Master of Engineering
(Mass Transfer and Separation
Processes)

Master of Engineering (Mass Transfer and Separation Processes) 2
MPE502_Assessment2_PaperA_v1
Assessment Instructions:
1. Please familiarise yourself with the EIT Academic Honesty and Misconduct Policy, in order to
understand your requirements and responsibilities as a student of EIT.
2. Please refer to our Assessment, Moderation and Student Progress Procedure for
information relating to extensions. Extension requests should be submitted to your LSO at
least 3 days prior to the due date.
3. Assessments submitted via email will not be accepted.
4. Assessments must be submitted through Turn-it-in (unless otherwise stated).
Your submission must:
a. Be a single document (Word or PDF only)
b. Include at least 20 words of machine-readable text, and
c. Not exceed 10MB.
5. You must use the provided assessment cover page available on your Moodle student
homepage. Submissions without a cover page will not be accepted.
6. You must correctly title your document/s. For example:
UNIT#_ASSESSMENT#_YOURNAME_DATE
E.g. ME501_Assessment2_SteveMackay_01Aug2019
7. You must reference all content used from other sources including course materials, slides,
diagrams, etc. Do not directly copy and paste from course materials or any other resources.
Refer to the referencing section of the EIT eLibrary on Moodle for referencing guides.
8. It is your responsibility to check that you have submitted the correct file, as revised
submissions are not permitted after the due date and time.
Important note: Failure to adhere to the above may result in academic penalties. Please refer to
the unit outline or EIT Policies and Procedures for further information.
Master of Engineering (Mass Transfer and Separation Processes) 3

Please complete your answers on the assessment cover page document available on Moodle.
Clearly label your question numbers (there is no need to copy the full question over). Include all working
out.
You are to use the UniSim software program to answer the majority of the questions in this
assessment. This software is available on EIT’s Remote Labs. All students completing this unit have
been provided with access to this software.
An instructional pre-recording video has been created to assist you in using the UniSim software.
This pre-recording may be accessed below (page 5). The recommendation is that you view this
video prior to attempting to complete this assessment.
In the course of completing this assessment, you are required to provide screenshots at various
stages of the UniSim model in order to demonstrate your proficiency with using the software and
the attainment of the required level of knowledge for this assessment.
You are also required to submit your UniSim file (.usc) as a part of this assessment.
Problem statement:
Part A (5 marks)
1. “Extraction never exists by itself. There is always a solvent recovery separation unit”. Justify
this statement.
2. Explain the purpose of using a decanter in the solvent recovery extraction system of
partially miscible solvent and diluent?
Part B
Benzene, toluene and xylene are important precursors in the manufacture of petrochemicals. The
feedstock can be reformed naphtha.
Master of Engineering (Mass Transfer and Separation Processes) 4
MPE502_Assessment2_PaperA_v1
You have been contracted to design the distillation column for the recovery of benzene.
You may assume that a constant flow of 150 metric tonnes per hour of feedstock is to be
processed.
Typically, a column will have a feed stream pumped at a certain temperature and pressure, a
vapour stream that is cooled by an overhead condenser, a reflux stream that is pumped back to the
column by a reflux pump, and a reboiler that adds heat to the process.
Data:

