. A mixture of methane and air is capable of being ignited only if the mole percent of methane is between 5% and 15%. A mixture containing 9.0 mole% methane in air flowing at a rate of 7:00 102 kg/h is to be diluted with pure air to reduce the methane concentration to the lower flammability limit. Calculate the required flow rate of air in mol/h and the percent by mass of oxygen in the product gas. (Note: Air may be taken to consist of 21 mole% O2 and 79% N2 and to have an average molecular weight of 29.0.)

A) Mass flow rate of air = 22.892 kmol/hr

B)percentage by mass of oxygen in the product gas = 22.52%

Explanation:

We are given that the mixture containing 9.0 mole% methane in air flowing.

Thus, we have 0.09 mole of methane(CH4) and the remaining will be the air which is (100% - 9%) = 91% = 0.91

Molar mass of CH4 = 12 + 1(4) = 16 g/mol

We are given the average molecular weight of air = 29 g/mol

Thus;

Average molar mass of air and methane mixture is;

M_avg = (0.09 × 16) + (0.91 × 29)

M_avg = 27.83 g/mol

We are told that air flowing at a rate of 7 × 10² kg/h = 700 kg/h

Thus;

Mass flow rate of CH4 in air mixture = 700kg/h × (0.09CH4)/1 mix × (1/27.83kg/kmol) = 2.264 kmol/hr

Mass flow rate of air in mixture = 2.264kmol/h × 0.91kmol air/0.09kmolCH4 = 22.892 kmol/hr

We are told that the mixture is capable of being ignited if the mole percent of methane is between 5% and 15%.

Thus, for 5% of methane, the air required will be;

2.264kmol/h × 0.95kmol air/0.05kmol CH4 = 43.016 kmol/hr

Now, the dilution air needed will be =

43.016 - 22.892 = 20.124 kmol/hr

Total mass flow rate of mixture =

700kg/hr + (20.124kmol/hr × 29kg/mol) = 1283.596 kg/hr

We are told that air consist of 21 mole% Oxygen (O2).

Molar mass of oxygen = 32

Thus;

Mass fraction of oxygen in the product gas = 43.016kmol/h × (0.21molO2/1mol air) × (32kg oxygen/1kmol oxygen) × (1/1283.596kg/h) = 0.2252

Thus, written in percentage form, we have; 22.52%

So, percentage by mass of oxygen in the product gas = 22.52%

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