol.ºC

Qc = 𝑚𝐶𝑝𝛥𝑇
= 96630.42 kJ/hr
Total Qc = latent heat + sensible heat
= 26816412.42 kJ/hr

Overall Balance:
Qr +Qf = Qc + Qb +Qd
Qr = 26828226 kJ/hr

Cooling water required:

Water is used as a coolant because the water has the following properties:
 Higher specific heat
 Economical
 Abundantly available
 Easy handling
 Nontoxic and non-corrosive
Qc = 𝑚𝐶𝑝𝛥𝑇

Instead of finding the specific heat of each components find the weighted specific heat, because it
will reduce th chance of error in calculations.
Cp weighted = 74 kJ/kgmol.ºC[aspen hysys]

26816412.42 = 𝑚 ∗ 74 ∗ (50 − 25)

m = 14495.36 kgmol/hr
= 260916.45 kg/hr

Steam requirement:
Saturated steam is required for heating depends upon the process temperature.

Qr = 𝑚ʎ

Treboiler = 60ºC
ʎ = 2358.564 kJ/kg[McCabe and smith unit operation]
𝑄𝑟
m = = 11374.814 kg/hr
ʎ

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 Energy Balance

4.6 Energy Balance around ether column:

It is an essential column used in the distillation of the liquid mixture so as to separate the mixture
into its components parts, or fractions, based on the difference in volatilities.

E₁
T E₁=0.208 kgmol/hr
T=89.319 kgmol/hr

E₂=89.111 kgmol/hr

E₂

Tref =25ºC

Feed temperature =88.87⁰C

Bottom temperature =100⁰C

Temperature at top =60⁰C

Enthalpy of Feed:
Qf = 𝑚𝐶𝑝𝛥𝑇

= 89.319 ∗ 165.4 ∗ (88.87 − 25)

= 943574.7 kJ/hr

Enthalpy at Bottom:
Qbottom = 𝑚𝐶𝑝𝛥𝑇

= 89.111 ∗ 64.52 ∗ (100 − 25)

= 431209.1 kJ/hr

Enthalpy at Top:
Qtop = 𝑚𝐶𝑝𝛥𝑇

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 Energy Balance

= 0.208 ∗ 221.9 ∗ (60 − 25)

= 3461.64 kJ/kg

Heat Removed by Condenser:

Latent heat:
At the top of the column di-isopropyl ether changes its phase so here latent heat of fusion of di-
isopropyl ether is used.

Qc = 𝑚ʎ

ʎ = 3702000 kJ/kgmol[4]
m = 0.202 kgmole
Qc = 747804 kJ/hr

Sensible heat:
At the bottom of the column heat transfer takes place between alcohol and water so here sensible
heat will,
Tin = 88.87ºC
Tout = 60ºC
Tave = 74.435ºC
Cp = 78.33 kJ/kgmol.ºC

Qc = 𝑚𝐶𝑝𝛥𝑇

= 456.8 kJ/hr
Total heat transfer in the condenser,
Total Qc = latent heat + sensible heat
= 748260.8 kJ/hr

Overall Balance:
Qr +Qf = Qc + Qb +Qd
Qr = 241553.23 kJ/hr

Cooling water required:

Water is used as a coolant because the water has the following properties:

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 Energy Balance

 Higher specific heat

 Economical
 Abundantly available
 Easy handling
 Nontoxic and non-corrosive
Qc = 𝑚𝐶𝑝𝛥𝑇

Cp weighted = 74 kJ/kgmol.ºC[4]

748260.8 = 𝑚 ∗ 74 ∗ (50 − 25)

m = 404.465 kgmol/hr
= 7280.375 kg/hr

Steam requirement:
Saturated steam is used in the reboiler depends upon the process temperature and also depends on
the boiling point of the components. As the phase changes use latent heat of vaporization.

Qr = 𝑚ʎ
Treboiler = 105ºC
ʎ = 2244.59 kJ/kg[4]
𝑄𝑟
m = = 107.62 kg/hr
ʎ

4.7 Energy Balance around Alcohol Column:

It is an essential column used in the distillation of the liquid mixture so as to separate the mixture
into its components parts, or fractions, based on the difference in volatilities.

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 Energy Balance

E₁
T
E₁=53.744kgmol/hr
T=89.111kgmol/hr

E₂=35.367kgmol/hr

E₂

Tref = 25ºC

Feed temperature =100⁰C

Bottom temperature =102.36⁰C

Temperature at top =82.8⁰C

Enthalpy of Feed:
Qf = 𝑚𝐶𝑝𝛥𝑇

= 89.111 ∗ 106.6 ∗ (100 − 25)

= 712442.4 kJ/hr

Enthalpy at Bottom:
Qbottom = 𝑚𝐶𝑝𝛥𝑇

= 35.367 ∗ 79.33 ∗ (102.36 − 25)

= 217046.2 kJ/hr

Enthalpy at Top:
Qtop = 𝑚𝐶𝑝𝛥𝑇

= 53.744 ∗ 73.02 ∗ (82.8 − 25) = 226829.6 kJ/kg

Heat Removed by Condenser:

Latent heat:

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 Energy Balance

At the top of the column isopropyl alcohol converted to vapors so latent heat of vaporization of
isopropyl alcohol is used.

