Engineering Commons^™

On-Line Economic Optimization Of A Chemical Reactor, Jesse Daniel Bennett

Doctoral Dissertations

"An economic optimizing control system for a continuous flow stirred tank chemical reactor is designed, simulated, and installed on a pilot scale reactor. The control scheme utilizes a reaction and reactor model to predict on-line the economic optimum of a reactant concentration. In this manner the control system manipulates the reactant flow rate to maintain the optimum concentration during changes in reaction-reactor parameters with time. Typical parameter changes include the decay of reaction catalyst activity. The optimizing controller will function in conjunction with various operating policies including control to maintain a specified production rate"--Abstract, page ii.

A Stable Explicit Method For Simultaneous Quasi‐Linear Differential Equations, Roy J. Brunson, Robert M. Wellek

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Molecular Characteristics Of Polymers On Drag Reduction, Gin‐Chain ‐C Liaw, Jacques L. Zakin, Gary Kent Patterson

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Turbulent measurements in capillary tubes and in pipes were made on nonpolar solutions of seven polymer species, three at more than one molecular weight, over wide concentration ranges. A critical concentration, Cc, was taken as the minimum concentration for disappearance of the turbulence transition region. Above this concentration, friction factor‐generalized Reynolds number data show only a gradual deviation from extension of the laminar line. Cc increases with tube diameter and decreases with molecular weight. The critical dimensionless volume friction Cc [η] is less dependent on molecular weight. The levels of Cc [η] for different polymer species in a given tube …

The Anodic Dissolution Of Tungsten, James W. Johnson, Cheng-Hsiao Wu

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The anodic dissolution of tungsten was studied in H₂SO₄-K₂SO₄ solutions (pH = -2 to 2.5) and K₂SO₄-K₂CO₃-KOH solutions (pH = 11.5 to 14.5) at 25 C. Faradaic efficiency studies in basic solutions showed the metal to be oxidized to the +6 state. In acid solutions, a thick protective film of yellow WO₃ was formed. Polarization curves possessed linear Tafel regions (slope ~ 2.3 RT/F) at potentials slightly more positive than the rest potentials. An anodic dissolution mechanism is proposed which involves a surface film …

Mass Transfer Inside Liquid Droplets And Gas Bubbles Accompanied By A Second‐Order Chemical Reaction, R. J. Brunson, Robert M. Wellek

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Diffusion Coefficients Of Ethylene Glycol And Cyclohexanol In The Solvents Ethylene Glycol, Diethylene Glycol, And Propylene Glycol As A Function Of Temperature, Ronald D. Mitchell, James W. Moore, Robert M. Wellek

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Organic Desorption From Carbon-I. A Critical Look At Desorption Of Unknown Organic Materials From Carbon, S. C. Allen, R. H. Pahl, Kenneth G. Mayhan

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Sufficiency Conditions For Constrained Optima, Ju-Chang Huang, Robert M. Wellek

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Sufficiency conditions for constrained optimization problems were derived by the use of constrained second total derivatives. The results are in a simpler form than the Schechter and Beveridge relation. The sufficiency conditions of Phipps were corrected. © 1971, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.

Intrinsic Viscosities Of Linear Polyethylene, Joseph Shing Chiang

Masters Theses

"Intrinsic viscosity measurements were performed on linear polyethylene (Marlex 6009) in decalin at 135ºC and in diphenyl ether at 163.9ºC. Molecular weights ranging from 3x10³ to 35x10⁴ were studied. It was found that for linear polyethylene of molecular weight up to 35x10⁴, the tedious intrinsic viscosity measurement could be replaced by inherent viscosity measurement at a concentration of 0.1 grams per deciliter. The effect of shear on viscosities measured in decalin increased as the molecular weight of the sample increased. The shear rate effects on intrinsic viscosities were negligible. On the other hand, the shear rate effect on the Huggins' …

Response Surface Study Of A Characteristic Chemical Plant, John Thomas Mason Iii

Doctoral Dissertations

"Study of the return on investment response surface of a characteristic chemical plant indicates unimodality in the valid region, but the optimum design condition with this response surface is strongly affected by the correlation used for the investment. The method used for the design of this type of chemical plant incorporates the use of a simulation routine for preliminary estimates"--Abstract, page ii.

