Q-1) De-ionized water is produced by passing water through a packed bed of ion exchange

resin
Water in
beads. In one such plant, the packed bed is 600 mm in diameter and 5 m long. The resin
Liquid
beads may be assumed to be spherical in shape having diameter of 3mm and a density of 1200 level
Water
3
out
kg/m . The bed voidage can be considered to be 0.6. In order to ensure that the bed is always
completely filled with water, the water outlet is raised upwards through a 4 inch diameter pipe Packed
upto
the height of packings in the bed. Water level is always maintained 20 cm above the top of the bed
bed
(see the figure alongside). Pressure at the top of the liquid level and at outlet of bed can be
considered to be atmospheric. Calculate the flow rate of water through the bed in m3/hr.
It is necessary to estimate the rate of ion exchange between the water and the resin beads. It
may
be assumed that the ion exchange reaction is very fast and therefore rate of ion exchange is controlled by mass transfer of
ions from bulk of water to the surface of the bead, so that the concentration of ions at the surface of the resin bead can be
assumed to be zero. Assume that the diffusivity of ions in water is 10 9m2/s. At the entry the concentration of ions in water is
104 kmol/m3. Assume that the fluid particle mass transfer coefficient is given by: Sh = 1.17Re 0.6Sc1/3.
Calculate the concentration of the ions at the outlet of the bed.
Comment on your above answer: why such a long / such a short bed height is provided?
Q-2) A solid substance in the form of a spherical particle of diameter R mm is suspended in water having a relative velocity
of R cm/s between the particle and water. The solubility of the substance in water is 1 kmol/m 3 and its diffusivity in water
is (R x 10-9) m2/s. Assume that the concentration of the substance in water far away from the particle (bulk) of water remains
zero at all times. Under such conditions, the mass transfer coefficient can be calculated as: Sh = 2 + 0.6 Re 0.5Sc0.33.
For this situation:
(a) the value of Schmidt number is = _______________
(b) the value of Reynolds number is = ______________
(c) the rate of dissolution of the particle is _____________ gmol/s
Q-3)A single spherical bubble of pure CO2 having 4 mm diameter dB is allowed to rise from bottom in a pool of water 0.5 m
in height. Assume that the pressure is 1 atm and temperature is 30 oC throughout. At this condition, the solubility of CO 2 in
water is 0.03 kmol/m3 and diffusivity is 10-9m2/s. Assume that the quantity of water is in far excess as compared to that of
CO2 being absorbed. Find:
(a) The rise velocity VB of the bubble (assume that bubble reaches terminal velocity instantaneously)
(b) Assume that the contact time t for eddies between the bubble and water is given as d B/VB. Use Higbies
penetration theory to find the mass transfer coefficient kL = 2 [D/( t)]0.5
Negelecting: (i) the variation in size and shape of bubble due changes in pressure and quantity absorbed and (ii) buildup of
CO2 in water, calculate the fraction of CO2 transferred from bubble. Comment on your answer. Which of the asuumptions is
likely to be violated?
Q-4)Water ( = 1000 kg/m3, = 0.001 Pa s, thermal conductivity = 0.6 W/mK, C P = 4180 J/kgK) flows in a carbon steel
pipeline. The pipe has (25) mm inner diameter and 100 m equivalent length. Water flows at the rate of (10) m 3/hr. This
water is slightly acidic (very dilute HCl) and hence some iron (iron reacts and dissolves in water) leaches out (as Fe 3+ ions)
from the walls of the pipe. The diffusivity of Fe 3+ ions in water is 1x10-9m2/s. Use Chilton- Coulburn Analogy to calculate
the loss of iron from the pipe wall.
Q-5) A solid spherical ball of pure perfume 3 cm diameter (density = 2000 kg/m 3, molecular weight = 100) is kept in-front of
ventilation duct in a car. Air (density = 1.2 kg/m 3, viscosity = 2x10-5 Pa s) flows across this ball at a velocity of 1 m/s. The
perfume has a vapor pressure of 0.5 mm Hg (this can be taken as C*, total pressure 760mm Hg, R = 8314J/kmol K), due to
which it diffuses in the air and gives a pleasant smell to the occupants of the car. Assume that the concentration of the
perfume in the bulk of the car is negligible (zero). Assume that the diffusivity of perfume molecules in air is 1x10 -5 m2/s.
(a) Calculate, Reynolds number and Sherwood number for the air flow around the spherical ball. Calculate the value of mass
transfer coefficient for the mass transfer of perfume from the balls surface to the bulk of the air in the car (Assume that Sh =
2 + 0.6 Re0.5Sc0.33)
(b) Calculate the initial gmoles of perfume present in the ball and rate of mass transfer from the ball and hence determine
APPROXIMATELY how frequently will the owner have to buy a new perfume ball?
(c) Will the rate of mass transfer (gmols/s) be higher at higher values of ball diameter? Will the flux (gmol/cm 2s) be higher
for higher values of the ball diameter?
A doctor is trying to find out the how long it will take to dissolve 90% of an oral drug given to a patient in the form of a tablet
and requires your help in finding the answer. The doctor tells you: (i) the tablet contains only the drug and is in the form of a
3 mm diameter sphere, (ii) the solubility of the drug in the liquid in the stomach is 0.1 kmol/m 3, (iii) the density of the tablet
is 1.5 gm/cm3, (iv) molecular weight of the drug is 150, (v)diffusivity of the drug in the liquid in the stomach is 1 x 10 -9 m2/s,
(vi) drug does not react in the stomach,(vi) tablet in the stomach can be considered to be stationary surrounded by an infinite
stagnant liquid
(A) Simplify the conservation equation for the species at any instant of time (C A/t = 0), assuming that the liquid in the

immediate vicinity of the tablet remains saturated (concentration is equal to solubility) at all times, write the boundary
conditions(2 marks)
(B) Solve the equation and calculate the flux of the drug dissolving from the tablet at any instant of time
(C) Find the time required for 90% of the tablet to dissolve
(D) Comment whether your answer to part (C) is realistic !! If it is not realistic, why ?