2/15/25, 8:39 PM GATE – 2000

Topic-Wise Distribution of GATE Questions

CH: Chemical Engineering Syllabus:

Section 2A: Process Calculations

Steady and unsteady state mass and energy balances including multiphase, multi-component, reacting and
non- reacting systems. Use of tie components; recycle, bypass and purge calculations; Gibb’s phase rule and
degree of freedom analysis.

[Link] [Link] [Link] [Link]

Topic 01: Steady and unsteady state mass and energy balances including multiphase, multi-component,
reacting and non- reacting systems

Gate 1990 Q 1(i)

A mixture of ethylacetate vapor and air has a relative saturation of 50 percent at 30°C and a total pressure
of 100 kN/m2. If the vapor pressure of ethylacetate at 30°C is 16 kN / m2,

(a). The percentage of air is ……………….

(b). The molal saturation is ………………..

Gate 1990 Q1(ii)

The following data on heats of combustion at 25°C are given …
Compound Heat of combustion at 25°C
--------------- -----------------------------------
n-Heptane C7H16 (g) - 4850 kJ / mol
Ethyl Alcohol C2H5OH (g) - 1410 kJ / mol
Heats of formation of CO2 (g) and H2O (l) are -380 kJ / mol and –280 kJ / mol respectively.

(a). The heat of formation of gaseous n-Heptane at 25°C is …………

(b). The heat of formation of gaseous Ethyl Alcohol at 25°C is ………

Gate 1990 Q11i

Pure propane (C3H8) is burnt in an excess of air to give following analysis of combustion products in volume
percent:
CO2 = 5.0, CO = 3.5, H2 O = 11.4, O2 = 7.0 and N2 = 73.1
Calculate the percentage of excess air used.

Gate 1991 2(i)

A wet paper pulp contains 75% water. After 100 kg of water removed in a dryer, it is found that the pulp is
now containing 30% water. The weight of the original pulp is --------------------.

Gate 1991 2(iii)

H2S is produced from the reaction, FeS + 2HCl àFeCl2+ H2S; 120 kg of FeS react with 150 kg of HCl and 0.5
kmol of H2S has been produced. The degree of completion of the reaction --------------------- and the limiting
reactant is ----------------------.

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Gate 1991 2(iv)

The heat absorbed for isothermal reaction,C4H10 (g) àC2H4 (g) + C2H6 (g); at 298 K and 1 atm pressure is --
------------------. Standard heat of combustion, kJ /mol: C4H10 (g) = -2873.5; C2H4 (g) = -1411.80 ,C2H6 (g) =
-1561.0

Gate 1991 12 (ii)

Limestone mixed with coke is being burnt kiln. An average analysis of the limestone is CaCO3: 84.5%,
MgCO3:11.5% and the rest inert. The coke contains 76% carbon, 21% ash and 3% moisture. The calcinations
of CaCO3 is only 95% complete and that of MgCO3 90%. The carbon in the coke is completely burnt to CO2.
The kiln is fed with 1 kg of coke per 5 kg limestone. Calculate weight percent CaO in the product leaving the
kiln.

Gate 1992 2(a)

It is desired to make 100 kg of a solution containing 40% salt by mixing solution A containing 25% salt and
solution B containing 50% salt. The mass in kg of solution A required is _____________.

Gate 1992 2(b)

1.2 g atoms of carbon and 1.5 g moles of oxygen are reacted to give 1 g mole of carbon dioxide. The limiting
reactant is ______________. The percent excess reactant supplied is _____________.

Gate 1992 Q 11
The concentration of SO2 in the flue gases from a boiler was found to be 0.2 kg/m3 at N.T.P. Determine the
concentration of SO2 in parts per million at N.T.P. Assume that the gases are perfect.
[Link] [Link] [Link] [Link]

Gate 1992 12(a)

The analysis of the gas entering the secondary converter in a contact Sulphuric acids plant 4% SO2, 13% O2
and 83% N2 (volume %). In the converter SO2 is oxidized to SO3. The gases leaving converter 0.45% SO2 on
an SO3 – free basis (volume %). Calculate the percent conversion of SO2.

