The General Strategy for Solving

Material Balance Problems

Objectives:
o Efficient and effective in solving material balance
problems
o How similar material balance problems are
o How to solve them in the most expeditious
manner
 Problem Solving
A problem is a gap between some initial information (the
initial state) and the desired information (the final state)
Skills in problem solving:
formulating specified questions from vaguely specified
problems;
selecting problem solving strategies;
deciding when an estimate will suffice versus an exact answer;
using tables, graphs, spreadsheets, calculators, and computers
to organize, solve, and interpret the results from solving
problems;
judging the validity of the work of others; and
evaluating answers.
Do not allow a problem to become abstract and related to
physical behaviour.
 The Strategy for Solving Problems
1. Read and understand the problem statement.
2. Draw a sketch of the process and specify the system boundary
3. Place labels for unknown variables and values for known variables
on the sketch
4. Obtain any missing needed data
5. Choose a basis.
6. Determine the number of unknowns.
7. Determine the number of independent equations, and carry out a
degree of freedom analysis.
8. Write down the equations to be solved.
9. Solve the equations and calculate the quantities asked for.
10. Check your answer(s).
 The Strategy for Solving Problems
degrees of freedom = number of unknowns
number of independent equations
ND = NU NE
 Techniques Used by Experts to
Overcome Barriers to Problem Solving
Read the problem over several times, but at different limes. Be sure
to understand all facets of it. Emphasize the different features each
time.
Restate the problem in your own worth. List assumptions.
Draw a comprehensive diagram of the process and enter all known
information on the diagram. Enter symbols for unknown variables
and parameters.
Formally write down what you are going to solve for: I want to
calculate
Choose a basis.
Relate the problem to similar problems you have encountered
before, but note any differences.
Plan a strategy for a solution, writing it down if necessary. Consider
different strategies.
 Techniques Used by Experts to
Overcome Barriers to Problem Solving
Write down all the equations and rules that might apply to the
problem.
Formally write down everything you know about the problem and
what you believe is needed to execute a solution.
Talk to yourself as you proceed to solve the problem.
Ask yourself questions as you go along concerning the data,
procedures, equations involved, etc.
Talk to other people about the problem.
Break off problem solving for a few minutes and carry out some
other activity.
Break up the solution of the problem into more manageable parts,
and start at a familiar stage. Write down the objective for each
subproblem (i.e., convert mole fraction to mass fraction, find the
pressure in tank 2, etc.
 Techniques Used by Experts to
Overcome Barriers to Problem Solving
Repeat the calculations but in a different order.
Work both forward and backward in the solution scheme.
Consider if the results you obtained are reasonable. Check both
units and order of magnitude of the calculations. Are the boundary
conditions satisfied?
Use alternative paths to verify your solution.
Maintain a positive attitudeyou know the problem can be solved,
just how is the question.
 degrees of freedom analysis for
material balance without reaction
degrees of freedom = number of unknowns
number of independent equations
N D = NU N E

NU = NS(Nsp+1)- NK; NS = number of streams

Nsp= number of species
NS(Nsp+1) = total number of variables
NK = number of knowns

Nsp+1 is number of variables in each stream that involves mass flow rate of
stream (1) and mass fraction of species (Nsp)

NE involves independent species balances (Nsp-1), total mass balance (1), and
in each stream the sums of the mass or mole fractions equals unity
(implicit equation) (number of stream that have incomplete information
of independent mass or mole fractions) , etc.
 Analyzing of a sugar recovery process involving multiple
serial units (example 11.4; 7th ed.)
<M> Sugar
1000 lb/hr

<L> Water
<F> Cane Crystallizer
16% sugar
25% water
59% pulp <K>
40% sugar
<H>
15% sugar
Mill Screen Evaporator
<E>
<J> Water
13% sugar
Vapor
14% pulp
<G> Solids
<D> Bagasse
95% pulp
80% pulp
 Analyzing of a sugar recovery process involving multiple
serial units (example 11.4; 7th ed.)
<M> Sugar 1000 lb/hr
Step 1 - Step 5 100% sugar
0% water
Basis : <M> Sugar 1000 lb/hr 0% pulp

