SAMPLE PROBLEMS ON

IDEAL REACTOR MODELS

ChE 125 Chemical Reaction Engineering I
2nd Semester AY 2014-2015
ChE
125
Chemical
Engineering I
Engr.
Kristian
July R.Reaction
Yap

nd Semester
University of 2the
Philippines
Diliman
AY 2014-2015

SAMPLE PROBLEM 01
Wassermann has studied the Diels-Alder reaction of
benzoquinone (B) and cyclopentadiene (C) at 25C.

ChE 125 Chemical Reaction Engineering I

2nd Semester AY 2014-2015

SAMPLE PROBLEM 01
Volume changes on reaction may be neglected.
At 25C the reaction rate constant is equal to
9.92 x 10-3 m3/kmolsec. If one employs a wellstirred isothermal batch reactor to carry out
this reaction, determine the holding time
necessary to achieve 95% conversion of the
limiting reagent using initial concentrations
of 0.1 and 0.08 kmol/m3 for cyclopentadiene
and benzoquinone, respectively.

ChE 125 Chemical Reaction Engineering I

2nd Semester AY 2014-2015

SAMPLE PROBLEM 02
Ratchford and Fisher have studied the pyrolysis
of methyl acetoxypropionate (A) at temperatures
near 500C and a variety of pressures.
CH3COOCH ( CH3 ) COOCH3 CH3COOH + CH2 =CHCOOCH3

Below 565C the pyrolysis reaction is essentially first

order with a rate constant given by

k = 7.8 109 exp 19220

sec1

where T is expressed in Kelvin.

ChE 125 Chemical Reaction Engineering I

2nd Semester AY 2014-2015

SAMPLE PROBLEM 02
If one desires to design a pilot scale tubular
reactor to operate isothermally at 500C, what
length of 6-in pipe will be required to convert
90% of the raw feedstock to methyl acrylate?
The feedstock enters at 5 atm at a flow rate of
500 lb/hr. Ideal gas behavior may be assumed.
A 6-in pipe has an area of 0.0388 ft2 available
for flow. Pressure drop across the reactor may
be neglected.

ChE 125 Chemical Reaction Engineering I

2nd Semester AY 2014-2015

SAMPLE PROBLEM 03
At elevated temperatures, acetaldehyde
undergoes gas-phase decomposition into
methane and carbon monoxide. The reaction is
second-order with respect to acetaldehyde,
with k = 22.2 L/molmin at a certain T.
Determine the fractional conversion of
acetaldehyde that can be achieved in a 1500 L
CSTR, given that the feed rate of acetaldehyde
is 8.8 kg/min, and the inlet volumetric flow rate
is 2.5 m3/min. Assume T and P are unchanged.
ChE 125 Chemical Reaction Engineering I

2nd Semester AY 2014-2015

QUESTIONS???
ChE
125
Chemical
Engineering I
Engr.
Kristian
July R.Reaction
Yap

nd Semester
University of 2the
Philippines
Diliman
AY 2013-2014