Gate 1992 12 (b)

Dry methane is burned with dry air. Both are at 25° C initially. The flame temperature is 1300 °C . If
complete combustion is assumed how much excess air is being used? The reaction is, CH4 + 2O2à CO2 +
2H2O.
Standard heat of reaction = - 8.028´105 J/g mole of CH4 reacted. Mean molal specific heat of gases
between 25° C and 1300° are in J/(g mole) ( K).

CO2 = 51.88 H2O = 40.45

O2 = 34.01 N2 = 32.21

Gate 1993 2(a)

1000 kg of a solution containing 50% by weight of a salt dissolved in it is cooled. 400 kg of anhydrous salt is
separated out. The solubility of the salt at the lower temperature is kg/100 kg of water is, [2]

(A) 80
(B) 50
(C) 40
(D) 20

Gate 1993 2(b)

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Methane is completely burned with air. The maximum possible volume percent of carbon dioxide (on dry
basis) in the flue gases is,

(A) 11.7
(B) 21.0
(C) 44.0
(D) 28.0

Gate 1993 Q 12
Iron pyrites (FeS2 ) is burned with air in 100% excess of that required to oxidize all iron to Fe2O3 and all
sulphur to sulphur dioxide. Calculate the composition of exit gases, if 80% of sulphur is oxidized to sulphur
trioxide and the rest to sulphur dioxide. All iron is oxidized to Fe2O3

Gate 1994 Q 8
The heat reaction at 300 K and at one atmosphere pressure for the following gas phase reaction:A + 3B à
C; is -50,000 calories per mole of A converted. Data on the molar heat capacity at constant pressure
(cal/mol.K) of the various components are:

Cp for A = -0.4 + 80 x 10-3 T, T in K

Cp for B = 7
Cp for C = 26
Calculate the heat of reaction at 500 K and at one atmosphere pressure.

Gate 1995 Q 2(e)

An evaporator while concentrating an aqueous solution from 10 to 40% solids evaporates 30000 kg of
water. The amount of solids handled by the system in kgs is –
(A) 4000 (B) 9000
(C) 4600 (D) 3000

Gate 1995 2(f)

1000 kg of wet solids are to be dried from 60% to 20% moisture (by weight). The mass of moisture
removed in kg is –

(A) 520 (B) 200

(C) 400 (D) 500

Gate 1995 Q 2(g)

Assuming that CO2 obeys perfect gas low, calculate the density of CO2 (in kg/m3, at 2630C and 2 atm.

(A) 1 (B) 2
(C) 3 (D) 4

Gate 1995 2(h)

Pure O2 is mixed with air to produce an enriched air containing 50 volume % of O2. The ratio of moles of air
to O2 used is –

(A) 1.72 (B) 0.58

(C) 0.5 (D) 0.2

Gate 1995 Q 11
The Orsat analysis of a flue gas is
CO2 12.7%

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O2 7.1%
N2 80.2%
Determine the percent excess air used in the combustion. The nitrogen present in the flue gas is
contributed by air only.

Gate 1995 Q 12
Pure CO is mixed with 100% excess air and burnt. Only 80% of CO burns. The reactants are at 100 0C and
the products are at 300 0C. Calculate the amount of heat added or removed per kg mole of CO fed to the
reactor.
Data : Mean molal specific heats between 250C and T0C (given below) in KJ/[Link].K are –
[Link] [Link] [Link] [Link]

Gas T = 1000C T = 3000C

CO 29.22 30.61
CO2 -- 43.77
O2 29.64 30.99
N2 29.17 29.66

Standard heat of formation at 250C in KJ/kg mole are –

CO : -110524 CO2 : -393514

Gate 1995 Q 13
Bituminous coal with a calorific value of 20000 kJ/kg is used for generating steam in a boiler. How much
coal has to be burnt to generate 1 MW of energy. Efficiency of combustion is 0.75. How much air is needed
if 50% excess air is to be used. Assume that coal contains 87% carbon and 33% ash.

