A mixture of methane and ethylene exists as a single gas phase in a spherical tank (10 m3) on the grounds of a refinery. The mixture is at 298 K and 1 MPa. It is a spring day, and the atmospheric temperature is also 298 K. The mole fraction of ethylene is 20 mol%. Your supervisor wants to draw off gas quickly from the bottom of the tank until the pressure is 0.5 MPa. However, being astute, you suggest that depressurization will cause the temperature to fall, and might cause condensation.
(a) Provide a method to calculate the change in temperature with respect to moles removed or tank pressure valid up until condensation starts. Assume the depressurization is adiabatic and reversible. Provide relations to find answers, and ensure that enough equations are provided to calculate numerical values for all variables, but you do not need to calculate a final number.
(b) Would the answer in part (a) provide an upper or lower limit to the expected temperature?
(c) Outline how you could find the P, T, n of the tank where condensation starts. Provide relations to find answers, and ensure that enough equations are provided to calculate numerical values for all variables, but you do not need to calculate a final number.
