CLL122: Chemial Reaction Engineering (CRE-1)
Tutorial 2
1) The exothermic reaction was carried out adiabatically and the following data recorded.
A→B+C
XA 0 0.2 0.4 0.45 0.5 0.6 0.8 0.9
-rA
1 1.67 5 5 5 5 1.25 0.91
(mol/[Link])
The entering flow rate of A was 300 moles per minute.
a) What are the PFR and CSTR volumes necessary to achieve 40% conversion?
b) Over what range of conversions would the CSTR and PFR reactor volumes be
identical?
c) What is the maximum conversion that can be achieved in 105 dm3 CSTR?
d) There is a 72 dm3 PFR and a 24 dm3 CSTR. What is the maximum conversion that
can be achieved?
e) Plot the conversion and rate of reaction as a function of PFR reactor volume up to a
volume of 100 dm3.
2) The elementary liquid phase reaction
A + 2B → C
is to take place in a 6-liter steady-state mixed flow
reactor. Two feed streams, one containing 2.8 mol
A/liter and the other containing 1.6 mol B/liter, are to
be introduced at equal volumetric flow rates into the
reactor, and 75% conversion of limiting component is
desired. What should be the flow rate of each stream?
Assume constant density.
𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟 2
−𝑟𝐴 [ ] = [12.5 ] 𝐶 𝐶2
𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟 . 𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝑜𝑙2 . 𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝐴 𝐵
3) The homogeneous gas decomposition of phosphine
4PH3(g) → P4(g) + 6H2(g)
proceeds at 649C with the first-order rate
10
−𝑟𝑃𝐻3 = ( )𝐶
ℎ𝑟 𝑃𝐻3
What size of plug flow reactor operating at 649°C and 460 kPa can produce 80%
conversion of a feed consisting of 40 mol of pure phosphine per hour?
4) HOLMES: You say he was last seen tending this vat . . . .
CLIENT: You mean "overflow stirred tank reactor," Holmes.
HOLMES: You must excuse my ignorance of your particular technical jargon, Sir.
CLIENT: That's all right; however, you must find her, Holmes. Mary was a strange person;
always staring into the reactor, taking deep breaths, but she was our very best operator.
Why, since she left, our conversion of googliox has dropped from 80% to 75%.
HOLMES (tapping the side of the vat idly): By the way, what goes on in the vat?
CLIENT: Just an elementary second-order reaction, between ethanol and googliox, if you
know what I mean. Of course, we maintain a large excess of alcohol, about 100 to 1 …..
HOLMES (interrupting): Intriguing, we checked every possible lead in town and found not
a single clue.
CLIENT (wiping away the tears): We'll give the Mary a raise-about two pence per week, if
only she'll come back.
DR. WATSON: Pardon me, but may I ask a question?
HOLMES: Why certainly, Watson.
WATSON: What is the capacity of this vat, Sir?
CLIENT: A hundred Imperial gallons, and we always keep it filled to the brim. That is why
we call it an overflow reactor. You see we are running at full capacity-profitable operation
you know.
HOLMES: Well, my dear Watson, we must admit that we're stumped, for without clues
deductive powers are of no avail.
WATSON: Ahh, but there is where you are wrong, Holmes. (Then, turning to the Client):
Mary was about 18 stone, was she not?
CLIENT: Why yes, how did you know?
HOLMES (with awe): Amazing, my dear Watson!
WATSON (modestly): Why it's quite elementary, Holmes.
What momentous revelation was Dr. Watson planning to make, and how did he arrive at
this conclusion?
5) The curve shown below is typical of a gas-solid catalytic exothermic reaction carried out
adiabatically.
a) Assuming that you have a well mixed fluidized bed and a PBR containing equal weights
of catalysts, how should they be arranged for this adiabatic reaction? In each case,
use the smallest amount of catalyst weight and still achieve 80% conversion.
b) What is the catalyst weight necessary to achieve 80% conversion in a fluidized bed?
c) What fluidized bed catalyst weight is necessary to achieve 40% conversion?
d) What PBR weight is necessary to achieve 80% conversion?
e) What PBR weight is necessary to achieve 40% conversion?
f) Plot the rate of equation and conversion as a function of PBR catalyst weight, W.