RESIT EXAMINATION

Faculty of Engineering

COURSE CODE : CHEM4005

LEVEL / SEMESTER : 4/1
COURSE TITLE : Reaction Engineering
ACADEMIC YEAR : 2015-2016
DATE : January, 2016
TIME : 09:00
DURATION : 3 Hours
MAXIMUM MARK : 100
COURSE COORDINATOR : Ahmed J. Ali Al-Dallal

STUDENT NAME

STUDENT ID GROUP NO

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES

 This question paper consists of 4 pages only.

 Answer ALL questions.
 Write your ID, NAME and GROUP NUMBER clearly on all
of your answer books.
 Follow all examination rules.
 Do not bring books or other related materials into the
examination room.
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Question 1: [25 marks]

The liquid-phase, irreversible isomerization reaction A→B was carried out in a batch reactor and the
concentration-time data shown in Table Q1 were obtained:

Table Q1
Time, min 0 5 10 15
Concentration, CA, mole/L 4.00 2.25 1.00 0.25

i) Show that this reaction is 0.5 order. [17 marks]

ii) Determine the rate constant. [3 marks]
iii) Determine the size of plug flow reactor in L required to reach a final concentration of A,
CA = 0.25 mole/L for a volumetric flow, vo = 10 L/min. [5 marks]

Question 2: [25 marks]

The kinetics of the catalytic gas phase reaction: SO2+ 2H2S→3S + 2H2O are being studied in an ideal
CSTR. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is fed to the reactor at a rate of 1000 moles/h. The rate at which H2S
leaves the reactor is measured and found to be 115 moles/h. The feed to the reactor is a mixture of
SO2, H2S, and N2 in the molar ratio 1 : 2 : 7.5. The total pressure and temperature in the reactor are
1.1 atm and 250oC respectively. The reactor contains 3.5 kg of catalyst.
i) Set up a stoichiometric table with H2S as the reference component. [7 marks]
ii) Determine the fractional conversion of H2S. [1 marks]
iii) Determine the effluent concentrations of H2S, SO2, S, and H2O in moles/L. [17 marks]

Question 3: [18 marks]

A continuous stirred tank reactor is used for carrying out the liquid phase reaction:
A + B → products
The reaction rate expression is rA = k(T) CA CB (kmole/h.m3). The total molar flow rate at the inlet is
3 kmole/h. The inlet flow is equimolar in A and B. The total volumetric flow rate (vo) is 1 m3/ h.
Data: Reactor volume= 3 m3
Heat of reaction, HR = 35,000 kJ/kmole A reacted
Reaction rate constant, k(T) = 1015 e-13000/T m3/ kmole.h (T in K)

i) Calculate the operating temperature required for a fractional conversion, XA = 0.7.[12 marks]
ii) How much heat must be added to the reactor in kJ/h to maintain the system at steady state,
if the feed is introduced at the reactor operating temperature? [6 marks]

Question 4: [15 marks]

The following reactions were found to occur while trying to make a desired product B.

A⃗B −r A 1 =k 1 A C 2A
A⃗ X −r A 2 =k 2 A C A
A+ X ⃗ Y −r A 3=k 3 A C A C X
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Species X and Y are both foul pollutants (undesired products).

Additional Information

k1A = 0.5 e–10,000/T min–1, T in degrees Kelvin

k2A = 50 e–20,000/T min–1, T in degrees Kelvin
k3A = 100 e–5,000/T min–1, T in degrees Kelvin
i) What is the instantaneous selectivity of B with respect to the foul pollutants X and Y?
[10 marks]
ii) How would you carry out this reaction to maximize the formation of B? [5 marks]

Question 5: [17 marks]

The rate law for the hydrogenation of ethylene (E) with hydrogen (H) to form ethane (A) over a cobalt-
molybdenum catalyst is :
'
kP E PH
−r E =
1+ K E P E
Where KE is the adsorption equilibrium constant for ethylene.
The suggested mechanism and rate-limiting step consistent with the rate law is given by:

E + S E.S

E.S + H2 → A + S (Rate limiting step)

Generate the rate law equation for this mechanism represented by the above rate equation.

USEFUL EQUATIONS AND DATA

Gas constant (R) = 1.987 cal.K−1.mole−1 ΔH ∘RX 1 1

= 8.21 x 10-2 L. atm. K-1. mole-1
= 8.3145 J/ mole.K
[
K C =K (T 2 )exp
(
R T2 T
−
)]
n
E 1 1
k =k (T 1 )exp
[ ( )]
−
R T1 T Q̇−Ẇ s −F A 0 ∑ Θi ~
i=1
C pi (T −T i 0 )−F A 0 X [ ΔH ∘RX (T R )+Δ C^ p (T −T R ) ]=0

For CSTR : Q̇=UA(T a −T )

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