Gate 1996 Q 2.17

In a mixture of benzene vapour and nitrogen gas at a total pressure of 900 mm Hg, if the absolute
humidity of benzene is 0.2 kg benzene/kg nitrogen, the partial pressure of benzene in mm Hg is :

a. 180 b. 60.3
c. 720 d. 200

Gate 1996 Q 11
A hydrocarbon is burnt with excess air. The Orsat analysis of the flue gas shows 10.81 % CO2, 3.78 % O2 and
85.45 % N2. Calculate the atomic ratio of C : H in the hydrocarbon and the % excess air.

Gate 1997 Q 2.4

Pure carbon is completely burnt in oxygen. The flue gas analysis is 70% CO2, 20% CO and 10% O2. The
percent excess oxygen used is

A) 20 B) 12.5
C) 0 D) 10

Gate 1997 Q 13
. A feed at 1298 K, consisting of flue gas (CO2, O2 and N2) and air, is passed through a bed of pure carbon.
The two reactions that occur both go to completion

CO2 (g) + C(s) à2CO (g), ∆HR0 at 298 K = 170 kJ/mol

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O2 (g) + 2C(s)à2CO (g), ∆HR0 at 298 K = -220.4 kJ/mol

[Link] [Link] [Link] [Link]

The combustor is adiabatic and the product gases exit at 1298 K. Calculate the required moles of CO2 per
mol of O2 in the feed stream, so that the net heat generated is zero and the bed temperature remains
constant at 1298 K.

Data : Mean Molar Heat Capacities, Cpm

Substance Cpm, kJ/(mol)(K)
C 0.02
O2 0.03
CO 0.03
CO2 0.05

Gate 1998 Q 2.7

A sample of well water contains 140 g/m3 Ca2+ ions and 345 g/m3 Na+ ions. The hardness of the sample of
water expressed in terms of equivalent CaCO3 in g/m3 [assuming atomic masses of Ca : 40, Na : 23, C : 12
and O : 16 ] is

A) 350 B) 485 C) 140 D) 345

Gate 1999 Q 1.5

A solution of specific gravity 1.0 consists of 35% A by weight and the remaining B. If the specific gravity; of
A is 0.7, the specific gravity of B is

A) 1.25 B) 1.3 C) 1.35 D) 1.2

Gate 1999 Q 1.6

Pure A in gas phase enters a reactor. 50% of this A is converted to B through the reaction A à3B. Mole
fraction of A in the exit stream is

A) 1/2 B) 1/3 C) 1/4 D) 1/5

Gate 1999 Q 7
CaCO3 slurry has to be dried. The drier is designed to remove 100 kg moisture per hour. Air at 20 0C and
40% relative humidity, enters the drier and leaves at 65 0C and 65% relative humidity. What is the weight
(in kg) of bone-dry air required per hour ? The atmospheric pressure is 103 kPa. If the humidity of the air
entering the drier can be varied, what is the minimum amount of dry air required ? The constants for
Antoine equation for vapour pressure of water in mm Hg may be taken as A = 18.306, B = 3816.44, and C =
-46.13.

Gate 2000 Q 1.7

The molar composition of a gas is 10% H2, 10% O2, 30% CO2 and balance H2O. If 50% H2O condenses, the
final mole percent of H2 in the gas on a dry basis will be

A) 10 %, B) 5 %, C) 18.18 %, D) 20 %,
[Link] [Link] [Link] [Link]

Gate 2001 Q 1.5

For the case of a fuel gas undergoing combustion with air, if the air/fuel ratio is increased, the adiabatic
flame temperature will

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A) increase B) decrease
C) increase or decrease depending on the fuel type D) not change

Gate 2001 Q 2.3

A butane isomerization process produces 70 kmol/h of pure isobutane. A purge stream removed
continuously contains 85% n butane and 15% impurity (mole %). The feed stream is n-butane containing
1% impurity (mole %). The flow rate of the purge stream will be

