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In order to meet a certain octane number specification, it is necessary to produ

ID: 494436 • Letter: I

Question

In order to meet a certain octane number specification, it is necessary to produce a petrol containing 80% w/w i-octane and 20% w/w n-heptane. What volume flow rates (m3/h) of high-octane petrol (90% w/w i-octane and 10% w/w n-heptane) and low-octane petrol (65% w/w l-octane and 35% w/w n-heptane) must be blended to obtain 100 m3/h of the desired petrol? (N.B. You cannot assume that volume is conserved) Density of low-octane petrol = 696 kg/m^3 Density of high-octane petrol = 701 kg/m^3 Density of product petrol = 699 kg/m^3 What is the mass flow rate of the final product? Write down the component balances in terms of the flow rates of the low- and high-octane petrol? Solve the simultaneous equations to find the low- and high-octane petrol flow rates?

Explanation / Answer

Given

Volumetric flow rate of Product = 100 m3/hr

Density of product = 699 kg/m3

so mass flow rate of product = 100 m3 /hr * 699 kg/m3 = 69900 kg/hr

Given

petrol 1

90 % i octane x1F1 = 0.9 10 % n heptane x2F1 = 0.1 mass flow rate F1

petrol 2

65 % i octane x1F2 = 0.65 35 % n heptane x2F2 = 0.35 mass flow rate be F2

Product petrol

80 % i octane x1P = 0.8 20 % n heptane x2P = 0.2 mass flow rate be P

Mass will be conserved in the mixing process

writing overall mass balance

F1 + F2 = P

F1 + F2 = 69900 kg/hr --------> (1)

writing individual mass balance for i octane

x1F1 * F1 + x1F2 * F2 = x1P * P

0.9 * F1 + 0.65 * F2 = 0.8 * 69900

0.9 * F1 + 0.65 * F2 = 55920 kg/hr   --------> (2)

writing individual mass balance for n heptane

x2F1 * F1 + x2F2 * F2 = x2P * P

0.1 * F1 + 0.35 * F2 = 0.2 * 69900

0.9 * F1 + 0.65 * F2 = 13980 kg/hr   --------> (3)

so component balance are (1), (2), (3) This will be answer for 2)

solving these equations (1), (2), (3)

F1 = 41940 kg/hr

F2 = 27960 Kg/hr

Volumetric flow rate = mass flow rate / density

For high octane petrol flow rate = 41940 Kg/hr / 701 Kg/m3 = 59.83 m3/hr Answer 3)

For low octane petrol flow rate = 27960 Kg/hr / 701 Kg/m3 = 40.17 m3/hr Answer 3)