Minimum work to separate O2 &N2 from air

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The discussion focuses on calculating the minimum work required to separate 1 kmol of O2 and 1 kmol of N2 from air, assuming ideal gas behavior at 25°C and 100 kPa. Participants clarify that the mole fractions of air components include nitrogen, oxygen, water vapor, and carbon dioxide, which complicates the separation process. The minimum work is derived using the formula Wmin = -R.To.total(Xi.lnXi), with an emphasis on the entropy change during mixing. Confusion arises regarding the initial amount of air needed for separation, with suggestions that the calculations may converge as the initial moles increase. The separation tasks are treated as independent questions, highlighting the need for clarity in the problem statement.
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1. assume air is an iseal gas at 25C and 100kPa. the mole fractions of components are nitrogen_0.7567
oxygen=0.2035 water vapor=0.0303 carbon dioxide=0.0003 Calc. min work to seperate
a-1kmol O2 at 25C 100kPa
b-1kmol N2 at 25C 100kPa from atmosphere


Homework Equations


Wmin=ge-gi=(ho-To.se)-(hi-To.si) [/B]

The Attempt at a Solution


for ideal gas Wmin=To(si-se)=-R.To. total(Xi.lnxi)
I assume air is composed of only O2 and N2, min ork is equal to - of the entropy change for mixing process
but Iam confused it is asked only to separate 1 kmol O2
[/B]
 
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obscure said:
a-1kmol O2 at 25C 100kPa
b-1kmol N2 at 25C 100kPa
One kmol O2 and one kmol N2.
 
Bystander said:
One kmol O2 and one kmol N2.
1 kmol of oxygen at 25C and 100kPa and
1 kmol of nitrogenat 25C and 100kPa from atmosphere
 
obscure said:
3. The Attempt at a Solution
for ideal gas Wmin=To(si-se)=-R.To. total(Xi.lnxi)
I assume air is composed of only O2 and N2, min ork is equal to - of the entropy change for mixing process
but Iam confused it is asked only to separate 1 kmol O2
Why do you assume that? It gives the composition, and it includes water vapour and CO2.
Why does the question confuse you?
The thing that is not clear to me is how much air you should start with. Perhaps the answer tends to a limit as the initial number of moles tends to infinity.
 
Bystander said:
One kmol O2 and one kmol N2.
Yes, but not from the same air sample. They are presented as two independent questions.
 
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