DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO – MAYAGÜEZ CAMPUS

P.O. BOX 9000
MAYAGÜEZ, PR 00681-9000
PHONE: (787) 832-4040 X.2568/2587
FAX: (787) 265-3818
WEBSITE: HTTP://INQU.UPRM.EDU/

INQU 4002 – WINTER 2019

CHAPTER 2 (NOTES) HOMEWORK

DUE DATE: Feb. 11th, 2019 @ 11:55PM –(Upload Single PDF File to E-Courses)

Student Name Student ID

1.
2.
3.
For each problem show all calculations and assumptions made. Make a detailed schematic
describing the scenario.
Problem 1. Equimolar Counterdiffusion of NH3 and N2 at Steady State (25 pts)
Ammonia gas and nitrogen gas are diffusing in counterdiffusion through a straight glass tube 2.0
ft long with an inside diameter of 0.080 ft at 298 K and 101.3 kPa. Both ends of the tube are
connected to large mixed chambers at 101.3 kPa. The partial pressure of NH3 in one chamber is
constant at 20.0 kPa and 6.67 kPa in the other chamber. The diffusivity at 298 K and 101.3 kPa
is 2.30 x 10-5 m2 s-1.
a) Calculate the flux of NH3 in kmoles m-2 s-1.
b) Calculate the flux of N2.
c) Calculate the partial pressures at a point 1.0 ft in the tube and plot PNH and PN versus
3 2

distance z.

Problem 2. Diffusion in a Nonuniform Cross-Sectional Area (35 pts)

The gas ammonia is diffusing at steady state through N2 by equimolar counterdiffusion in a
conduit 1.22 m long at 25 °C and a total pressure of 101.32 kPa. The partial pressure of ammonia
at the left end is 25.33 kPa and 5.07 kPa at the other end. The cross section of the conduit is in
the shape of an equilateral triangle, the length of each side of the triangle being 0.0610 m at the
left end and tapering uniformally to 0.0305 m at the right end. Calculate the diffusion of
ammonia in kmoles s-1. The diffusivity is DAB = 0.230 x 10- 4 m2 s-1.

Problem 3. Time to Completely Evaporate a Spherical Drop of Liquid (40 pts)

A drop of liquid toluene is kept at a uniform temperature of 25.9˚C and is suspended in air by a
fine wire. The intial radius of the drop is ri = 2.00 mm. The vapor pressure of toluene at 25.9˚C is
3.84 kPa and the density of liquid toluene is 866 kg m-3. Calculate the time in seconds it takes for
complete evaporation of the drop of tolune. You may estimate the diffusivity constant using
Hirschfelder’s equation.

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