BMED 2210

Procedure for energy balance calculations without reactions

1. Perform any required mass balances calculations
2. Write the appropriate simplified energy balance for the system. Delete any terms that
are zero or negligible.
3. Choose a reference state (temperature, pressure, and phase) for each species involved
in the process. If the specific enthalpy or internal energy for a species will be looked up
in a table, choose the reference state used to generate the table. Otherwise, choose
one of the inlet or outlet states as the reference state so that at least one of the specific
enthalpies or internal energies will be equal to zero.
4. Construct a table. For a closed system, make columns for the initial and final amounts
of each species (mass or mols) and specific internal energies relative to their ref states.
For an open system, make columns for inlet and outlet stream component flow rates
(mass or molar flow rates) and specific enthalpies relative to their ref states.
5. Calculate all required values of specifc internal energy or enthalpy and insert the values
in the table.
6. Calculate the change in internal energy or enthalpy for the system.
7. Calculate any work, kinetic energy, or potential energy terms that remain in the simplified
energy balance.
8. Solve the energy balance for whichever variable is unknown (often this is Q).
You are encouraged to take the time to follow each step, even though some parts may not be
completely clear as of yet. The better you understand this procedure, the easier it will be for
you to solve energy balance problems with or without reactions.

Procedure for energy balance calculations with reactions

Heat of formation method
This method is generally preferable for multiple reactions and single reactions for which the
standard heat of reaction is not readily available.
1. Perform any required mass balances calculations.
2. Write the appropriate simplified energy balance for the system. Delete any terms that
are zero or negligible.
3. Choose reference states for enthalpy calculations. THE REF STATES CHOSEN ARE
DIFFERENT THAN THOSE CHOSEN WHEN USING THE HEAT OF REACTION
METHOD. For reacting species the choice should be the elemental species that
constitute the reactants and products in the states in which the elements are found at
25C and 1 atm (C(s), H2(g), etc]. For nonreacting species choose one of the inlet or
outlet states as the reference state so that at least one of the specific enthalpies or
internal energies will be equal to zero.
4. Construct a table that includes columns for 1) species name/chemical formula, 2) the ref
states chosen for each species, and then for each stream the 3) mass or molar flow rate
and the 4) specific enthalpy as calculated relative to the ref state. It is useful to also
include a column for the 5) total enthalpy, which would be the product of columns 3 and
4. Clearly label the columns with symbols for mass or molar flow rate and specific
enthalpy, and include the units in the columns label.
5. Calculate each unknown stream component specific enthalpy as the change in specific
enthalpy for the species going from its reference state to the process state, and insert
the enthalpies in the table.
6. Calculate the change of enthalpy ( H& ) for the reactor.

H& = n& out H out n& in H in

Note: THIS FORMULA FOR THE CHANGE OF ENTHALPY FOR THE REACTOR IS
DIFFERENT THAN THE FORMULA USED WITH THE HEAT OF REACTION METHOD.
7. Substitute the calculated value of H& in the energy balance equation and complete the
required calculations.

Heat of reaction method

This method is generally preferable when there is a single reaction for which the standard heat
of reaction is known.
1. Perform any required mass balances calculations.
2. Write the appropriate simplified energy balance for the system. Delete any terms that
are zero or negligible.
3. Choose reference states for enthalpy calculations. THE REF STATES CHOSEN ARE
DIFFERENT THAN THOSE CHOSEN WHEN USING THE HEAT OF FORMATION
METHOD. For reacting species, the best choices are generally reactant and product
species at 25C and 1 atm in the states for which the heat of reaction is known. For
nonreacting species choose one of the inlet or outlet states as the reference state so
that at least one of the specific enthalpies or internal energies will be equal to zero.
4. For a single reaction in a continuous process, calculate the extent of reaction (). To do
this, use any reactant or product for which the feed and product flow rates are known.

n A,out n A,in

Where A is the stoichiometric coefficient of species A (recall that by definition, the

stoichiometric coefficient of a reactant is negative).
5. Construct a table that includes columns for 1) species name/chemical formula, 2) the ref
states chosen for each species, and then for each stream the 3) mass or molar flow rate
and the 4) specific enthalpy as calculated relative to the ref state. It is useful to also
include a column for the 5) total enthalpy, which would be the product of columns 3 and
4. Clearly label the columns with symbols for mass or molar flow rate and specific
enthalpy, and include the units in the columns label.
6. Calculate each unknown stream component specific enthalpy as the change in specific
enthalpy for the species going from its reference state to the process state, and insert
the enthalpies in the table.
7. Calculate the change of enthalpy ( H& ) for the reactor.
o
H& = &H rxn
+ n& out H out n& in H in

H& =

& H
j

reactions

o
rxn , j

+ n& out H out n& in H in

(single reaction)
(multiple reactions)

THIS FORMULA FOR THE CHANGE OF ENTHALPY FOR THE REACTOR IS

DIFFERENT THAN THE FORMULA USED WITH THE HEAT OF FORMATION
METHOD.
8. Substitute the calculated value of H& in the energy balance equation and complete the
required calculations.