We are interested in synthesizing a process that makes hydroxymethylfuran (HMF) from sugars. We will have a fresh feed consisting of 50/50 fructose and glucose. F= fructose, G = glucose, H = HMF. Consider the following process units: A fructose reactor, RF, converts fructose to HMF (F H ) and has 80% conversion of F and 0% conversion of G. All the H leaves the reactor in a non-aqueous solvent stream and all remaining sugars leave in a separate stream of aqueous phase. An isomerization reactor, RI, is an equilibrium isomerization unit that can isomerize glucose to fructose (G ++ F), with an equilibrium constant K of 1.5. The constant K is defined as K = [F] / [G], where [F] and [G] are the concentration of F and G leaving the isomerization reactor. A separator, SG, is assumed to operate in the following way: the separator recovers 75% of the fructose and 25% of the glucose in one stream and the remaining sugars in the other stream. The overall concentration of sugar in the two streams is equal. a) Construct four different flowsheet configurations that satisfy the following constraints: i) HMF is made. ii) No fructose or glucose is lost from the system. iii) At least two of the four flowsheet configurations use only two of the three types of units above (for example, RF and Seg but not RI). b) Considering only the two flowsheet configurations that have only two units, calculate the recycle molar flows of fructose and glucose. The feed is 100 kmol/hr with 50% fructose and 50% glucose. Hint: even though there are solvent and water in the system, you may ignore this and only concern yourself with the moles of fructose and glucose. c) Which one of the two has the lowest flowrate in the recycle? d) Using the flowsheet with the lowest recycle flowrate, give molar flows of F,G and H for each of the streams in your flowsheet. We are interested in synthesizing a process that makes hydroxymethylfuran (HMF) from sugars. We will have a fresh feed consisting of 50/50 fructose and glucose. F= fructose, G = glucose, H = HMF. Consider the following process units: A fructose reactor, RF, converts fructose to HMF (F H ) and has 80% conversion of F and 0% conversion of G. All the H leaves the reactor in a non-aqueous solvent stream and all remaining sugars leave in a separate stream of aqueous phase. An isomerization reactor, RI, is an equilibrium isomerization unit that can isomerize glucose to fructose (G ++ F), with an equilibrium constant K of 1.5. The constant K is defined as K = [F] / [G], where [F] and [G] are the concentration of F and G leaving the isomerization reactor. A separator, SG, is assumed to operate in the following way: the separator recovers 75% of the fructose and 25% of the glucose in one stream and the remaining sugars in the other stream. The overall concentration of sugar in the two streams is equal. a) Construct four different flowsheet configurations that satisfy the following constraints: i) HMF is made. ii) No fructose or glucose is lost from the system. iii) At least two of the four flowsheet configurations use only two of the three types of units above (for example, RF and Seg but not RI). b) Considering only the two flowsheet configurations that have only two units, calculate the recycle molar flows of fructose and glucose. The feed is 100 kmol/hr with 50% fructose and 50% glucose. Hint: even though there are solvent and water in the system, you may ignore this and only concern yourself with the moles of fructose and glucose. c) Which one of the two has the lowest flowrate in the recycle? d) Using the flowsheet with the lowest recycle flowrate, give molar flows of F,G and H for each of the streams in your flowsheet
