UNIVERSITI TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN

Faculty : Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering & Science

Programme : BEng (Hons) Chemical Engineering
Course : UEMK2113 Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics
Session : Jan 2018 Due Date : 16 March 2018
(Friday Week 9)
Lecturer : Dr. Pang Yean Ling Expected Duration to : 6 weeks
Complete Assignment

Assignment
(20% of total assessment)

Question 1

A high grade fuel oil which consists of only hydrocarbon, CxHy is burnt in a combustion chamber at 25
°C. The standard heat of combustion is -43,515 J/g with CO2 (g) and H2O (l) as products. The temperature
of the fuel and air entering the combustion chamber is 25 °C. The air is assumed dry. The flue gases
leave at 300 °C and their average composition is 11.2 % CO2, 0.4 % CO, 6.2 % O2 and 82.2 % N2 based
on dry basis.

Solve the following problems using a basis of 100 mol dry flue gases.

(a) Determine the molecular composition and mass of the fuel oil, CxHy. (10 marks)
(b) Determine the heat of combustion that is absorbed/released from the combustion chamber.
(20 marks)
(c) What is the relationship between the heat transferred to the combustion chamber and the excess
amount of air being supplied to the combustion chamber? Summarize the results in table form
and present the data in a graph. Discuss any possible reasons for the observation trend.
(15 marks)
(d) Propose the most economical pathway to provide the optimum combustion heat energy.
(5 marks)
[50 marks]

Question 2

The application of an appropriate equation of state is important in chemical processes for safety analysis.

(a) Estimate the specific volume of steam (in m3/kg) by using ideal gas law, van der Waals equation
of state (a = 0.5542 Pa.m6/mol2; b = 3.051×10-5 m3/mol) at different temperatures and pressures
(i.e. T1 = 100 °C, P1 = 0.1 bar; T2 = 150 °C, P2 = 1 bar; …). Compare the values with the steam
tables. Summarize the results in a table form and present the data in the plot form. (25 marks)
(b) Analyze and evaluate the suitability of the ideal gas law, van der Waals, Redlich-Kwong and
Peng Robinson equation of state based on the assumptions, conditions, example of systems,
applications and limitations in a table form and cited with references/ sources. (25 marks)
[50 marks]

1
Instructions:
1. Please form a group of 4-5 members and post your group member list in google spreadsheet
(https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1I6NKQh4vKBqhnxWwe2ZrbzU9bLT9emCBDdzW6
FblBvY/edit#gid=0) latest by 5 pm on 9th Feb (Friday). Anyone log in with UTAR mail (not
gmail) with this link can edit this spreadsheet.
2. The assignment’s cover page MUST include the following information and table (marks will
be deducted if the following information is incomplete or wrong):
 Course Code and Title: UEMK 2113 Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics
 Assignment Group Number: 1
Name Student ID (Year/ Tutorial Contribution Signature
Sem) Group %
1. 100
2.
3.
4.
5.

3. Use Times New Roman, font size 12 with 1.5 spacing for question 1 and 2. Do not exceed 5
pages for question 2 (b). General alignment for texts in paragraph should be “justified”.
4. Please submit your assignment latest by 2.00 pm on 16th March 2018 (Friday). Marks will be
deducted accordingly on the late submission depending on the number of days (1 mark per day).
5. You need to submit your group assignment in both hardcopy and softcopy. Pass the hardcopy
to me (FE35(3)) and email me the softcopy (pangyl@utar.edu.my) with email subject
“UEMK2113 – Jan 2018 Assignment” before due date.
6. Students are not allowed to resubmit their assignment and no assignment consultation before
submission on week 9.
7. Any act of dishonest or plagiarism during completion of this assignment is a serious offense and
will be awarded zero mark if being found guilty.