A) 3 kmol/h B) 4 kmol/h C) 5 kmol/h D) 6 kmol/h

Gate 2002 Q 2.11

Fresh orange juice contains 12% (by weight) solids and the rest water. 90% of the fresh juice is sent to an
evaporator to remove water and subsequently mixed with the remaining 10% of fresh juice. The resultant
product contains 40% solids. The kg of water removed from 1 kg fresh juice is

A) 0.4 B) 0.5 C) 0.6 D) 0.7

Gate 2002 Q 2.12

1 kg of saturated aqueous solution of a highly soluble component A at 600C is cooled to 250C. The solubility
limits of A are (0.6 kg A)/(kg water) at 600C and (0.2 kg A)/(kg water) at 250C. The amount, is kgs, of the
crystals formed is

A) 0.4 B) 0.25 C) 0.2 D) 0.175

Gate 2003 Q 38
6 g of carbon is burnt with an amount of air containing 18 g oxygen. The product contain 16.5 g CO2 and
2.8 g CO besides other constituents. What is the degree of conversion on the basis of disappearance of the
limiting reactant ?

a) 100% b) 95 % c) 75 % d) 20 %
Gate 2003 Q 39
An aqueous solution of 2.45% by weight H2SO4 has a specific gravity of 1.011. The composition expressed
in normality is

a) 0.2500 b) 0.2528 c) 0.5000 d) 0.5055

Gate 2003 Q 40
Air at a temperature of 200C & 750 mm Hg pressure has a relative humidity of 80%. What is its percentage
humidity ? Vapour pressure of water at 200C is 17.5 mm Hg.

[Link] [Link] [Link] [Link]

a) 80.38 b) 80 c) 79.62 d) 78.51

Gate 2003 Q 41
Na2SO4, 10 H2O crystals are formed by cooling 100 kg of 30% by weight aqueous solution of Na2SO4. The
final concentration of the solute in the solution is 10%. The weight of crystals is

a) 20 b) 32.2 c) 45.35 d) 58.65

Gate 2003 Q 42

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A sample of natural gas containing 80% Methane (CH4 ) and the rest Nitrogen (N2 ) is burnt with 20% excess
air. With 80% of the combustibles producing CO2 and the remainder going to CO the Orsat analysis in
volume percent is

a) CO2 : 6.26 CO : 1.56 O2 : 3.91 H20 : 15.66 N2 : 72.60

b) CO2 : 7.42 CO : 1.86 O2 : 4.64 N2 : 86.02
c) CO2 : 6.39 CO : 1.60 O2 : 3.99 H20 : 15.96 N2 : 72.06
d) CO2 : 7.60 CO : 1.90 O2 : 4.75 N2 : 85.74

Gate 2003 Q 43
Heat capacity of air can be approximately expresses as Cp = 26.693 + 7.365 x 10-3 T where Cp is in J/(mol)(K)
and T is in K. The heat given off by 1 mole of air when cooled at 1 atmospheric pressure from 5000C to
-1000C is

a) 10.73 kJ b) 16.15 kJ c) 18.11 kJ d) 18.33 kJ

Gate 2004 Q 6
The weight fraction of methanol in an aqueous solution is 0.64. The mole fraction of methanol XM
satisfies.

(A) XM< 0.5 (B) XM = 0.5

(C) 0.5 < XM< 0.64 (D) XM> 0.64

Gate 2004 Q 39
80 kg of Na2SO4 (molecular weight = 142) is present in 330 kg of an aqueous solution. The solution is
cooled such that 80 kg of Na2SO4. 10 H2O crystals separate out. The weight fraction of Na2SO4 in the
remaining solution is

(A) 0.00 (B) 0.18 (C) 0.24 (D) 1.00

Gate 2004 Q 40 and Q 41

Q. 40-41 are based on the data supplied in the paragraph below
One mole of methane undergoes complete combustion in a stoichiometric amount of air. The reaction
proceeds as CH4 + 2O2àCO2 + 2H2O. Both the reactants and the products are in gas phase.
∆ H0298 = - 730 kJ/mol of methane.