Qc = 𝑚ʎ

ʎ = 708200 kJ/kgmol[4]
m = 53.744 kgmole
Qc = 38061501 kJ/hr

Sensible heat:
At bottom heat transfer takes place between water and alcohol.
Tin = 100ºC
Tout = 82.8ºC
Tave = 91.4ºC
Cp = 78.88 kJ/kgmol.ºC

Qc = 𝑚𝐶𝑝𝛥𝑇
= 387474.5 kJ/hr
Total Qc = latent heat + sensible heat
= 38448975 kJ/hr

Overall Balance:
Qr +Qf = Qc + Qb +Qd
Qr = 38180409 kJ/hr

Cooling water required:

Water is used as a coolant because the water has the following properties:
 Higher specific heat
 Economical
 Abundantly available
 Easy handling
 Nontoxic and non-corrosive

Qc = 𝑚𝐶𝑝𝛥𝑇
Cp weighted = 74 kJ/kgmol.ºC

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 Energy Balance

38448975 = 𝑚 ∗ 74 ∗ (50 − 25)

m = 20783.23 kgmol/hr
= 374098.1 kg/hr

Steam requirement:
Saturated steam is used in the reboiler depends upon the process temperature and also depends on
the boiling point of the components. As the phase changes use latent heat of vaporization.

Qr = 𝑚ʎ

Treboiler = 108ºC
ʎ = 2232.96 kJ/kg
𝑄𝑟
m = = 17098.56 kg/hr
ʎ

4.8 Energy Balance around Drying Column:

It is an essential column used in the distillation of the liquid mixture so as to separate the mixture
into its components parts, or fractions, based on the difference in volatilities.

E₁
T E₁= 32.945kgmol/hr
T=53.744kgmol/hr

E₂= 20.799kgmol/hr

E₂

Tref = 25ºC

Feed temperature =82.73⁰C

Bottom temperature =84.83⁰C

Temperature at top =40⁰C

Enthalpy of Feed:
Qf = 𝑚𝐶𝑝𝛥𝑇

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 Energy Balance

= 53.744 ∗ 73.83 ∗ (82.73 − 25)

= 229068 kJ/hr

Enthalpy at Bottom:
Qbottom = 𝑚𝐶𝑝𝛥𝑇

= 20.99 ∗ 105.2 ∗ (84.83 − 25)

= 132113.5 kJ/hr

Enthalpy at Top:
Qtop = 𝑚𝐶𝑝𝛥𝑇

= 32.754 ∗ 33.67 ∗ (40 − 25) = 16542.41 kJ/kg

Heat Removed by Condenser:

Latent heat:
At the top of the water changes its phase so latent heat of vaporization of water is used.

Qc = 𝑚ʎ
ʎ = 613700 kJ/kgmol[4]
m = 32.754 kgmole
Qc = 20101130 kJ/hr

Sensible heat:
At bottom water is removed from the isopropyl alcohol to make it pure.
Tin = 82.73ºC
Tout = 40ºC
Tave = 61.365ºC
Cp = 78.03 kJ/kgmol.ºC

Qc = 𝑚𝐶𝑝𝛥𝑇

= 156836.3 kJ/hr

Total Qc = latent heat + sensible heat

= 20257966 kJ/hr

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 Energy Balance

Overall Balance:
Qr +Qf = Qc + Qb +Qd
Qr = 20177554 kJ/hr

Cooling water required:

Water is used as a coolant because it is economical, cheap and has higher heat capacity.

Qc = 𝑚𝐶𝑝𝛥𝑇

For each components in the condenser find the weighted Cp to reduce the chance of error in the
calculation.
Cp weighted = 74 kJ/kgmol.ºC

202579660 = 𝑚 ∗ 74 ∗ (50 − 25)

m = 10950.25 kgmol/hr
= 197104.5 kg/hr

Steam requirement:
Saturated steam is used in reboiler depends upon the process temperature.

Qr = 𝑚ʎ

Treboiler = 100ºC
ʎ = 2256.92 kJ/kg[4]
𝑄𝑟
m = = 8940.305 kg/hr
ʎ

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 Energy Balance

Bibliography
[1] LOGSDON J E and LOKE R A 2000 Isopropyl alcohol Kirk-Othmer Encycl. Chem.
Technol. 1–23
[2] Perry R H and Green D W 2008 Perry’s Chemical Engineers’ Handbook vol 1
[3] Anon Unit Operations Of Chemical Engineering_ 5th Ed_ McCabe And Smith.pdf
[4] Anon aspen hysys
[5] Anon httpwww.dow.comethyleneglycolaboutproperties.htm

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