Pivotal Associates Interview Questions and Answers

Azeotropic distillation is a process used to separate two or more liquids with similar boiling points by adding a third component.

• It involves the use of a third component, called an entrainer, to break the azeotrope (constant boiling point) of the two liquids being separated.

• The entrainer forms a new azeotrope with one of the liquids, allowing the other liquid to be separated.

• Azeotropic distillation is commonly used in the production of ethanol, where benzene is used as an en...read more

Distillation is a process of separating components of a mixture based on their boiling points.

• It involves heating the mixture to vaporize the component with the lowest boiling point.

• The vapor is then condensed and collected as a separate liquid.

• This process can be used to purify liquids, separate mixtures, and extract essential oils.

• Examples include the production of ethanol from fermented grains and the purification of water through desalination.

Valves and pumps are essential components in production processes. There are various types of valves and pumps used in different applications.

• Types of valves: gate valve, ball valve, globe valve, butterfly valve, check valve, diaphragm valve

• Types of pumps: centrifugal pump, positive displacement pump, reciprocating pump, axial flow pump, gear pump

• Valves control the flow of fluids or gases, while pumps move fluids or gases from one place to another

• Valves and pumps are used in ...read more

NPSH stands for Net Positive Suction Head. It is the difference between the pressure at the suction of a pump and the vapor pressure of the liquid being pumped.

• NPSH is a critical parameter in pump selection and operation.

• It determines whether the pump will cavitate or not.

• NPSH is affected by factors such as fluid temperature, pressure, and viscosity.

• If the NPSH available is less than the NPSH required, the pump will not operate efficiently and may even fail.

• NPSH can be calcul...read more

Distillation is a process of separating components of a mixture based on their boiling points.

• It involves heating the mixture to vaporize the component with the lowest boiling point.

• The vapor is then condensed and collected as a separate liquid.

• This process can be used to purify liquids, separate different components of a mixture, and extract desired substances from natural sources.

• Examples include the production of ethanol from fermented grains, the separation of crude oil i...read more