708 Chapter 12 Ideal Gas Mixture and Psychrometric Applications
Next, we consider two examples illustrating, respectively, the conversion from an analy-
sis in terms of mole fractions to an analysis in terms of mass fractions, and conversely.
Converting Mole Fractions to Mass Fractions
c c c c EXAMPLE 12.1 c
Determine the mass, in kg, of CO
2
in 0.5 kmol of mixture.
Ans. 1.76 kg.
The molar analysis of the gaseous products of combustion of a certain hydrocarbon fuel is CO
2
, 0.08; H
2
O, 0.11;
O
2
, 0.07; N
2
, 0.74. (a) Determine the apparent molecular weight of the mixture. (b) Determine the composition
in terms of mass fractions (gravimetric analysis).
SOLUTION
Known:
The molar analysis of the gaseous products of combustion of a hydrocarbon fuel is given.
Find: Determine (a) the apparent molecular weight of the mixture, (b) the composition in terms of mass fractions.
Analysis:
(a) Using Eq. 12.9 and molecular weights (rounded) from Table A-1
M 5 0.0814421 0.1111821 0.0713221 0.741282
5 28.46 kg
/
kmol 5 28.46 lb
/
lbmol
(b) Equations 12.1, 12.3, and 12.6 are the key relations required to determine the composition in terms of mass
fractions.
➊ Although the actual amount of mixture is not known, the calculations can be based on any convenient
amount. Let us base the solution on 1 kmol of mixture. Then, with Eq. 12.6 the amount n
i
of each component
present in kmol is numerically equal to the mole fraction, as listed in column (ii) of the accompanying table.
Column (iii) of the table gives the respective molecular weights of the components.
Column (iv) of the table gives the mass m
i
of each component, in kg per kmol of mixture, obtained with
Eq. 12.1 in the form m
i
5 M
i
n
i
. The values of column (iv) are obtained by multiplying each value of column
(ii) by the corresponding value of column (iii). The sum of the values in column (iv) is the mass of the mixture:
kg of mixture per kmol of mixture. Note that this sum is just the apparent mixture molecular weight determined
in part (a). Finally, using Eq. 12.3, column (v) gives the mass fractions as a percentage. The values of column
(v) are obtained by dividing the values of column (iv) by the column (iv) total and multiplying by 100.
➊ If the solution to part (b) were conducted on the basis of some other assumed amount of mixture—for exam-
ple, 100 kmol or 100 lbmol—the same result for the mass fractions would be obtained, as can be verified.
Ability to…
❑
calculate the apparent
molecular weight with known
mole fractions.
❑
determine the gravimetric
analysis given the molar analysis.
✓
Skills Developed
(i) (ii)* (iii) (iv)** (v)
Component n
i
3 M
i
5 m
i
mf
i
%
CO
2
0.08 3 44 5 3.52 12.37
H
2
O 0.11 3 18 5 1.98 6.96
O
2
0.07 3 32 5 2.24 7.87
N
2
0.74 3 28 5 20.72 72.80
1.00 28.46 100.00
*Entries in this column have units of kmol per kmol of mixture. For example, the first entry
is 0.08 kmol of CO
2
per kmol of mixture.
**Entries in this column have units of kg per kmol of mixture. For example, the first entry
is 3.52 kg of CO
2
per kmol of mixture. The column sum, 28.46, has units of kg of mixture
per kmol of mixture.
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