Chemical Process

Calculations
Sweta C Balchandani
Faculty, SOT-Chemical,
PDPU
Units and Dimensions
Units and Dimensions
• Its important to communicate not in terms of words but also through
units and dimensions for “the scientific community”
• Dimensions are our basic concepts of measurements such as:
• Length, time , mass, temperature
• Units are the means of expressing the dimensions such as:
• Feet, centimeters for length, hours or seconds for time
Benefits of units and dimensions
• Diminished possibility of errors in calculations
• Reduced intermediate calculations and time in problem solving
• A logical approach to the problem rather than remembering a formula
and substituting numbers into the formula
• Easy interpretation of the physical meaning of the numbers you use
Systems of units
1. SI “ system international”
2. AE “American engineering system of units
Classification of Dimensions/units
1. Fundamental
• Also, called “Basic” dimension/units are those that can be measured
independently and are sufficient to describe essential physical quantities.
2. Derived
• Dimensions/units are those that can be developed in terms of the
fundamental dimensions/units
Basic and derived units
American Engineering System Units
Relationship between basic dimensions and
various derived dimensions
SI prefixes
Some related points
• When a compound unit is formed by multiplication of two or more other
units its symbol consists of the symbols for the separate units joined by a
centered dot (e.g., N.m for newton meter)
• The dot may be omitted in case of familiar units such as watt-hour (Wh).
• Positive or negative exponents may be used with the symbols for the
separate units either separated by a solidus or multiplied by using negative
powers (e.g. m/s or m.s-1).
• But, central dot is not necessary here.
• The SI convention of leaving a space between groups of numbers such as 12
650 instead of inserting a comma, as in 12,650, is ignored to avoid confusion
in handwritten numbers.
Basic rules for operations with units
• One can add, subtract or equate numerical quantities only if the
associated units of the quantities are the same
• E.. 5 kg +3 Joules (Not possible)
• One can multiply or divide unlike units at will such as 50(kg)(m)/(s)
• 5kg *3 Joules is equal to 15 kg.J
• But, one cannot cancel or merge units unless they are identical. E.g.
3m2/60cm.
Some variables
• Force
• Force is proportional to the product of mass and acceleration
• Fαm*a
• F=K*m*a
• Force and acceleration are vector quantities and they should act in the same
direction.
• If K can be unity , units newton and dyne are defined on this basis.
• The newton (N) is the force which when applied to a body having a mass of one
kilogram gives it an acceleration of one m/s2
• The dyne (dyn) is the force which when applied to a body having a mass of one gram
gives it an acceleration of one cm/s2
• 1 N= 105 dyn
Force
• In FPS system, the unit is poundal which is the force, when applied to a
body having a mass of one pound gives it an acceleration of one ft/s2
• 1 pdl=13825.5 dyn=0.138255 N
• If K yields the technical unit of force and is defined as a fundamental
quantity. K is therefore a dimensional quantity. Its numerical value is not
unity but fixed at 1/gc.
• F=(1/gc)*m*a
• gc=9.80665 (kg.m)/(kgf.s2)=32.174 (lb.ft)/(lbf.s2)
• gc is called as Newton’s law conversion factor. Values similar to acceleration due
to gravity at sea level i.e. 9.80665 m/s2
Force
• MKS system
• The kilogram-force (kgf) is the force which when applied to a body having a
mass of one kilogram gives it an acceleration of 9.80665 m/s2
• FPS system
• The pound force (lbf) is the force which when applied to a body having a mass
of one pound gives it an acceleration of 32.174 ft/s2
• Force is weight when body acts under gravitational acceleration
(g),i.e. when a=g
Force
• Previously, measurements of force, pressure, mass and weight were
made without taking into account the variation of the acceleration
from one location to another.
• But, now for more sophisticated control, the difference is taken
account in form of calibration
Pressure
• Force per unit area
• P=F/A
• Units: SI: N/m2 or Pa; MKS: kgf/cm2 and FPS: lbf/in2
• Is measured using gauge i.e. difference between pressure in vessel and local
atmospheric pressure. This is gauge pressure
• Absolute pressure =gauge pressure +atmospheric pressure
• Atmospheric pressure varies from one location to another. But generally it is
