Mass Balances using

Microsoft Excel Spreadsheets

EngrD 219
Friday, 21 Sep 2007
 Why use a spreadsheet?
• Easy to modify
• Perform complex balances
• Interconnect many balances / variables
• Use iterative logic to solve problems
• Generate graphical data easier
Intro to Excel
 Intro to Excel
• Excellent basic introduction to Excel:
http://www4.ncsu.edu/unity/lockers/users/f/felder/public/cbe205site/Excel.pdf
 Example 1
Product
water
ethanol

Evaporator
Grain Extract Waste
water water
ethanol ethanol

50 kg/min Grain Extract (3wt% EtOH)

Product contains 99% of feed EtOH

Product is 50wt% EtOH

 Step 1
• Enter process specifications into a central
area on the flowsheet
Step 1
 Step 2
• Draw the flowsheet
Step 2
 Step 3
• Label your streams
Step 3
 Step 4
• Start with what you know
• Don’t just type in values!
– Use formulae
– Use references
Step 3
 Step 4 (cont’d)
• Example: Grain Extract
– Total Flow Rate
• Type “=C4” into cell E11
Step 4
 Step 4 (cont’d)
• Example: Grain Extract
– Total Flow Rate
• Type “=C4” into cell E11
– Ethanol Flow Rate
• Type “=C5*E11” into cell E10
Step 4
 Step 4 (cont’d)
• Example: Grain Extract
– Total Flow Rate
• Type “=C4” into cell E11
– Ethanol Flow Rate
• Type “=C5*E11” into cell E10
– Water Flow Rate
• Type “=(1-C5)*E11” into cell E9
Step 4
 Step 4 (cont’d)
• Example: Grain Extract
– Total Flow Rate
• Type “=C4” into cell E11
– Ethanol Flow Rate
• Type “=C5*E11” into cell E10
– Water Flow Rate
• Type “=(1-C5)*E11” into cell E9
• OR Type “=E11-E10” into cell E9
Step 4
Step 4
 Step 5,6,7…
• Work through the balances sequentially
– Lets calculate the Waste Stream first
• Ideas about Waste Stream?
 Neat Tricks!
• ‘Ctrl ~’ switches from formula to result
– e.g. “200” vs. “=10*10*2”
• Formula Auditing Toolbar

Trace Precedents
 Example 2
Ethanol production from grain
2 units: reactor + filter
Specifications:
feed rate = 100 kg/min
fraction of grain in feed = 0.2
solution to grain ratio in slurry = 0.1
fraction of slurry purged = 0.05
Stoichiometry: 1 kg grain  1 kg EtOH + 1 kg water

Note: recycle involved. Go to Tools, Options, Calculation

Tab and turn uncheck “Iterate” box, set Calculation to
“Manual”
Step 1: List Process Specifications
Step 2: Draw Flowchart, Step 3: Label Streams
 Step 4: Develop Solution

Feed: grain flow rate = “=C4*C5” (from given specification)

water flow rate: = “=C4*(1-C5)” (from given specification)
total flow rate = “=C4” (given specification)
Reactor Feed: grain flow rate = “=C13+H23” (feed + recycle)
water flow rate = “=C14+H24” (feed + recycle)
ethanol flow rate = “=H25” (recycle)
total flow rate = “=C15+H26”
Reactor Effluent: grain flow rate = “=(1-I18)*G13” ((1-conversion)*fed grain)
water flow rate = “=G14+(G13*I18/2)”
EtOH flow rate = “=G15+(G13*I18/2)”
Grain Extract: water flow rate = “=K14-O23”
EtOH flow rate = “=K15-O24”
 Step 4: Develop Solution

Slurry: grain flow rate = “=K13”

water flow rate = “=O22*C6*L14” (specification)
EtOH flow rate = “=O22*C6*L15” (specification)
Purge: grain flow rate = “=O22*$C$7” (specification)
water flow rate = “=O23*$C$7” (specification)
EtOH flow rate = “=O24*$C$7” (specification)
Recycle: grain flow rate = “=O22-S23” (splitter m.b.)
water flow rate = “=O23-S24” (splitter m.b.)
EtOH flow rate = “=O24-S25” (splitter m.b)
When recycle formulas are entered, a circular reference is
created: (click cancel to keep formula)
Circular Reference:
Values generated are not the answer; need to iterate
Go to Tools, Options, Calculate, and recheck “Iterate” box
In worksheet, press F9 to recalculate cells (iterates once).
Press F9 until cells converge.