MATERIAL BALANCES

INVOLVING MULTIPLE
UNITS WITH NO
CHEMICAL REACTION
Revision Session
 MATERIAL BALANCES
INVOLVING MULTIPLE SYSTEMS
– NO CHEMICAL REACTION
Objectives:
 Perform a degrees of freedom
analysis for a process involving
more than one unit.
 Write a set of independent
material balances for the
process involving more than
one unit.
 Apply the ten step strategy to
solve multi-unit steady state
problems.

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 Table 2.2: AE Units (Himmelblau)

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 PROCESS
VARIABLES
Objectives:
 Convert from mass to moles
and vice versa
 Choose an appropriate basis to
solve a problem
 Effectively employ the various
units associated with density,
concentration, temperature
and pressure
 Calculate the average
molecular weight of a mixture
 Apply the manometer equation

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 Mole and mole fraction
When a chemical reaction takes place it is usual to work
in molar units rather than in mass

Definition of a mole:
The quantity of material which contains as many
entities as there are in 12g of carbon 12
The dimensional symbol for molar units is N
Mole Fraction is the number of moles of a particular
substance over the total number of moles present. This
definition holds for liquids, gases and solids.

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 Temperature

An indication of how fast the molecules of a substance is

moving.

Measurements:
Degrees Celsius: 0
C
Degrees Fahrenheit 0
F
Degree Kelvin 0
K

Conversions:
Degrees Celsius to Kelvin:

Degrees Celsius to Fahrenheit:

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 MATERIAL BALANCES
– NO CHEMICAL
REACTION
Objectives:
 Choose an appropriate basis to solve a
problem
 Understand the features of open,
closed, steady state and unsteady state
systems
 Write a set of independent material
balances for the process involving
single and multiple unit operations.
 Apply the ten step strategy to solve
single and multi-unit steady state
problems
CET261S 2025  Explain the purpose of the recycle
stream, bypass stream and purge
 Strategy for solving material balances:

Step 1: Read and understand the problem statement

Step 2: Draw a sketch of the process and specify the system
boundary
Step 3: Place labels for unknown variables and values for
known variables on the sketch
Step 4: Obtain any missing information or needed data
Step 5: Choose a basis
Step 6: Determine the number of unknowns
Step 7: Determine the number of independent equations
using degrees of freedom analysis
Step 8: Write down the equations to be solved
Step 9: Solve the equations and calculate the quantities
asked for

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Step 10: Check your answers
 A subsystem does not necessarily have to
Splitter: be aWhat
piece of
is equipment.
a: For example:
Stream 6
System
Stream 5 Stream 7

Sub-system

Splitter

Mixer

Mixing point (junction of pipes)

Stream 2

Stream 1 Stream 3

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 BYPASS
PURGE AND MAKE-UP Recycle ?

Bypass?

PURGE
a small stream bled off from a
recycle loop to prevent buildup of
inerts or impurities in the system.

Divider
mixer Purge
MAKEUP Make-up

stream may be required to replace

losses to leaks, carryover, etc. mixer
Process
Splitter
Fresh
within the recycle loop. Feed
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 SOLVING RECYCLE AND BYPASS PROBLEMS:

You can write balances (total material or component) around:

 the entire process structure
 the mixing point
 the splitter
 the processing unit (inside the recycle/bypass)

The mixer is solved like any other unit.

A splitter is a unit that splits the flow coming into the unit
flow-wise into 2 or more smaller streams. Since the division
is purely on the basis of flow, the composition of all streams
associated with the splitter is the same.
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 MATERIAL BALANCES
– WITH CHEMICAL
REACTIONS
Objectives:
 Identify the products for common
reactions given the reactants
 Determine the stoichiometric quantities
of reactants and products in moles or
mass given the chemical reaction
 Identify the limiting and excess
reactants in a reaction, and calculate
the yield, and extent of the chemical
reaction
 Do combustion calculations
 Determine the percentage excess air/oxygen
CET261S 2025  Elemental Balances

 SOLVING STOICHIOMETRIC PROBLEMS

 Ensure the chemical reaction is correctly balanced by making

sure that the total quantities of each element on the left-hand
side equal those on the right-hand side.

 Use the proper degree of completion for the reaction. If you do

not know how much reaction has occurred, you have to assume
some amount, such as complete reaction.

 Use molecular weights to convert mass to moles for the

reactants and products

 Use the coefficients in the chemical equation to obtain the

molar amounts of products produced and reactants consumed
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by the reaction
 Definitions:

FLUE OR STACK GAS

All the gases resulting from a combustion process including the water
vapour. Also known as the wet basis.

ORSAT ANALYSIS
All the gases resulting from a combustion process not including the
water vapour. Also known as the dry basis.

COMPLETE COMBUSTION
The complete reaction of the hydrocarbon fuel producing CO2, SO2 and
H2O.

PARTIAL COMBUSTION
The combustion of the fuel producing at least some CO.
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 THEORETICAL AIR (Oxygen)
The minimum amount of air (oxygen) required for complete
combustion. Also known as the required air (oxygen.

EXCESS AIR (Oxygen)

The amount of air (oxygen) in excess of that required for
complete combustion.

NB: The calculated excess air does not depend on how

much material actually burned but what is possible to
be burned. Excess air is calculated based on complete
combustion.

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  excess air 
%excess air 100 
 required air 
 

 O2 entering  O2 required 
%excess air 100 
 O2 required 
Equations for excess air:

 excess O2 
%excess air 100 

 O2 entering  excessO 2 

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 COMBUSTION EQUATIONS

Hydrogen (H) 2H2 + O2 → 2H2O + heat

Carbon (C) C + O2 → CO2 + heat

Complete combustion

2C + O2 → 2CO + heat Incomplete

combustion

Sulphur (S) S + O2 → SO2 + heat

Carbon (CO) 2 CO + O2 → 2CO2 + heat

Monoxide

Methane CH4 + 2O2 → CO2 + 2H2O + heat

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Acetylene 2C2H2 + 5O2 → 4CO2 + 2H2O + heat
 Chemical Engineering Technology I Chemical Engineering Technology II

Introduction to Engineering Material Balances – Multiple Units -

Calculations Including chemical reactions
Process Variables Gases, Vapours, Liquids and Solids

Material Balances – Single units – No Energy Balances – Single units – No

chemical reaction chemical reaction
Stoichiometry Energy Balances – Single units –
Including chemical reactions
Material Balances – Single units – Energy Balances – Multiple units – no
including chemical reaction chemical reaction
Material Balances – Multiple Units – Energy Balances – Multiple units –
No chemical reaction Including chemical reactions

CONTENT OF BOTH CET151S AND CET261S

CET261S 2025