TALLER DE INGENIERÍA DE LAS REACCIONES QUÍMICAS

1. Find the first-order rate constant for the disappearance of A in the gas reaction A → 1.6R if
the volume of the reaction mixture, starting with pure A increases by 50% in 4 min. The total
pressure within the system stays constant at 1.2 atm, and the temperature is 25°C.
2. At present the elementary liquid-phase reaction A+ B → R + S takes place in a plug flow
reactor using equimolar quantities of A and B. Conversion is 96%, CA0 = CB0 = 1 mol/liter. If
a mixed flow reactor ten times as large as the plug flow reactor were hooked up in series with
the existing unit, which unit should come first and by what fraction could production be
increased for that setup?
3. We wish to treat 10 liters/min of liquid feed containing 1 mol/liter to 99% conversion. The
stoichiometry and kinetics of the reaction are given by

𝐴 𝐶
A → R , −𝑟𝐴 = 0.2+𝐶
𝐴

Suggest a good arrangement for doing this using two mixed flow reactors, and find the size
of the two units needed. Sketch the final design chosen.
4. An aqueous reactant stream (4 mol/liter) passes through a mixed flow reactor followed by a
plug flow reactor. Find the concentration at the exit of the plug flow reactor if in the mixed
flow reactor C, = 1 mol/liter. The reaction is second-order with respect to A, and the volume
of the plug flow unit is three times that of the mixed flow unit.
5. A liquid reactant stream (1 mol/liter) passes through two mixed flow reactors in a series. The
concentration of A in the exit of the first reactor is 0.5 mol/liter. Find the concentration in the
exit stream of the second reactor. The reaction is second-order with respect to A and V2/V, =
2.

6. The exothermic reaction of ethylbenzene (A) to form the economically important

trospophene (B) and methane (C), i.e.,

A→B+C
was carried out adiabatically and the following data recorded:

X 0 0.2 0.4 0.45 0.5 0.6 0.8 0.9

-rA (mol/dm3.min) 1.0 1.67 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 1.25 0.91

The entering molar flow rate of A was 300 mol/min.

(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 a 105 dm3 CSTR?
(d) What conversion can be achieved if a 72 dm3 PFR is followed in series by a 24 dm3 CSTR?
(e) What conversion can be achieved if a 24 dm3 CSTR is followed in a series by a 72 dm3
PFR?
(f) Plot the conversion and rate of reaction as a function of PFR reactor volume up to a volume
of 100 dm3
7. The irreversible, first-order, gas-phase reaction

𝐴 → 2𝐵 + 𝐶
takes place in a constant volume batch reactor that has a safety disk designed to rupture
when the pressure exceeds 1000 psi. If the rate constant is 0.01 s-1, how long will it take to
rupture the safety disk if pure A is charged into the reactor at 500 psi?
8. If you have a CSTR and a PFR (both of the same volume) available to carry out an
irreversible, first-order, liquid-phase reaction, how would you connect them in series (in
what order) to maximize the conversion?
9. Find the minimum number of CSTRs connected in series to give an outlet conversion
within 5 percent of that achieved in a PFR of equal total volume for:
(a) first-order irreversible reaction of A to form B, k 𝜏𝑃𝐹𝑅 = 1
(b) second-order irreversible reaction of A to form B, k 𝐶𝐴0 𝜏𝑃𝐹𝑅 = 1.

10. Liquid A decomposes by first-order kinetics, and in a batch reactor 50% of A is converted
in a 5-minute run. How much longer would it take to reach 75% conversion?
a. Repeat the previous problem for second-order kinetics.