Master of Engineering (Mass Transfer and Separation Processes) 5

Recommended methodology:
a) Review the instructional pre-recording video which has been created to assist you to use
UniSim software. This pre-recording may be accessed through the Moodle page for this unit
at: https://media.eitidc.com/view/da8f3c5e-830c-4f86-9bd4-476f75c6bbeb
b) The “Help” section (which may be accessed in the top bar of every window of the UniSim
software package) also provides a number of cases as examples.
c) Access the UniSim software package available on EIT’s Remote Labs.
d) Reflect that the distillate is the more volatile component and the bottoms should be the
component with the higher boiling point. A good starting basis is that the bottom is slightly
above the boiling point of the more volatile component and that the top is hotter than the
heavy component.
e) Consider using a fluid package (equation of state) appropriate for this system. [Hint: internet
search, research].
f) You may begin by using a short-cut distillation method which will allow you to determine
key parameters that can then be the input into the main column. Bear in mind that you do
not want to over-pressure the column and you do not want to have too high a reflux rate.
g) Once you have run a simulation which complies with the client’s specifications, you may
obtain a stream table with the flow rates and all process parameters from the UniSim
model.
h) Line sizing: The lines need to be designed to suit this process.
– Research the velocity limits in pipes for hydrocarbons and ensure your design complies
with these limits.
Master of Engineering (Mass Transfer and Separation Processes) 6
MPE502_Assessment2_PaperA_v1
– Use pipe sizing charts to determine the friction factor and other variables until you
obtain an acceptable pressure drop for your system.
– Whilst UniSim is useful as a first pass, you need to ensure that the line sizes in your
model are acceptable. It is, therefore, recommended that you create a Microsoft Excel
spread sheet or use hand calculations to calculate the various line sizes.
– Once you have sized the lines, you may then size the pumps.
i) Pump sizing: The pumps need to be carefully designed to suit this process.
– The critical requirement is to ensure that the pumps are designed with sufficient NPSH.
Drawing a sketch showing the various vessels, pipes, and discharges may assist you in
designing the pumps.
– Ensure you add up the losses and account for vapour pressure.
– Consider if you need sparing of pumps.
– Again, whilst UniSim is useful as a first pass, you need to ensure that the pump sizes in
your model are acceptable. It is, therefore, recommended that you create a Microsoft
Excel spread sheet or use hand calculations to calculate the various pump sizes.
j) Drawings: Based on your UniSim model, you may obtain a process flow diagram (PFD)
showing the column, feed pump, condenser, reflux pump, distillate pump, reboiler, recycle
pump and bottoms pump.
– Using an appropriate software program (such as Microsoft Word’s Autoshapes,
Microsoft’s Paint, or other suitable program such as Visio), draw a P&ID of this chemical
engineering process.
– Ensure the drawing shows the line sizes and other relevant details.
– Show additional piping as required.
Requirements:
Using the UniSim software program, develop a PFD to successfully comply with the client’s
specification of designing a distillation column for the recovery of benzene. Once you have
completed this simulation furnish the following requirements:
a) Provide a PFD of this chemical engineering process showing the main equipment in this
process. Ensure that the PFD includes a shortcut distillation column, main distillation
Master of Engineering (Mass Transfer and Separation Processes) 7
column, feed pump, heat exchangers, reboiler, bottoms pump, and distillate pump.
(25 marks)
Note: You may obtain this PFD directly from the UniSim model environment by completing
the steps which are outlined below.
Exporting the PFD to Microsoft Word:
• Position the PFD as per your requirements using the zoom and scrolling controls on
UniSim. The “Zoom All” button at the bottom left of the window is helpful for aligning
the image. The PFD will be copied exactly as it appears on the screen.
• Right click on the PFD and select “Copy Pane to Clipboard” – “Scale by 100%”. Then
paste the image into the Microsoft Word document. This image is acceptable to be
pasted into the relevant section of your assignment. For instance, the PFD may be
pasted into your assignment sheet under section: 4. Requirements a).
b) Develop a stream table as a part of the PFD for all the major streams. Remember to go into
the Column environment for the overheads and reboiler information. (15 marks)
Note: You may obtain the stream table directly from the UniSim model environment by
completing the steps which are outlined below.
Adding stream tables to the PFD:
Right click on the PFD, select “Add Workbook Table” – “Materials Streams”. A stream table
will be added to the PFD. Right click on the created stream table to see some limited
formatting options. There is also the option of creating “Compositions” and “Energy
Streams” tables.
c) Size the piping and pumps. Ensure that you include the: (20 marks)
1. Feed pump.
2. Distillate discharge pump.
3. Bottoms pump.
Provide the detailed table for each pump. This can be obtained by right-clicking on the
pump and selecting “Show Table”.
Also provide a brief summary of your pipe sizing and pump sizing.
Note: You may obtain the required information for each pump from the UniSim model. You
may then paste a screen-shot of the details for each pump as your answer to this part of the
assessment. Again, follow the procedure which was previously described to do this.
Master of Engineering (Mass Transfer and Separation Processes) 8
MPE502_Assessment2_PaperA_v1
d) Draw a P&ID from the feed pump to the discharge streams. This drawing requires you
to accurately size the lines and the pumps. (15 marks)
Note: You may use an appropriate software program (such as Microsoft Word’s AutoShapes,
Microsoft’s Paint, or another suitable program such as Visio) to draw the required P&ID.
e) Briefly discuss the research methodology and challenges which you adopted for sizing
the piping and pumps in your UniSim Model. Ensure that your answer includes a
justification for selecting the specific piping and pump sizing in your UniSim model.
(5 marks)
f) Briefly discuss about the importance of simulation tool in engineering and how it will
help engineers to improve efficiency. (5 marks)
g) Underline the importance of sustainable practices and environmental considerations in
chemical processes by providing a detailed discussion of the implications of these in the
system which you have designed. (10 marks)
Microsoft Word Document Submission Process
Begin by following the process which is outlined in the “Assessment Task Instructions” at the
beginning of this assessment in order to submit your Word document file. You are required to take
screenshots of the computer screen with date and time stamp.
The Word document is to be uploaded onto the MPE502 Submission Box which may be accessed on
the MPE502 page on Moodle. You can include screenshots within the word document.
END OF ASSESSMENT