University of California, Davis

Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science

ECH 158B
Separations and Unit Operations

Ahmet Palazoglu HOMEWORK 1 _______ Winter 2013

1. (20 pts) Find two companies, one manufacturing turbo compressors and the other external gear pumps
for chemical or petrochemical industry applications in the US or Europe. State what specific ISO
certifications (quality and/or environment) that these companies have and provide details (do not choose
a company that does not have such certifications). Include copies of the certificates as attachments if
available. State if they also manufacture to a set of standards/codes and discuss them. Select a specific
product, one from each company, and provide details of its properties and performance and a
specification sheet that would be used for ordering that product. Discuss (and provide examples of) how
each company interacts with its customers during the ordering/specification process (e.g., does it have
interactive software for this purpose?).

(Following is Xiaonan’s solution)

Atlas Copco is an industrial group with world-leading positions in compressors, including turbo
compressors, based in Stockholm, Sweden, and has a global reach spanning more than 170 countries.
Atlas Copco has ISO 14001 for sound environmental practices. Atlas Copco Rental is focused on rental of
Atlas Copco portable air compressors to many different industries. It has been granted triple certification
to ISO 9001:2008, ISO 14001:2004 and OHSAS 18001:2007 for Quality, Environmental and
Occupational Health & Safety Management by Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance (LRQA). Also, all its
oil-free compressor technologies are under new ISO 8573-1 2010 standard. It is the commitment to oil
free technology and to the safety of processes, human beings and the environment.

Consider the Centrifugal Air Turbo Compressors H series as an example. The specification sheet is shown
below.

Technical Specifications

Max. suction pressure 20.3 psi

Max. discharge pressure 435.1 psi

Effective inlet flow range 2061.5 - 25032.5 cfm

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Suction temperature -20.2 - 122 ºF

Stages 1-4

Gases handled Air, Nitrogen

For a specified product such as Centrifugal Gas Compressor for Petrochem, the specifications are given
below.

Registered customers can shop on-line through the on-line store ACConnect and require information
about the products.
http://www.atlascopco.com/usus/News/ProductNews/ISO_8573-1_Ed_3__2010__---_20110408_10_57.aspx
http://www.iso.org/iso/catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber=46418
http://www.atlascopco.com/usus/products/navigationbyproduct/Product.aspx?id=1521440&productgroupid=1401256

Eaton is a global technology company whose products include External Gear Pumps.
It has Quality Management Standard: ISO 9001:2008 and Environmental Management Standard ISO
14001. Also, they follow the National Electric Code (NEC) and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) product
standards such as Article 409 and UL508A.

The certificates are given below:

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Eaton external gear pumps are available in a wide range of standard configurations, including many with
integrated valves and controls. Take the S26 & L2 Aluminum Gear Pumps as an example; the
specifications include (data are based on S26 Pumps):
Displacements from .4 cid [6,6 cc] to 30,6 cm3/r (1.87 in3/r)
Speed Range (max.): 3000–3600 rpm
Rated Pressures: to 207 bar [3000 psi]; intermittent to 241 bar [3500 psi]
The users could contact one of the authorized Distributors. They have Certified Fluid Power Specialists
on staff who can help with the application and troubleshooting the system. Distributor Locator tool is
used to locate authorized Distributors in a specified area.
http://www.eaton.com/Eaton/ProductsServices/Hydraulics/Pumps/ExternalGearPumps/PCT_261918
http://www.eaton.com/Eaton/OurCompany/DoingBusiness/BuyingFromUs/index.htm

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2. (10 pts) Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) is manufactured by the dehydrogenation of 2-butanol using a shell-
and-tube reactor. Flue gases are used for heating and pass through the tubes. The flue gases will contain
traces of sulfur dioxide. The reaction products include hydrogen. The reaction takes place in the shell at a
pressure of 3 bar and temperature of 500OC. Select suitable materials for the tubes and shell. Provide a
detailed justification for your recommendations.

Solution:
To choose the materials for the tubes, the tubes should be resistant to sulfur dioxide (may also mixed with
water vapor), methyl ethyl ketone, 2-butanol and hydrogen as well as behaving well under high
temperature and high pressure.
Nonmetals do not exchange heat well; so they are not appropriate to be used as the materials for tubes.
For metals, the iron and carbon steels are not resistant to corrosion caused by the sulfur dioxide unless
they are alloyed. Copper and its alloys cannot be used due to the high temperature.
The stainless steels are the most frequently used corrosion-resistant materials. Also, they have good
behavior under high temperature and pressure
Aluminum and its alloys resist acid attacks by a passive aluminum oxide layer, so they can also be
chosen. Considering hydrogen embrittlement, alloyed steels are better to be used. However the price of
aluminum and its alloys is relatively high.
Copper and its alloys can also be used for the similar reasons.
Decision: The carbon steel with alloys, the stainless steels, aluminum and its alloys and copper and
its alloys can be used as the materials for the tubes. Considering the high price for alloys, the stainless
steels may be the best choice.

To choose the materials for the shell, the shell should be resistant to methyl ethyl ketone, 2-butanol and
hydrogen, working well under high temperature and high pressure. Also the heat conductivity needs to be
limited to save energy (insulation).
The iron and carbon steels with alloying can be used but the better choices would be stainless steels.
Organic nonmetals cannot be used under such a high temperature.
Decision: Copper alloys and alloyed steels can be used as the materials for the tubes. Considering the
high price for alloys, the stainless steels may be the best choice

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3. (10 pts) Problem 10-5 from PTW.
Six tanks of different construction materials and six different materials to be stored in these tanks are
listed in the following columns:

Solution:

Tanks Material
Brass-lined Water
Carbon-steel 98% Sulfuric acid – Strong acids form protective coating
Concrete 20% Hydrochloric acid – Highly corrosive, strong mineral acid
Nickel-lined 10% Caustic soda – High corrosion resistance to alkalies
Stainless steel type 316 75% Phosphoric acid – Weak acid
Wood Vinegar

References:
Plant Design and Economics for Chemical Engineers, M.S. Peters, K.D. Timmerhaus, R.E. West, 5th
Edition, (2003).
Chemical Engineering Design: Principles, Practice and Economics of Plant and Process Design, G.
Towler, R. Sinnott, (2008).