A Comparative Study Of Experimental And Computed Compressibility Factors Of Methane - Nitrogen - Helium System, Promod Kumar Taneja

Masters Theses

"The volumetric data for methane, nitrogen, and helium mixtures have been determined experimentally at low temperatures (60ºF to -30ºF) over a pressure range of 1000 to 5000 psig. An attempt has been made to show that the extension of standard techniques viz, "The Law of Corresponding States" for predicting the compressibility factors of pure hydrocarbons and hydrocarbon mixtures is not adequate for mixtures containing even very small amounts of helium. The deviation from the computed compressibility factors is found to be maximum at low temperatures and high pressures (up to 22%) for the mixtures studied"--Abstract, page ii.

The Effect Of Solvents On The Desorption Of Phenol From Carbon In A Water Free System, William W. Knickmeyer

Masters Theses

"The desorption of phenol from active carbon was studied using a continuous flow desorber. The system used was nearly water free to reduce water-phenol interactions. The ten solvents used in this study exhibited a wide difference in their desorption capabilities. An attempt to correlate the desorption data with the physical properties of phenol and solvents, in addition to regular solution theory, proved unsuccessful. A thermodynamic approach using the linear free energy-enthalpy relationship produced a general trend by using the heat of solution for phenol in solution and a reasonable correlation using the heat of formation of the phenol-solvent hydrogen bond …

Anodic Oxidation Of Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid On Pt In Acid Sulfate Solutions, Howard Ho-Wei Jiang

Masters Theses

"The anodic oxidation of EDTA was studied in acid sulfate solutions on platinized-Pt at 25ºC. Polarization relationships were obtained for the EDTA concentration range 3. 42 x 10⁻⁵ to 3. 42 x 10⁻³ M and pH range 0. 35 to 3. 80. Numerous reaction products were identified that indicated a sequential removal of acetate groups from the EDTA, each by an initial decarboxylation followed by a reverse Schiff-type reaction, that produced formaldehyde and the corresponding amine. A reaction sequence which correlated the experimental data involved Frumkin-type adsorption of the EDTA species through an unionized acetate group followed by a rate-determining …

An Empirical Method Of Correlating Compressibility Factors Of Nitrogen - Helium - Hydrocarbon Systems, Terry Wayne Buck

Masters Theses

"Compressibility factors have been taken from previous works by Davis and Taneja for twelve different common oil-field hydrocarbon mixtures which contain at least 2 mole % nitrogen. An effort has been made to show that by using the Benedict-Webb-Rubin Equation of State it is possible to predict compressibility factors using a correlation of error in predicted compressibility factor versus reduced pressure, at different mole % of nitrogen with constant reduced temperatures, if the critical points of the mixtures are known or can be calculated. In the mixtures which contain helium, the only effect of helium seems to be the raising …

Permeability Scaling In A Numerical Coning Model, V. K. Dutta, Marion D. Arnold

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A method is described for simulating coning into a wellbore using a numerical simulation model. The method allows the wellbore cells to be considerably larger than the actual wellbore. This makes coning studies feasible using an implicit pressure-explicit saturation type model with a reasonable time step. This capability is achieved by scaling the horizontal-vertical permeability ratios to give the proper vertical potential drop.

An Experimental Study On Heat Transfer Coefficient For Carbon Laden Gas, Jacob Chi-Kwong Huang

Chemical and Biological Engineering ETDs

Abstract

A complete carbon black pilot plant was employed in this study. Carbon laden gas was produced in a fur­nace and introduced into the outer pipe of a heat ex­changer. Air, at the same time, was introduced into

the inner pipe of the heat exchanger cocurrently with the carbon laden gas. Thus, heat, with temperature dif­ference as driving force, would transfer from the car­bon laden gas to the air stream. The temperatures along the two streams were measured by iron-constantan ther­mal couples and recorded by a multi-reading temperature

recorder. Air supply and fuel (C3H8) supply were intro­duced into the furnace …

Preparation Of Metallic Oxide Aerosols By Vaporization And Degradation Of Organic Compounds, Tom B. Larsen

Chemical and Biological Engineering ETDs

Simple, dependable methods for the generation of aerosols are necessary to many forms of research. Specifically inhal­ation research has a requirement for sub-micron sized insoluble particles.

