Advanced Process Engineering Quiz: Chemical Plant Equipment Sizing and
Selection
1. When sizing a centrifugal pump for a chemical process with a volatile liquid, which parameter is most
critical to prevent cavitation?
a) Discharge pressure
b) Net Positive Suction Head Available (NPSHA) [Correct]
c) Impeller diameter
d) Motor horsepower
2. A distillation column with 30 theoretical stages is being designed. If the feed enters at stage 15 and the
reflux ratio is 1.2 times the minimum, which method would be most appropriate for determining the column
diameter?
a) Souders-Brown equation [Correct]
b) Ergun equation
c) Darcy-Weisbach equation
d) Bernoulli equation
3. When selecting a heat exchanger for a highly corrosive fluid, which of the following materials would
typically be most suitable?
a) Carbon steel
b) Stainless steel 304
c) Tantalum or Hastelloy [Correct]
d) Aluminum
4. In designing a fluidized bed reactor, which parameter is most critical for determining the minimum
fluidization velocity?
a) Particle density only
b) Particle size only
c) Both particle size and density [Correct]
d) Reactor diameter
5. A chemical plant requires a reactor for a highly exothermic reaction. Which type of reactor would provide
the best temperature control?
a) Batch reactor
b) Continuous stirred-tank reactor (CSTR)
c) Plug flow reactor (PFR)
d) Multi-tubular fixed bed reactor [Correct]
6. When sizing pressure relief valves for a chemical storage tank, which scenario must be considered for
determining the required relief capacity?
a) Normal operating conditions
b) Startup conditions
c) Fire exposure [Correct]
d) Average flow conditions
7. The turndown ratio of a control valve is defined as:
a) The ratio of maximum to minimum controllable flow rates [Correct]
b) The ratio of inlet to outlet pressure
c) The ratio of valve stem travel to flow rate
d) The ratio of actual to theoretical flow coefficient
8. For a gas-liquid absorption column using random packing, which parameter has the greatest impact on the
required packing height?
a) Column diameter
b) Packing material density
c) Mass transfer coefficient [Correct]
d) Packing cost
9. When selecting an agitator for a mixing vessel containing a high-viscosity polymer solution, which impeller
type would typically be most efficient?
a) Rushton turbine
b) Marine propeller
c) Helical ribbon [Correct]
d) Pitched blade turbine
10. The LMTD correction factor (F) in heat exchanger design accounts for:
a) Fouling on heat transfer surfaces
b) Deviation from true countercurrent flow [Correct]
c) Changes in fluid viscosity with temperature
d) Thermal conductivity of the tube material
11. When sizing a cyclone separator for particulate removal from a gas stream, which parameter has the
strongest influence on collection efficiency for small particles?
a) Inlet gas velocity [Correct]
b) Cyclone diameter
c) Cyclone height
d) Outlet tube diameter
12. A chemical plant needs to select a filter for a slurry with high solids content. Which of the following would
be most appropriate?
a) Cartridge filter
b) Bag filter
c) Plate and frame filter press [Correct]
d) Membrane filter
13. The Baker plot is used in the design of:
a) Distillation columns [Correct]
b) Two-phase flow in horizontal pipes
c) Packed bed reactors
d) Cooling towers
14. When sizing a shell and tube heat exchanger, which configuration would typically provide the highest heat
transfer coefficient for the shell side?
a) No baffles
b) Segmental baffles with 25% cut
c) Helical baffles [Correct]
d) Disk and doughnut baffles
15. For a chemical process requiring precise temperature control, which control valve characteristic would be
most appropriate?
a) Quick opening
b) Linear
c) Equal percentage [Correct]
d) Modified parabolic
16. The Stokes' law is applicable for sizing which type of equipment?
a) Centrifugal pumps
b) Gravity settlers [Correct]
c) Plate heat exchangers
d) Packed columns
17. When designing a fixed bed catalytic reactor, which parameter is most critical for determining the
pressure drop?
a) Catalyst particle shape [Correct]
b) Reactor length to diameter ratio
c) Operating temperature
d) Feed composition
18. A chemical plant is designing a storage tank for a liquid that must be kept at -40°C. Which material would
be most suitable?
a) Carbon steel
b) Austenitic stainless steel [Correct]
c) Aluminum
d) Reinforced concrete
19. The Francis formula is used in the design of:
a) Weirs in separation equipment [Correct]
b) Pump impellers
c) Reactor internals
d) Heat exchanger tube sheets
20. When selecting a compressor for a process gas with varying flow rates, which type would typically offer
the best efficiency across the widest operating range?
a) Reciprocating compressor
b) Centrifugal compressor [Correct]
c) Axial compressor
d) Rotary screw compressor