NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY ROURKELA

END SEMESTER EXAMINATION, 2018

SESSION: 2018 – 2019 (Autumn)
B.Tech. 7th Semester

Subject code: CH421 Dept. Code: CH

Subject Name: Simulation Modelling and Optimization Techniques in Chemical Process
No. of pages: 02 Full Marks: 50 Duration: 3 Hours

Please solve all the questions || Figures at the right hand margin indicate marks

1. Given the function 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥12 + 𝑥22 + 𝑥32 − 𝑥1 𝑥2 , generate a set of conjugate (10)

directions. Carryout two stages of minimization in the conjugate directions

minimizing 𝑓(𝑥) in each direction. Did you reach the minimum of 𝑓(𝑥)? Start from
the point [1,1,1]𝑇 .

2. A laboratory filtration study is to be carried out at constant rate. Cook (1984) (10)
expressed filtration time as
∆𝑃𝑐 𝐴2
𝑡𝑓 = 𝛽 𝑥 exp(−𝑎𝑥𝑐 + 𝑏)
𝜇𝑀2 𝑐 𝑐
where 𝑡𝑓 = time to build up filter cake, min
∆𝑃𝑐 = pressure drop across cake, psig (20)
𝐴 = filtration area, ft2 (250)
𝜇 = filtrate viscosity, centipoise (20)
𝑀 = mass flow of filtrate, lb/min (75)
𝑐 = solids concentration in feed to filter, lb/lb filtrate (0.01)
𝑥𝑐 = mass fraction solids in dry cake
𝑎 = constant relating cake resistance to solids fraction (3.643)
𝑏 =constant relating cake resistance to solids fraction (2.680)
𝛽 = 3.2 × 10−8 (lb /ft)2
Numerical values for each parameter are given in parentheses. Obtain the maximum
time for filtration as a function of 𝑥𝑐 by gradient based Newton- Raphson method.
Perform five iterations and start at 𝑡𝑓 = 1.
3. A packed-bed non-isothermal reactor with radial dispersion can be described by
following set of non-dimensional equations.
𝜕𝑐 1𝜕 𝜕𝑐
=𝛼 (𝑟 ) + 𝛽ℜ(𝑐, 𝑇)
𝜕𝑧 𝑟 𝜕𝑟 𝜕𝑟
𝜕𝑇 1𝜕 𝜕𝑇
= 𝛼′ (𝑟 ) + 𝛽′ℜ(𝑐, 𝑇)
𝜕𝑧 𝑟 𝜕𝑟 𝜕𝑟
𝜕𝑐 𝜕𝑇
𝑟=0 ∶ = 0; =0
𝜕𝑟 𝜕𝑟
𝜕𝑐 𝜕𝑇
𝑟=1 ∶ = 0; = −𝐵𝑖 (𝑇 − 0.92)
𝜕𝑟 𝜕𝑟
𝑧 = 0 ∶ 𝑐 = 0; 𝑇 = 1

where are 𝛼, 𝛼 ′ , 𝛽, 𝛽′ and 𝐵𝑖 are dimensionless groups and ℜ(𝑐, 𝑇) is rate of

reaction.
a) Write the finite difference form of governing equations and boundary (8)
conditions.
b) Consider n number of grid points in both r- and z- directions. Write the (10)
solution procedure to find the numerical values of concentration and
temperature at 𝑛 × 𝑛 grid points inside the reactor.

4. Develop a model for the settling velocity of a spherical particle in a stagnant liquid. (6)

5. Briefly discuss the Lagrange multiplier method for constrained optimization. (6 )