Two different methods for the production of oxide aerosols from vaporizable compounds were tried. The first method, a mod­ification of the Rapaport-Weinstock generator (R3), consisted of nebulization of a solution into a droplet mist. Next the drop­lets were vaporized, and condensation nuclei formed from the nonvaporizable impurities in the solution. The vapor was allowed to condense on the nuclei in a relatively large chamber, then the resulting liquid droplet aerosol was dried and converted …

An Investigation Of The Radiation Polymerization Of Methyl Methacrylate-Kaolin Clay Composites, James Jackson Beeson

Doctoral Dissertations

"A kinetic and characterization study has been made on the effects of gamma-rays (Co⁶⁰) on the polymerization of a 50-50 weight mixture methyl methacrylate (MMA) kaolin clay system. The effect of dose rate (7.35 - 24.9 rads per second), temperature (25 to 75ºC) and total dose on the percentage conversion of monomer to polymer was studied. The rate of formation of polymer at 25ºC in the composite system was found to be faster when compared to a bulk MMA system at the same experimental conditions. This acceleration showed that the clay had a catalytic effect on the formation of polymer. …

The Effect Of A Knurled Heat Transfer Surface Upon Pool Nucleate Boiling Of Normal Pentane, Jerry James Carr

Doctoral Dissertations

"The effect of knurling a nucleate boiling heat transfer surface was studied. The knurling utilized produced regular, four-sided, adjacent pyramids with an apex angle of 90 degrees. Four knurling densities were used ranging from 416 to 2591 pyramids per square inch. The transfer surface was gold-plated copper and the heaters used were electrically heated, ten-inch long, horizontal cylinders of one-inch diameter. The liquid boiled was normal pentane at its saturation temperature and a pressure of 760 millimeters mercury.

For some of the knurled surfaces the temperature difference required to produce a given heat flux was found to be less than …

Development Of An Apparatus To Obtain Temperature Profiles Of Molten Flowing Polymers, Ismail Kemal Saltuk

Theses

The object of this investigation is to develop and test an apparatus to predict temperature profiles of polymer melts in laminar flow in a heat exchanger, with non-isothermal wall conditions.

A commercial polyethylene melt is pumped at various flow rates through a smooth 0.957 in. I.D. pipe. The entrance temperature of polymer is maintained uniform.

Radially distributed six thermocouples (0.062 in. 0.D.) are placed at 2.5 ft. intervals from the entrance of heat exchanger. Immersion of these probes parallel to the flow direction, reduced the errors due to the conduction of heat from the tube wall to the thermocouple stems. …

Wetting Of Carbon Filaments By Organic Liquids, Linden Tewes Halstead

Chemical and Biological Engineering ETDs

The object of this was to find the factors controlling the rate of wetting of carbon filaments by organic liquids. To carry out this study, the factors affecting the wetting of surfaces, such as the surface tension of liquids, and the contact angle formed at the liquid-vapor-solid boundary of a three phase system were discussed. At the same time, the anomalies with respect to contact angle, such as that relating to advancing and receding contact angles to dynamic angles was considered. As complimentary information, the methods used to obtain carbon and graphite filaments from cellulose and molten pyrolysis products were …

A Kinetic Study Of The Anionic Polymerization Of Neopentylethylene Oxide, Albert Edward Meisinger

Dissertations

Kinetic data for the anionic polymerization of bulk neopentylethylene oxide were determined. The initiator used for this study was potassium t-butoxide. Polymerization runs were made at temperatures of 39.9, 60.0 and 80.3°C using monomer to initiator ratios of 50/1 and 20/1.

The polymerization reaction was found to follow pseudo first order kinetics up to about 60% polymerization and second order after this. The energy of activation for the propagation reaction was found to be 17.4 ± 1.2 K cal/mole and 18.5 ± 1.5 K cal/mole, respectively, for the pseudo first order and second order portions of the polymerization. The value …

Continuous Esterification Of Lactic Acid With N-Butyl Alcohol, Robert Dix

Dissertations

A model is proposed for the reactions occurring when an aqueous 30% lactic acid solution is contacted with a primary alcohol, normal butanol. Kinetic and equilibrium data for the esterification reactions of monomeric lactic acid and dimeric lactic acid were determined in a series of experiments using an ideal overflow back-mix reactor. The variables studied were reaction temperature and catalyst concentration.