taken as 101325 N/m2 or Pa (=1.033 kgf/cm2). Its also called standard
atmosphere (atm).
• 1 atm=101325 Pa (exact)
• 1 bar=105 Pa=0.986923 atm
Pressure expressed as pressure heads
• Pressure head=absolute pressure/density
• Commonly used in terms of mercury and water columns:
• 1 atm =760 torr (or mm Hg at 0 C or 273.15 K)
• 1 atm= 10.33 mH2O at 0 C or 273.15 K
• Vacuum is sub-atmospheric pressure
• Absolute pressure =atmospheric pressure-vacuum
• Expressed as Torr (mm Hg) or Pa or mbar
Volume
• Measured in cubic metres and litres (SI) and in gallons (FPS)
• A litre is the volume occupied by a mass of one kilogram of pure air
free water at the temperature of its maximum density (4C or 277.15
K) and under standard atmospheric pressure.
• 1 cubic metre=1000 litres=1 kiloliter
• Imperial and US gallons are different
Work (energy) and power
• Work (energy) is defined as the product of the force acting on a body
and the distance travelled by the body.
• W=F*d
• Units Work (energy) SI :Joule; MKS: m.kgf; cgs: erg; FPS: ft.lbf
• Energy is a physical entity which is present in a system in different
forms. E.g. mechanical (work), electromagnetic, chemical, or thermal.
• Usually, one form of energy is convertible to another form.
• One joule is the work when the point of application of one newton force
moves a distance of one metre in the direction of the applied force.
Work (energy) and power
• One erg is the work done when the point of application of one dyne force
moves a distance of one centimeter in the direction of the applied force.
• 1 J= 107 erg
• Power P is defined as the work W done per unit time
• Power P =W/θ
• 1 Watt= 1 J/s
• 1 metric horsepower=0.7355kW
• 1 Brtitish horsepower=1.01387 metric horsepower=0.7457 kW
• Horsepower units are not recommended for use with SI
Heat
• Is one form of energy that flows higher temperature to lower
temperature, i.e, enthalpy in transit.
• Units are SI: joule (J); MKS: kilocalorie; cgs: calorie (cal); FPS: british
thermal unit (Btu)
• 1 calorie=4.184 J
• 1Btu=1055.056 J
• Celsius Heat Unit (CHU)= 1.8 Btu
Derived electrical units
• Current is the fundamental quantity in electricity.
• Volt V is the unit of electromotive force or of potential difference.
• Resistance (R in ohms) of the conductor is defined as R=V/I
• Resistance in ohms, V is the potential difference in volts; I is the current in
ampheres
• Coulomb is the unit of quantity of electricity and is defined as the
quantity of electricity carried in one second by a current of one
ampere across any cross section
• 1 Faraday(F)=96 485.3415 C/mol (based on carbon-12)
Conversion units and conversion factors
• The procedure for converting one set of units to another is simply to
multiply any number and its associated units by ratios termed as
“Conversion factors” in order to arrive at the desired answer and its
associated units.
• Conversion factors are statements of equivalent values of different
units in the same system or between systems of units used in the
form of ratios.
Example 1
• The volumetric flow rate of kerosene in an 80-mm nominal diameter
pipe is 75 Imperial gallons per minute. Taking the density of kerosene
as 0.8 kg/dm3, find the mass flow in kg/s.
Example 2
• Steam is flowing at the rate of 2000kg/h in a pipe with internal
diameter of 3.068 in at 440 kPa (4.4 bar) absolute and 180 C .
Calculate the velocity of the steam in the pipeline
Example 3
• A ton of refrigeration (TR) is classically defined as the rate of heat
absorption equivalent to the latent heat in a short ton (2000 lb) of ice
melted in 24 hours. Latent heat of fusion (λf ) of ice is 144
thermochemical Btu/lb at 32 F. Calculate energy in kW equivalent to 1
TR.
Example 4
• The conductance of a fluid flow system is defined as the volumetric
flow rate, referred to a pressure of one torr (133.322 Pa). For an
orifice, the conductance C can be computed from
T 3
C  89.2* A ft / s
M

• Where, A=area of opening , ft2

• T=temperature , R
• M=molar mass
• Convert the empirical equation into SI units
Example 5
• In double effect evaporator plant, the second effect is maintained
under vacuum of 475 torr (mm Hg). Find the absolute pressure in kPa.
Example 6
• A force equal to 19.635 kgf is applied on the piston with a diameter of
5 cm. Find the pressure exerted on a piston in kPa.
Example 7
• Convert the pressure of 2 atm into mm Hg.
Example 8
• Convert a volumetric flow rate of 2 m3/s to litres (l)/s.