40. Mole fraction of water vapour in the product gases is about

(A) 0.19 (B) 0.33 (C) 0.40 (D) 0.67

41. If the average specific heat of all the gases/vapour is 40 J/(mol k), the maximum temperature rise of
the exhaust gases in 0C would be approximately equal to

(A) 1225 (B) 1335 (C) 1525 (D) 1735

Gate 2004 Q 42
A vessel of volume 1000 m3 contains air which is saturated with water vapour. The total pressure and
temperature are 100 kPa and 200C, respectively. Assuming that the vapour pressure of water at 200C is
2.34 kPa, the amount of water vapour (in kg) in the vessel is approximately

(A) 17 (B) 20 (C) 25 (D) 34

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Gate 2007 Q 80 and 81

Statement for Linked Answer Questions 80 &81 :

80. 44 kg of C3H8 is burnt with 1160 kg of air (Mol. Wt. = 29) to produce 88 kg of CO2 and 14 kg of CO
[Link] [Link] [Link] [Link]

C3H8 + 5 O2 = 3 CO2 + 4 H2O

What is the percent excess air used ?

A) 55 B) 60 C) 65 D) 68

81. What is the % carbon burnt ?

A) 63.3 B) 73.3 C) 83.3 D) 93.3

Gate 2008 Q 31
Air (79 mole % nitrogen and 21 mole % oxygen) is passed over a catalyst at high temperature. Oxygen
completely reacts with nitrogen as shown below ,
0.5 N2(g) + 0.5 O2(g) → NO (g)
0.5 N2(g) + O2(g) → NO 2(g)
The molar ratio of NO to NO2 in the product stream is 2:1. The fractional conversion of nitrogen is

A) 0.13 B) 0.20 C) 0.27 D) 0.40

Gate 2008 Q 32
A 35 wt% Na2SO4 solution in water, initially at 50°C, is fed to a crystallizer at 20°C. The product stream
contains hydrated crystals Na2SO4.10H2O in equilibrium with a 20 wt% Na2SO4 solution. The molecular
weights of Na2SO4 and Na2SO4.10H2O are 142 and 322, respectively. The feed rate of the 35% solution
required to produce 500 kg/hr of hydrated crystals is

A) 403 kg/ha B) 603 kg/hr C) 803 kg/hr D) 1103 kg/hr

Gate 2008 Q 33
600 kg/hr of saturated steam at 1 bar (enthalpy 2675.4 kJ/kg) is mixed adiabatically with superheated
steam at 450°C and 1 bar (enthalpy 3382.4 kJ/kg). The product is superheated steam at 350°C and 1 bar
(enthalpy 3175.6 kJ/kg). The flow rate of the product is

A) 711 kg/ha B) 1111 kg/hr C) 1451 kg/hr D) 2051 kg/hr

Gate 2008 Q 71, 72 and 73

Common Data for Questions 71, 72 and 73 :
Methane and steam are fed to a reactor in molar ratio 1 : 2. The following reactions take place,

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CH4(g) + 2H2O(g)→CO2(g)+ 4H2(g)

CH4(g) + H2O(g)→CO(g) + 3H2(g)

where CO2 is the desired product, CO is the undesired product and H2 is a byproduct. The exit stream has
the following composition

Species CH4 H 2O CO2 H2 CO

Mole % 4.35 10.88 15.21 67.39 2.17

71. The selectivity for desired product relative to undesired product is

A) 2.3 B) 3.5 C) 7 D) 8

72. The fractional yield of CO2 is (where fractional yield is defined as the ratio of moles of the desired
product formed to the moles that would have been formed if there were no side reactions and the limiting
reactant had reacted completely)

A) 0.7 B) 0.88 C) 1 D) 3.5

73. The fractional conversion of methane is

A) 0.4 B) 0.5 C) 0.7 D) 0.8

Gate 2010 Q 32
A saturated solution at 30°C contains 5 moles of solute (M.W.=50 kg/kmol) per kg of solvent (M.W.=20
kg/kmol). The solubility at 100°C is 10 moles of the solute per kg of the solvent. If 10 kg of the original
solution is heated to 100°C, then the weight of the additional solute that can be dissolved in it, is