It was determined that the significant reactions occurring within this system are the esterification of monomeric lactic acid with n-butanol and the esterification of dimeric lactic acid with n-butanol. Other reactions that may be postulated to occur within the …

A Study Of The Dynamics Of Gas Adsorption In An Air Fluidized Bed, William Charles Zalewski

Dissertations

The dynamics of gas adsorption was studied in an air fluidized bed containing activated alumina particles. The adsorption studies made with a fixed bed and in the transition region between minimum fluidization velocity and 2.0 times minimum fluidization velocity, compliment work done at higher velocities. With adsorption, particle motion controlled the overall dynamics of the fluidized bed. A different approach in applying the two phase fluidization model was necessary to satisfactorily describe unsteady state adsorption in fluidized beds. Experimental and theoretical results were compared in frequency response plots to obtain a rigorous comparison. Good agreement was obtained for flow rates …

Correlation And Prediction Of Diffussion Coefficients In Binary Gas Systems, Raymond Gerald Bailey

Theses

A correlation was developed for estimating binary gas diffusion coefficients by the reference substance method, in this case using the viscosity of air and subsequently its corresponding temperature. The derivation was made by the linear least square analysis of 65 different binary systems comprising 161 separate data points at temperatures ranging from 193°K. to 1200°K. At any given temperature only the critical molal volume and the molecular weights of the two gases of interest are required to calculate the diffusion coefficient. The correlation based on the viscosity of air had an average error of 7.67%. The correlation using temperature had …

The Absorption Of Hydrogen Chloride From Dilute Air Mixtures, Edgar L. Demarest

Theses

A study was made of the absorption of hydrogen chloride from air mixtures containing from 1 to 40 mgm. HCl/liter (1000 to 40000 mgm./m.³), using a.4" diameter tower packed with 2" Intalox saddles, irrigated with water or with sodium hydroxide solutions of 0.3% to 3.8% concen?tration. Gas flow rates of 177 to 752 lbs./(hr.)(ft.²) were investigated at three liquid rates: 2960 ; 4260, and 5700 lbs./(hr/)(ft.²). All data were collected below the flooding point.

Correlations of the height of a transfer unit with the superficial gas velocity were prepared for water and for sodium …

Aiir Pollution Emissions From Turbine Powered Aircraft, Raymond Arthur Filippini

Theses

The major pollutants that are emitted by jet aircraft include: particulate matter (soot), carbon monoxide, aldehydes, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides. The first of the pollutants, particulate matter (smoke), constitutes not only a visual nuisance but is also a potential health problem. The rest, which are not visible, are irritants and in high enough concentrations can be toxic.

Since pollutants emitted by jet aircraft are of the same type as those given off by a car, a direct comparison is possible. In one landing take off cycle (LTO), a four engine jet aircraft emits the same amount of particulate matter as …

The Relation Of Heat Transfer To Power Consumption Of Liquids In Turbulent Flow, John D. Bien

Theses

The relationship between the heat transfer ability and the power input requirement of liquid coolants in a turbulent heat transfer condition was investigated. A correlation in terms of the liquid physical properties and the required volumetric flow was proposed and the use of this correlation in selection of liquids as coolant was discussed. The optimum condition for a high heat transfer/power input ratio was also discussed.

Phosphate Removal From Sewage Using A Combination Of Ferric Chloride And A Polymeric Flocculant, Ravindra C. Patel

Theses

The present work is concerned with a newer technique and approach to the problem of phosphate removal from waste water. This includes the removal of phosphate from the sample of activated sludge, i.e., a sample from the aeration tank of the secondary sewage treatment. The phosphate is removed by using ferric chloride as a precipitating agent and a cationic polyelectrolyte (P.E.) as a flocculating agent. Results of this study showed that: (a) P.E. addition gives a significant improvement in phosphate removal over that obtained by ferric chloride alone. In some cases the phosphate removal increased from 92 to 96.5 per …

A Digital Computer Simulation Of A Batch Or Semi-Batch Reactor, Robert Edward Viczorek

Theses

A digital computer simulation of a batch or semi-batch reaction was developed. The system consisted of a jacketed, agitated vessel equipped with a temperature controller modulating a control valve in the stream to the jacket. The reaction was liquid phase, and the jacket medium was liquid.

The program was written in a general form so as to be applicable to any liquid phase reaction with minimum modification.

A numerical technique was employed using initial values of the process variables in the first cycle of calculations for a time interval, and then using average values for further iterations. The simulation proceeded …