CHE 302- Chemical Kinetics and Reactor Design

Homework-4
Due date: 28.05.2014 17:00
Q.1. The elementary irreversible organic liquid-phase reaction
A+BC
is carried out adiabatically in a flow reactor. An equal molar feed in A and B enters at 27C,
and the volumetric flow rate is 2 dm3/s.
(a) Calculate the PFR and CSTR volumes necessary to achieve 85% conversion.
(b) What is the maximum inlet temperature one could have so that the boiling point of the
liquid (550 K) would not be exceeded even for complete conversion?
(c) Plot the conversion and temperature as a function of PFR volume
(d) Calculate the conversion that can be achieved in one 500-dm3 CSTR and in two 250-dm3
CSTRs in series.
(e) Vary the activation energy 1000 <E< 30,000 (cal/mol) and heat of reaction 2000 <
HRx< 25,000 (cal/mol) to learn their effect on the PFR conversion profile.
Additional information:
HA(273)= -20kcal/mol
HB(273) = -15kcal/mol
HC(273) = -41kcal/mol
CAo = 0.1 kmol/m3
CPA=CPB=15 cal/mol.K
CPC=30 cal/mol.K
k=0.01 dm3/mol.s (@300 K)
E=10,000 cal/mol
Q.2. The formation of styrene from vinylacetylene is essentially irreversible and follows an
elementary rate law:
2 vinylacetylenestyrene
(a) Determine the conversion achieved in a 10-dm 3 PFR for an entering temperature of
675 K. Plot the temperature and conversion down the length of the reactor.
(b) Vary the entering temperature and plot the conversion as a function of entering
temperature.
(c) Compare your answers with the case when the reaction is carried out adiabatically.
(d) Repeat part (b) assuming that the reaction is reversible, Kc = 100,000 at 675 K. Plot
the conversion as a function of the entering temperature.
Additional Information
Ua = 5.0 kJ/s.dm3/K
Ta = 700 K
CAO = 1 mol/dm3

FA0=5 mol/s
Hrx= -231-0.012(T-298) kJ/mol
CPA= 0.1222 kJ/mol-K
k= 1.48X1011 exp(-19,124/T)dm3/moI.s
To = 675 K