PC-Peer Discussion - Session-1

Quick Recap:

Karthikeyan and MSubbu discussed the upcoming sessions, the management of the whiteboard, and the use of PowerPoint presentations for everyday management. They also introduced a fast track session starting in September, which will be free for those who attended the first session, and discussed the importance of screen sharing and recording for future reference. The team also discussed various methods for solving chemical problems, the process of calculating single pass conversion and overall conversion in a reactor system, and a complex term related to ethanol conversion in a reactor.

Next Steps:

• Karthikeyan to continue leading the next peer discussion session starting from Class 3 in the FastTrack Classes course-page.
• Students to be more interactive and ask questions during future discussion sessions.
• Arputha to check and solve the carbon combustion problem discussed at the end of the session.
• Students to practice solving problems from areas frequently asked in previous GATE exams.
• Students to focus on time management when solving problems for GATE preparation.

SUMMARY:

Interactive Sessions and Whiteboard Management: Karthikeyan and MSubbu discussed the upcoming sessions, with Karthikeyan agreeing to make them interactive. MSubbu suggested that the sessions should be conducted in English, but also acknowledged that some students might not be comfortable with it. They also discussed the possibility of recording the sessions for future reference. Additionally, they talked about the management of the whiteboard and the use of PowerPoint presentations for everyday management.

Fast Track Session and GATE Exam: MSubbu discussed the upcoming fast track session starting in September, which will be free for those who attended the first session. He also mentioned that the fees for the course might be reduced by 25%. MSubbu introduced Karthikeyan, a recent graduate from SSN Chennai, who is preparing for the GATE exam and will lead the session. The goal for the group is to achieve an India rank of less than 100 in the GATE2026 exam.

Screen Sharing and Exam Strategies: In the meeting, MSubbu and Karthikeyan discussed the importance of screen sharing and recording for future reference. Karthikeyan emphasized the need for interactive sessions and encouraged participants to share their experiences and opinions. Srinidhi shared her experience from a previous exam, highlighting the importance of time management and not getting stuck on difficult problems. The team agreed on the strategy of running through all the questions first and attending the easy ones last.

Wet to Dry Basis Conversion: Karthikeyan led a discussion on converting wet basis to dry basis and calculating theoretical feed rates. The team discussed the difference between required and actual feed rates, with Karthikeyan explaining that the actual feed rate is not affected by combustion percentage, but the required feed rate is. Aniket raised a question about the meaning of "30% excess" in the context of air composition, which Karthikeyan clarified as referring to the percentage of excess oxygen. The team also discussed the conversion of wet basis to dry basis, with Karthikeyan explaining the process of removing water content and calculating mole fractions.

Combustion Problems Solving Process: Karthikeyan explained the process of solving combustion problems, emphasizing the importance of choosing the correct basis and using the atomic balance method. He suggested focusing on one method for the exam and using the conventional approach for single reactions. Srinidhi agreed with Karthikeyan's approach and suggested using the atomic balance method. The team discussed the time efficiency of Karthikeyan's method and agreed to move on to the next question.

Solving Chemical Problems With Matrix: Karthikeyan discussed various methods for solving chemical problems, emphasizing the use of atomic balance for simpler problems and matrix methods for more complex ones. He also explained the concepts of yield and selectivity, and how to determine the limiting reactant in a reaction. The team practiced solving a problem involving the synthesis of methanol from carbon monoxide and hydrogen. Karthikeyan advised starting with a single conversion in the reactor and then solving the problem step by step.

Reactor System Conversion Calculation Process: Karthikeyan explained the process of calculating single pass conversion and overall conversion in a reactor system. He discussed the use of mixed feed and recycled steam, and how to balance atomic elements like nitrogen, carbon, and hydrogen. He also explained how to calculate the mole fractions of different components in the system. The team discussed the need to solve equations to find the values of certain variables, and how to use these values to calculate the conversion rates.

Ethanol Conversion in Reactor Explained: Karthikeyan explained a complex term related to ethanol conversion in a reactor. He clarified that the basis was one mole of ethanol in the fresh feed, and the air flow rate was 10 moles. The single pass conversion of ethanol was 25%. The unreacted ethanol was completely separated and recycled. Karthikeyan also discussed the composition of the outlet stream from the reactor, using atomic balance methods. 

Karthikeyan's GATE Exam Experiences: Karthikeyan shared his experiences from his first gate exam. He learned that the exam questions are mostly from specific concepts in specific courses, rather than from the entire subject. He also emphasized the importance of practicing sums from the areas that have been asked in previous exams to reduce the time taken to solve them. He advised not to panic when approaching a new sum and to first understand the question before deciding whether it can be solved.

Water Vaporization Rate Calculation: Karthikeyan discussed a question about the rate of water vaporization in a given scenario. He explained that the relative humidity was 100% and the water was saturated. He then calculated the molar volume and molar rate, which were 0.67 moles per minute. He emphasized the importance of using mole fraction instead of mass fraction in calculations involving relative humidity and partial pressures. He also explained how to convert the saturation vapor pressure from mmHg to mole fraction. Finally, he calculated the time it would take for all the water to vaporize, which was 25 liters of water divided by the volumetric flow rate of water removal.

Chemical Engineering Discussion and Sharing: Karthikeyan led a discussion on a chemical engineering topic, explaining a complex concept to Arputha and Jeevitha. Arputha expressed understanding and offered to share her own experiences. Jeevitha confirmed her grasp of the topic. Karthikeyan then transitioned to a new topic, inviting everyone to share their opinions. The conversation ended with Karthikeyan encouraging everyone to ask questions and share their thoughts in the next session.