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Last Name, First
CHE426: Problem set #8
1. Determine the open loop response of three ideal CSTRs in series when the inlet
concentration of A, CA0, changes from 0.8 to 1.8 kmol/m3. The reaction is first order with
reaction rate constant k = 0.5 s-1. The tank volume V is 0.10 m3 and the liquid flow rate F is
0.05 m3/s.
F
F
V
CA0
F
V
CA1
F
V
CA2
CA3
Use Laplace transform to solve for the deviation concentration in each tank as a function of
time. Plot the deviation concentrations for three tanks for 0  t  4 s and use the Title
command to label the graph with your name.
2.1 The overhead vapor from a depropanizer distillation column is totally condensed in a
water-cooled condenser at 120oF and 227 psig. The vapor is 95 mol % propane and 5 mol %
isobutene. The vapor design flow rate is 25,500 lb/h and average latent heat of vaporization
is 125 is 125 Btu/lb.
Cooling water inlet and outlet temperatures are 80 and 105oF, respectively. The
condenser heat transfer area is 1000 ft2. The cooling water pressure drop through the
condenser at design rate is 5 psi. A linear-trim control valve is installed in the cooling water
line. The pressure drop over the valve is 30 psi at design with the valve half open.
The process pressure is measured by an electronic (4-20 mA) pressure transmitter
whose range is 100-300 psig. An analog electronic proportional controller with a gain of 3 is
used to control process pressure by manipulating cooling water flow. The electronic signal
from the controller (CO) is converted into a pneumatic signal in the I/P transducer.
a) Calculate the cooling water flow rate (gpm) at design conditions. Water density is
62.3 lb/ft3 and 1 ft3 = 7.48 gal.
b) Calculate the size coefficient (Cv) of the control valve.
c) Calculate the values of the signals PM, CO, SP, and PV at design conditions.
d) Suppose the process pressure jumps 10 psi. How much will the cooling water flow
rate increase? Determine values for PM, CO, SP, and PV at this higher pressure.
Assume that the total pressure drop over the condenser and control valve is constant
at 35 psi.
Vapor
Cooling
water
Control valve
Condenser
PV
I/P
Reflux drum
PT
PM
PC
CO
SP
3. Consider a well-mixed tank with a water steady flow rate F of 200 L/min. The volume of
water in the tank is 1,000 L. The inlet water temperature is 60oC. The system is at steady state
with heat input sufficient to heat the outlet water temperature to 80oC. Suddenly the inlet
temperature experiences a step change from 60oC to 70oC. The thermocouple measuring the
tank temperature has a first order transfer function relating the measured temperature Tmd to
Ti
the actual temperature Td(s) in the tank according to
F
Tmd ( s)
1
=
0.33s  1
T d ( s)
F
T
Heat input q
Determine the closed loop response of the tank temperature if the tank has a negative feedback system with proportional gain KC = 20.
a) Obtain an expression for Td(t) and plot the response from 0 to 20 minutes using
Matlab with your name printed on the graph.
b) Use simulink to obtain the response and compare with the results in part (a).
4.2 Consider a manometer as illustrated below. The manometer is being used to determine the
pressure difference between two instrument taps on an air line. The working fluid in the
manometer is water. Determine the response of the manometer to a step change in pressure
across the legs of the manometer for the cases when the inside tube diameter are 0.10 cm,
0.20 cm, and 0.35 cm.
Data: manometer fluid length, L = 250 cm; g = 981 cm2/s;  = 0.0097 g/cms,  = 1.2 g/cm3.
for t < 0
P  0

 g 10 cm for t  0
a) Obtain the equation in time domain and plot the response using Matlab. Label the
graph with your name using the title command.
b) Use simulink to obtain the response. Label the pressure step forcing function on the
simulink model with your name. Turn in the simulink model and the graph from
simulink. Label the graph with your name.
P1 = 0 P2 = 0
P1
P2
h
Initial
Reference
level
Final
5.2 A pneumatic PI temperature controller has an output pressure of 10 psig when the set
point and process temperature coincide. The set point is suddenly increased by 10oF (i.e. a
step change in error is introduced), and the following data are obtained:
Time, s
psig
010
0+
8
20
7
60
5
90
3.5
Determine the actual gain (psig/oF) and the integral time.
6.1 A circulating chilled-water system is used to cool an oil stream from 90 to 70oF in a tubein-shell heat exchanger shown. The temperature of the chilled water entering the process heat
exchanger is maintained constant at 50oF by pumping the chilled water through a cooler
located upstream of the process heat exchanger. The design chilled-water for normal
conditions is 600 gpm, with chilled water leaving the process heat exchanger at 65oF.
Chilled-water pressure drop through the process heat exchanger is 15 psi at 800 gpm.
Chilled-water pressure drop through the refrigerated cooler is 15 psi at 800 gpm. The
temperature transmitter on the process oil stream leaving the heat exchanger has a range of
40-180oF. The range of the orifice-differential pressure flow transmitter on the chilled water
is 0-1500 gpm. All instrumentation is electronic (4 to 20 mA). Assume the chilled-water
pump is centrifugal with a flat pump curve (total pressure drop across the system is constant).
The control valve has a linear trim with Cv = 128.81 gpm/psi0.5. The valve is 40 percent open
at the 800 gpm design rate and has a maximum flow of 1500 gpm.
Elevation 20'
Tank at atmospheric
pressure
Elevation 15'
Circulating chilled water
Hot oil
90oF
Refrigerant
FT
o
Elevation 0'
Cooler
50 F
Cooled oil
o
70 F
Heat
exchanger
TT
TC
a) Determine the total pressure drop through the system.
b) Determine the pressure drop through the cooler and the heat exchanger at
maximum flow rate.
c) Determine the value of the signal from the temperature transmitter.
d) Determine the value of the signal from the flow transmitter.
e) If Cv = 200 gpm/psi0.5 and the total pressure drop through the system is 200 psi,
determine the fraction open of the chilled-water control valve when the chilledwater flow rate is reduced to 600 gpm.
_
7. A tank is heated by steam condensing inside a coil. A PID controller is used to control the
temperature in the tank by manipulating the steam valve position.
Process. The feed has a density  of 68.0 lb/ft3 and a heat capacity cp of 1.0 Btu/lboF. The
volume V of liquid in the reactor is maintained constant at 200 ft3. The coil consists of 300 ft
of 4-in. schedule 40 steel pipe with outside diameter of 5 in. The overall heat transfer
coefficient U, based on the outside are of the coil, has been estimated as 2.0 Btu/minft2oF. It
can be assumed that its latent heat of condensation of saturated steam  is constant at 950
Btu/lb. It can also be assumed that the inlet temperature Ti is constant.
Design Conditions. The feed flow F at design condition is 20 ft3/min, and its temperature Ti
is 100oF. The contents of the tank must be maintained at a temperature T of 150oF.
(a) Determine the steam temperature at the design condition.
(b) If the steam temperature at the design condition is 250oF, determine the steam flow rate
in lb/min.
8. A thermometer having a time constant of 1 min is initially at 50oC. It is immersed in a
bath maintained at 150oC at t = 0. Determine the temperature reading at t = 1.5 min.
9. A thermometer having a time constant of 0.5 min is placed in a temperature bath, and after
the thermometer comes to equilibrium with the bath, the temperature of the bath is increased
linearly with time at a rate of 10oC/min. Determine the difference between the indicated
temperature and the bath temperature after 20 s.
References
1. Process Modeling, Simulation, and Control for Chemical Engineers by Luyben
2. D.R. Coughanowr and S. LeBlanc, Process Systems Analysis and Control, McGrawHill, 3nd edition, 2008.