(A) 0.25 kg (B) 1 kg (C) 2 kg (D) 3.34 kg

Gate 2010 Q 33
The products of combustion of methane in atmospheric air (21% O2 and 79% N2) have the following
composition on a dry basis :

Products Mole %
CO2 10.00
O2 2.37
CO 0.53
N2 87.10

The ratio of the moles of CH4 to the moles of O2 in the feed stream is

(A) 1.05 (B) 0.60 (C) 0.51 (D) 0.45

Gate 2011 Q 32
The following combustion reactions occur when methane is burnt.

CH4 + 2 O2 → CO2 + 2 H2O

2 CH4 + 3 O2→ 2 CO + 4 H2O

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20 % excess air is supplied to the combustor. The conversion of methane is 80 % molar ratio of CO to CO2 in
the flue gas is 1 : 3. Assume air to have 80 mol % N2 and rest O2. The O2 consumed as a PERCENTAGE of O2
entering the combustor is

[Link] [Link] [Link] [Link]

(A) 20 (B) 62.5 (C) 80 (D) 83.3

Gate 2014 Q 42
Carbon monoxide (CO) is burnt in presence of 200% excess pure oxygen and the flame temperature
achieved is 2298 K. The inlet streams are at 25 °C. The standard heat of formation (at 25 °C) of CO and CO2
are -110 kJ mol-1 and -390 kJ mol-1, respectively. The heat capacities (in J mol-1 K-1) of the components are

C pO2 =25+14×10−3T
C pCO2 =25+42×10−3T

where, T is the temperature in K. The heat loss (in kJ) per mole of CO burnt is:

(A) 10.62 (B) 24.62 (C) 27.62 (D) 34.62

Gate 2016 Q 11
A binary liquid mixture of benzene and toluene contains 20 mol% of benzene. At 350 K the vapour
pressures of pure benzene and pure toluene are 92 kPa and 35 kPa, respectively. The mixture follows
Raoult’s law. The equilibrium vapor phase mole fraction (rounded off to the second decimal place) of
benzene in contact with this liquid mixture at 350 K is _______

Gate 2016 Q 55
A catalytic reforming plant produces hydrogen and benzene from cyclohexane by de-hydroaromatization. In
order to increase the production of hydrogen, the owner plans to change the process to steam reforming of
the same feedstock that produces hydrogen and carbon dioxide. Stoichiometrically, what is the maximum
ratio of pure hydrogen produced in the proposed process to that in the existing process?

(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 5 (D) 6

Gate 2017 Q 30
An aqueous salt-solution enters a crystallizer operating at steady state at 25oC. The feed temperature is
90oC and the salt concentration in the feed is 40 weight %. The salt crystallizes as a pentahydrate. The
crystals and the mother liquor leave the crystallizer. The molecular weight of the anhydrous salt is 135. The
solubility of the salt at 25oC is 20 weight %. The feed flowrate required for a production rate of 100 kg/s of
the hydrated salt, rounded to the nearest integer, is ___________ kg/s.

Gate 2018 Q 24
The ammonia (NH3) oxidation process occurs over a catalyst as

4NH3 +5O2 à 6H2O + 4NO

Air is supplied such that oxygen (O2) is 20% in excess of that required for complete conversion of NH3. The
mole fraction of O2 in inlet gas mixture (NH3 + air) is ______ (rounded off to third decimal place)
[Link] [Link] [Link] [Link]

Gate 2020 Q 32

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A tank initially contains a gas mixture with 21 mol % oxygen and 79 mol %nitrogen. Pure nitrogen enters the
tank, and a gas mixture of nitrogen andoxygen exits the tank. The molarflow rate of both the inlet and exit
streams is8 mol s-1.