<F> Cane Crystallizer <L> Water

16% sugar 0% sugar
25% water <K>
100% water
59% pulp 40% sugar
<H> 0% pulp
60% water
15% sugar
0% pulp
85% water
0% pulp
Mill Screen Evaporator
<E> <J> Water
13% sugar Vapor
73% water 0% sugar
14% pulp <G> Solids 100% water
<D> Bagasse
c% sugar 0% pulp
a% sugar
d% water
b% water
95% pulp
80% pulp
 Analyzing of a sugar recovery process involving multiple
serial units
<M> Sugar 1000 lb/hr
Step 6 - Step 7 100% sugar
0% water
Basis : <M> Sugar 1000 lb/hr 0% pulp

<F> Cane Crystallizer <L> Water

16% sugar 0% sugar
25% water <K>
100% water
59% pulp 40% sugar
<H> 0% pulp
60% water
15% sugar
0% pulp
85% water
0% pulp
Mill Screen Evaporator
<E> <J> Water
13% sugar Vapor
73% water 0% sugar
14% pulp <G> Solids 100% water
<D> Bagasse
c% sugar 0% pulp
a% sugar
d% water
b% water
95% pulp
80% pulp
 Analyzing of a sugar recovery process involving multiple
serial units
<M> Sugar 1000 lb/hr
Step 6 - Step 7 100% sugar
0% water
Basis : <M> Sugar 1000 lb/hr 0% pulp

<F> Cane Crystallizer <L> Water

16% sugar 0% sugar
25% water <K>
100% water
59% pulp 40% sugar
<H> 0% pulp
60% water
15% sugar
0% pulp
85% water
0% pulp
Mill Screen Evaporator
<E> <J> Water
13% sugar Vapor
73% water 0% sugar
14% pulp <G> Solids 100% water
<D> Bagasse
c% sugar 0% pulp
a% sugar
d% water
b% water
95% pulp
80% pulp
 Analyzing of a sugar recovery process involving multiple
serial units (example 11.4; 7th ed.)
Step 6 - Step 7 <M> Sugar 1000 lb/hr
100% sugar
Basis : <M> Sugar 1000 lb/hr
0% water
Nsp = 3; NS = 6
0% pulp
NU = 6(3+1) (3+1+1+3+3+4) = 9
NE = 2 + 1 + 2 = 5
ND = 9 5 = 4
<F> Cane Crystallizer <L> Water
16% sugar 0% sugar
25% water 100% water
59% pulp 0% pulp

Mill Screen Evaporator

<J> Water
Vapor
0% sugar
<G> Solids 100% water
<D> Bagasse
c% sugar 0% pulp
a% sugar
d% water
b% water
95% pulp
80% pulp
 Analyzing of a sugar recovery process involving multiple
serial units (example 11.4; 7th ed.)
Step 6 - Step 10 <M> Sugar 1000 lb/hr
Basis : <M> Sugar 1000 lb/hr 100% sugar
0% water
Nsp = 2; NS = 3
0% pulp
NU = 3(2+1) (3+2+2) = 2
NE = 1 + 1 + 0 = 2
ND = 2 2 = 0 Crystallizer <L> Water
0% sugar
100% water
<K> 0% pulp
<K> <L> <M> 40% sugar
Species frac. mass frac. mass frac. mass
60% water
0% pulp
sugar 0.4 1000 0 0 1 1000
water 0.6 1500 1 1500 0 0
pulp 0 0 0 0 0 0
2500 1500 1000
 Analyzing of a sugar recovery process involving multiple
serial units (example 11.4; 7th ed.)
<K> 2500 lb/hr
Step 6 - Step 7 40% sugar
Basis : <M> Sugar 1000 lb/hr 60% water
<H>
Nsp = 2; NS = 3 15% sugar
NU = 3(2+1) (2+2+3) = 2 85% water
NE = 1 + 1 + 0 = 2
Evaporator
<J> Water
ND = 2 2 = 0 Vapor
<H> 0% sugar
15% sugar 100% water
85% water
0% pulp
<E>
Screen
Nsp = 3; NS = 3
13% sugar
NU = 3(3+1) (3+1+4) = 4
73% water
NE = 2 + 1 + 1 = 4 <G> Solids
14% pulp
ND = 4 4 = 0 c% sugar
d% water
95% pulp
 Analyzing of a sugar recovery process involving multiple
serial units (example 11.4; 7th ed.)

Step 6 - Step 7 <F> Cane

Basis : <M> Sugar 1000 lb/hr 16% sugar
25% water
Nsp = 3; NS = 3 59% pulp
NU = 3(3+1) (3+1+4) = 4
NE = 2 + 1 + 1 = 4
ND = 4 4 = 0
Mill <E>
13% sugar
73% water
<D> Bagasse 14% pulp
a% sugar
b% water
80% pulp