PEC EPE Chemical case studies
PEC EPE Chemical · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The PEC Engineering Practice Examination (EPE) in Chemical Engineering is a multiple-choice, practice-oriented assessment delivered within the Pakistan Engineering Council's engineering registration framework. It is built to test whether a chemical engineering graduate can apply first-principles knowledge to the decisions an engineer actually makes around a plant: closing a balance, sizing a line or an exchanger, selecting a separation sequence, diagnosing a reactor or control problem, and recognising when a design change introduces unacceptable risk. The PEC EPE Chemical case studies are 5 cases and about 3,374 words.
1New Catalyst, Worse Conversion: A Fixed-Bed Hydrogenation Hot Spot
A single-train fixed-bed reactor hydrogenates nitrobenzene to aniline over a nickel-on-alumina catalyst. The reactor is 2.0 m inside diameter with 6.5 m of catalyst, cooled by boiling water on the shell side, and has no interbed quench.
810 words, about 4 min2Debutanizer Bottoms Pump Cavitation After a Rate Increase
A debutanizer bottoms pump runs at 45 m³/h, taking 150°C liquid at 610 kg/m³ from a column bottoms drum to the feed/product exchanger. The drum pressure is 11.10 bara and the liquid vapor pressure at 150°C is 10.85 bara.
672 words, about 3 min3Depropanizer Floods After a Lighter Feed and a Debottleneck
A depropanizer with 44 valve trays, 2.0 m inside diameter and 600 mm tray spacing uses a total condenser at 15.5 barg top pressure. Design feed is 28 t/h at a reflux ratio of 1.6, with a design column pressure drop of 0.55 bar and top C3 specification of 1.0 mol%.
664 words, about 3 min4Runaway Reaction Relief: The PSV Sized for Fire, Not for Chemistry
A 25 m³ jacketed batch reactor holds 18,000 kg of a solvent-borne polymerization reaction mass. The vessel design pressure is 10 barg, the PSV is set at 7.0 barg, and its nameplate capacity is 9,500 kg/h of vapor at the set pressure.
615 words, about 3 min5Lean Amine Flow Loop Cycles After a Valve Trim Change
Lean amine flow to an absorber is controlled at 85 m³/h by a 3-inch globe valve with a pneumatic piston actuator and a smart positioner. The flow is measured by an orifice plate and a DP transmitter.
613 words, about 3 min