In addition, use the following data and assumptions

• Assume the tank contents to be well mixed

• Assume ideal gas behavior
• The temperature and pressure inside the tank are held constant
• Molar density of the gas mixture in the tank is constant at 40 mol m-3

If the volume of the tank is 20 m3 then the time (in seconds) required foroxygen content in the tank to
decrease to 1 mol % is

(A) 100.45
(B) 304.45
(C) 3.445
(D) 10

Gate 2021 Q 3
The heat of combustion of methane, carbon monoxide and hydrogen are 𝑷, 𝑸and 𝑹respectively. For the
reaction below,
CH4 +H2O⎯⎯→CO+3H2
the heat of reaction is given by

(A) 𝑃−𝑄−3𝑅
(B) 𝑄+3𝑅−𝑃
(C) 𝑃−𝑄−𝑅
(D) 𝑄+𝑅−𝑃

Gate 2021 Q37

Formaldehyde is produced by the oxidation of methane in a reactor. The following two parallel reactions
occur.

CH4 +O2 ⎯⎯→HCHO+H O

2
CH +2O2 ⎯⎯→CO +2H O
4 2 2

Methane and oxygen are fed to the reactor. The product gases leaving the reactor include methane, oxygen,
formaldehyde, carbon dioxide and water vapor.
–1 –1
60 mol s of methane enters the reactor. The molar flowrate (in mol s ) of CH4, O2 and CO2 leaving the
reactor are 26, 2 and 4, respectively. The molar flowrate of oxygen entering the reactor is
_______________ mol s-1

Gate 2023 Q 32

Burning of methane in a combustor yields carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and water vapor. Methane is
fed to the combustor at 100 mol. hr−1, of which 50 % reacts. The theoretical oxygen requirement (in mol.
hr−1) is ________ (rounded off to one decimal place).

Gate 2023 Q 49
Wet air containing 10 mole percent water vapor is dried by continuously passing it through a column of
CaCl2 pellets. The pellets remove 50 percent of water from wet air entering the column. The mole percent

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of water vapor in the product stream exiting the column is ___________ (rounded off to two decimal
places).

Gate 2023 Q 50
Orsat analysis showing the composition (in mol %, on a dry basis) of a stack gas is given in the table below.
The humidity measurement reveals that the mole fraction of H2O in the stack gas is 0.07. The mole fraction
of N2 calculated on a wet basis is ________ (rounded off to two decimal places).

Gate 2024 Q 31

Consider the reaction N 2 (g) + 3H2 (g) ⇌ 2N H3 (g) in a continuous flow reactor under steady-state
conditions. The component flow rates at the reactor inlet are F 0
N2
= 100 mol s-1, F 0
H2
= 300 mol s-1
and F 0
= 1 mol s-1. If the fractional conversion of H2 is 0.60, the outlet flow rate of N2 in mol s-1 ,
inert

rounded off to the nearest integer, is _________

Gate 2024 Q 54

Consider the process in the figure for manufacturing B. The feed to the process is 90 mol% A and a
close-boiling inert component I. At a particular steady-state:

B product rate is 100 kmol h-1

Single-pass conversion of A in the reactor is 50%
Recycle-to-purge stream flow ratio is 10

The flow rate of A in the purge stream in kmol h-1, rounded off to 1 decimal place, is _____

Gate 2024 Q 55

Methane combusts with air in a furnace as CH4 + 2O2 → CO2 + 2H2O. The heat of reaction ΔH rxn

= −880 kJ per mol CH4 and is assumed to be constant. The furnace is well-insulated and no other side
reactions occur. All components behave as ideal gases with a constant molar heat capacity of 44 J
mol-1 0C-1. Air may be considered as 20 mol% O2 and 80 mol% N2. The air-fuel mixture enters the
furnace at 50 0C. The methane conversion X varies with the air-to-methane mole ratio, r, as
−2(r−rs )
X = 1 − 0.1 e

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with 0.9 r s ≤ r ≤ 1.1 rs where rs is the stoichiometric air-to-methane mole ratio. For rs = 1.05 r, the
exit flue gas temperature in 0C, rounded off 1 decimal place, is ________________

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