Material / Energy Balance Calculations

The problems encountered in process calculations are combination of the following categories:

  • Material balance

  • Energy balance

  • Without chemical reaction

  • With chemical reaction

  • Steady state

  • Unsteady state

Steady and Unsteady Processes:
  • Steady State Processes:

    • Of course, this is the desired mode of operation for a majority of the processes in use today.

    • It optimizes production and minimizes costs for large commodity products when you have a stable feedstock.

  • Unsteady Processes—these are extremely important in the following situations:

    • Batch processes.

    • Start-up/shut down of continuous systems.

    • Continuous processes with changes in operating conditions or unplanned fluctuations due to control problems.