UPSC IFS 2018 Question Paper for Chemical Engineering Paper - I

LES. EXAM-(M) 2018 FSI-P-CIIME

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
Paper - I

Time Allowed: Three Hours Maximum Marks : 200

Question Paper Specific Instructions

Please read each of the following instructions carefully before attempting
questions:

There are EIGHT questions in all, out of which FIVE are to be attempted.

Questions no. 1 and 5 are compulsory. Out of the remaining SIX questions, THREE are
to be attempted selecting at least ONE question from each of the two Sections A and B.

Attempts of questions shall be counted in sequential order. Unless struck off attempt of a
question shall be counted even if attempted partly. Any page or portion of the page left
blank in the Question-cum-Answer Booklet must be clearly struck off

All questions carry equal marks. The number of marks carried by a question/part is
indicated against it.

Answers must be written in ENGLISH only.

Unless otherwise mentioned, symbols and notations have their usual standard meanings.

Assume suitable data, if necessary, and indicate the same clearly.

Neat sketches may be drawn, wherever required.

SECTION A

Ql. State Fick's first law of diffusion. Prove that DAB = DBA• 5

Calculate the critical speed of a ball mill, 1200 ram in diameter, charged
with 75 mm balls. 5

Air at 300 K and FO atm pressure flows over a flat plate at a speed of
3.0 m/sec. Find out whether the flow would be laminar or turbulent at a
distance of 40 cm from the leading edge of the plate. Consider
momentum diffusivity of air as = F572 x 10-5 m2/s. 5

Give the selection criteria of choosing the solvent in gas absorption
column 5

A solution of organic colloids; 10,000 kg/hr is to be concentrated from
15% to 50% solids in a vertical tube evaporator by supplying heat of
4.624 MW. The saturated steam is available at 0-8 atm absolute
pressure, latent heat = 2272-62 J/kg. Calculate the economy for the
evaporator. 5

Draw and explain the characteristic curves for centrifugal pump. 5

The x-directed momentum transfer equation for constant density and
viscosity is given by

(ay
Dv x + v Dvx + v ayx a 2v a 2v
BP x+ x+
at ± vx ax Y ay Z 8Z , ax + Pgx.
ax2 ay2 8z2

Write the assumptions of creeping flow and inviscid flow. Also reduce
the above expression for both types of flows. 5

For fluid allocation in a shell and tube heat exchanger, discuss the
general design criteria considering corrosion, fouling, fluid temperature
and operating pressure. 5

FSI-P-CHME 2

Q2. (a) Differentiate between the following:

Dropwise condensation and Film condensation

Space and Surface resistance

Forced and Free convection

Black body and Grey body

Conduction and Convection 15

A liquid mixture of benzene and toluene containing 50 mole percent
benzene is to be separated in a distillation column to achieve 98 mole
percent benzene in distillate and 2 mole percent benzene in residue. The
feed is a saturated liquid. If the reflux ratio of 4.0 is to be used, find the
number of theoretical plates needed for a feed rate of 100 kmoles/hr by
McCabe-Thiele method. Use relative volatility of
benzene-toluene = 2.16. Also, calculate the production rates. 15

Explain the batch sedimentation process showing different zones formed
at various stages of settling. 10

Q3. (a) Explain the working of rotary vacuum drum filter with the help of neat
sketch. 10

(b) Suppose a 3 inch schedule 80 pipe (inside diameter = 73.66 mm; outside

diameter = 88.9 mm) having thermal conductivity of 43 is covered
m°C
with 25.4 mm of an insulation having thermal conductivity of 0.06
m°C
The outside of the insulation is exposed to an environment having heat

transfer coefficient of 10 na 2 oc
and temperature is 20°C. The

temperature of the inside surface of the pipe is 250°C. Calculate the

overall thermal resistance and heat loss for unit length of the pipe with

insulation. 15

3

(c) Oxalic acid is to be crystallized from a saturated aqueous solution
initially at 80°C. To what temperature does the solution have to be
cooled to crystallize 95% of the oxalic acid as the dihydrate ? 151

