Consider a hypothetical steady-state process having physical operations on the species A, B, and C. Streams are all liquid. The flow rates are all unknown, and some partial information is present about the stream compositions.

The stream F is a binary mixture of 20% species A and the rest is the species B. This stream is mixed with the recycle stream R coming from the end of the process. The stream R is a ternary mixture of the species A, B, and C. The resultant stream M contains 40%A and 30% B, and enters the Unit 1.

Two streams leave the Unit 1: The stream N is Pure A; and the stream K contains 30%A. A stream Q having pure species C joins the stream K, and the resultant mixture stream L, which contain 20%A, is sent to the Unit 2.

Two streams leave the Unit 2: One is the stream S of pure B; and the other is the stream T, which contains some B in it. The stream T is split into two streams: One is the recycle stream R which is sent to the start to mix with the stream F, and the other is the stream P taken as product.

All the flow rates are to be reported per 100 kg of product P.

Draw the block diagram of the process; label the streams completely with the available data. Indicate the stream quantities preferably with capital letters; indicate known compositions preferably in fractions and the unknown compositions with small letters.

State the number of independent systems that is allowed to be studied in this process.

State the number of independent mass balance equations allowed to be used in this process.

Perform a degree-of-freedom analysis on the process and state whether or not there is a unique solution for all the quantity and composition unknowns if a proper basis for solution is specified.

If there is a unique solution for all the unknowns in the problem, then explain clearly

The basis you would choose,

The first system you would start with, and

The second system you would continue with.