A device is being designed to separate into components a

Chapter 12, Problem 12.44

(choose chapter or problem)

A device is being designed to separate into components a natural gas consisting of \(\mathrm{CH}_{4}\) and \(\mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{H}_{6}\) in which the mole fraction of \(\mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{H}_{6}\), denoted by y, may vary from 0.05 to 0.50. The device will receive natural gas at \(20^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\), 1 atm with a volumetric flow rate of \(100 \mathrm{m}^{3} / \mathrm{s}\). Separate streams of \(\mathrm{CH}_{4}\) and \(\mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{H}_{6}\) will exit, each at \(20^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\), 1 atm. Heat transfer between the device and its surroundings occurs at \(20^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\). Ignoring kinetic and potential energy effects, plot versus y the minimum theoretical work input required at steady state, in kW.