Solubility data vs Temperature of oxalic acid

Temp °C 0 10 20 40 60 80

Solubility
3-5 6 9-5 21.6 44.3 84.4
c gms/100 gmol H20

Q4. (a) Explain briefly the following terms: 10

Relative humidity

Adiabatic saturation temperature

Wet bulb temperature

Equilibrium moisture content

HETP

(b) A shell and tube heat exchanger with one shell pass and two tube passes

is used to heat 5 kg/s of water from 30°C to 80°C. The water flows in the

tubes and condensing steam at 1 atm is used in the shell side. Calculate

the area of the heat exchanger, if overall heat transfer coefficient is

900 . Suppose, this same heat exchanger is used with entering
m2 cic
water at 30°C, but with a water flow rate of 1-3 kg/s. What would be the

exit water temperature under these conditions, if overall heat transfer

coefficient is 700 - ? The specific heat of water may be considered
m 2 °C
as 4179 . The relation of effectiveness (s) and number of transfer
kg°C
units (NTU) may be expressed as e = 1— expk NTU]. 15

FSI-P-CHME 4

(c) Water at 20°C is being pumped from a tank to an elevated tank at the
rate of 5 litre/s through a 4 inch schedule 40 pipe (Inside
Diameter = 04023 m) as shown in the figure below. Calculate the power
required for the pump considering pump efficiency as 65%. 15
Given Data:
density of water = 998.2 kg/m3
viscosity of water = 1.005 x 10-3 Pa-s
loss coefficient for elbow = 0.75
16
friction factor (f) = (Laminar flow)
Reynolds number (NRe )

f= 0.079 Nit25 (4000< NRe < 105)
Neglect contraction and expansion losses.

15 m

m

Pump

FSI-P-CHME 5

SECTION B

Q5. (a) List the important characteristics to be considered while selecting a
material of construction. 5

(b) Define the following:
Flux
Permeability
Trans-membrane pressure
Molecular weight cut-off 5

(c) Estimate the thickness of the cylindrical vessel having 1.5 m diameter.
The vessel is to operate at a pressure of 15 bar absolute and
temperature of 300°C. 5

Given — MOC : Steel (Design stress = 85 1\11mm2); A corrosion allowance
of 3 mm and Joint efficiency (J) = FO.

(d) What are Horton spheres? Give its applications. 5

(e) Define controller's gain, lc and discuss the effect of value of lc on the
offset. 5

(0 Find the transfer function Y(s)/X(s) of the system shown in the figure. 5

1 0.5
x TS 1
y

(g) List the 'devices used for high temperature measurement in industry
giving their applications. 5

FSI-P-CHME 6

(h) A step change of magnitude 40 is introduced into a system having
. Y(s) 10
transfer function
X(s) 52 + 1.6s + 4

Determine :

Overshoot

Maximum value of y(t)

Ultimate value of y(t)

Q6. (a) Discuss the algorithm for the design of a skirt support for a tall vertical
vessel. 15

Find the value of Ice for a stable system having the characteristic
equation
s3 + 6s2 + 12s + 6(1 + Ice) = 0

using Routh Array test. 10

Discuss the different membrane modules used for reverse osmosis. 15

FSI-P-CHME 7

1
Q7. (a) Construct the Bode plot for the system having G(s) — 20
(s + 1) (s + 5)

Semi log graph paper

UT

FSI-P-CHME 8

Log log graph paper

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•
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ni M. .13.110 11111111111111111111111111
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What are the advantages of supercritical fluid separation technique ?
List four applications for the same. 10
List the different types of closures used for vessels under internal
pressure. Draw neat sketches of the same. On what factors does the
choice of closure depend? 10

FSI-P-CHME 9

Q8. (a) Describe the working of Bourdon tube pressure gauge with the help of a
neat diagram. 10

Explain the principles of ion-exchange method and its application to
water softening process. 15

Answer the following in brief: 15

What are the various losses encountered while storing volatile
liquids?

What are wind girders ? Why are they provided?

What is reinforcement ? Why is it provided?

FSI-P-CHME 10