[EAX_5_227.

1/18CHME11I] Chemical Reaction Engineering [Solution] S1 2018/2019

Section A: Answer only Two questions

Q1 [Total: 25 marks]

a) We wish to produce B in the reaction A→B in a continuous reactor at v= 4 litre/min with

C A0 =2 moles/litre. However, we find that there is a second reaction B→C that can also

occur. We find that both reactions are first order and irreversible with k 1 =0.5 min-1 and

k 2 =0.1 min-1. For the two cases of a PFR and a CSTR and for 90% conversion of A, find:

i- Residence time τ (4 marks)

ii- Reactor volume V (4 marks)

iii- C A , C B , and C C (7 marks)

iv- Selectivity and yield of B ; S B , and Y B . (4 marks)

Also find residence time for maximum concentration of B in the two cases (6 marks)

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[EAX_5_227.1/18CHME11I] Chemical Reaction Engineering [Solution] S1 2018/2019

Solution

a)

a) For PFR, C A =0.2,C B =1.33,C C =2-0.2-1.33=0.47

b) For CSTR, C A =0.2,C B =0.64,C C =2-0.2-0.64=1.16

c) For PFR, residence time for maximum concentration of B

k2
ln ln 5
k
t max = = = 4.02 min
k 2 − k1 0.5 − 0.1
d) For CSTR, residence time for maximum concentration of
1
t max = = sqrt(20) = 4.47 min
Sqrt(k 2 k1 )

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[EAX_5_227.1/18CHME11I] Chemical Reaction Engineering [Solution] S1 2018/2019

Q2 [Total: 25 marks]

a) A liquid reactant stream (1 mol/litre) passes through two mixed flow reactors in a series.

The concentration of A in the exit of the first reactor is 0.5 mol/litre. Find the concentration in

the exit stream of the second reactor. The reaction is second-order with respect to A and

V 2 /V 1 = 2. (13 marks)

Solution

b) One mole of nitrobenzene (A) and 3 moles of nitric acid (B) react to form the meta (C) and

ortho (D) dinitro derivatives. After 10 minutes, half of the nitrobenzene disappears and the

product consists of 93% Meta and 7% ortho.

k1
A+B⇒C

k2
A+B⇒D

Find the specific rates, if the reaction is first order in A and first order in B. (12 marks)

Solution

k 1 /k 2 =93/7=13.29
10*( k1+k2)= ln(3*0.5/2.5)/(1-3)=0.255
k1+k2=0.0255
k1=0.0237
k2=0.0018

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[EAX_5_227.1/18CHME11I] Chemical Reaction Engineering [Solution] S1 2018/2019

Q3 [Total: 25 marks]

a) The homogeneous, reversible, exothermic, liquid-phase reaction

A⇄R

is being carried out in a reactor system consisting of two ideal CSTRs in series. Both

reactors operate at 150oC. The molar flow rate of A entering the first CSTR is 55,000 mol/h,

the concentration of A in this stream is 6.5 mol/L, and the concentration of R is zero. The

fractional conversion of A in the outlet stream from the second CSTR is 0.75. This fractional

conversion is based on the molar flow rate entering the first CSTR.

The reaction is first order in both directions. The rate constant for the forward reaction at

150oC is 1.28 h-1 and the equilibrium constant based on concentration at 150oC is 10.0.

If the volume of the second CSTR is 10,000 litres, what is the required volume of the first

CSTR? (15 marks)

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[EAX_5_227.1/18CHME11I] Chemical Reaction Engineering [Solution] S1 2018/2019

Solution

𝑥𝑥𝐴𝐴 = 0.48527

55000 ∗ 0.48527
𝑉𝑉1 = = 6877 litres
1.28(3.3475) − 0.128(3.1525)

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[EAX_5_227.1/18CHME11I] Chemical Reaction Engineering [Solution] S1 2018/2019

b) The irreversible, first-order reaction A→products take place over a spherical catalyst which is

a porous solid. The intrinsic rate constant (based on geometry catalyst volume) is 1500 s-1.

The effective diffusivity of A is 2*10-3 cm2/s. Find,

i. the radius of the catalyst particle if the effectiveness factor is 0.90. (6 marks)

ii. the ratio of the concentration of A at the particle centre to that at the surface. (4 marks)

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[EAX_5_227.1/18CHME11I] Chemical Reaction Engineering [Solution] S1 2018/2019

Solution

i)

ii) concentration at the centre=phi/sinh(phi)=1.32/sinh(1.32)=0.76

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[EAX_5_227.1/18CHME11I] Chemical Reaction Engineering [Solution] S1 2018/2019

Section B: Answer the following questions

Q4 [Total: 25 marks]

The cracking reaction

A→B+C+D

is being carried out isothermally in an ideal plug-flow reactor (PFR) packed with a

heterogeneous catalyst. The reactor operates at essentially atmospheric pressure. At the

conditions of operation, the ideal gas laws are obeyed. The reaction follows the rate equation

−rA = kCA2

At the operating temperature of the reactor, k = 0.40 (m6 /mol ∙ kgcatalyst ∙ min)

The feed to the reactor is a mixture of 2 mol of A and 1 mol of steam. Neither B, C, nor D is

H 2 O (steam). The molar feed rate of A is 100,000 mol/min and the concentration of A in the

feed is 10.3 mol/m3 .

Assuming that transport resistance are negligible, what weight of catalyst is required to

achieve 85% fractional conversion of A?

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[EAX_5_227.1/18CHME11I] Chemical Reaction Engineering [Solution] S1 2018/2019

Solution

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[EAX_5_227.1/18CHME11I] Chemical Reaction Engineering [Solution] S1 2018/2019

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[EAX_5_227.1/18CHME11I] Chemical Reaction Engineering [Solution] S1 2018/2019

Q5 [Total: 25 marks]

The gas phase reaction

A+B→C+D

is carried out in a tubular reactor.

The rate of disappearance of A is given by

-r A =3.5 * 1010 * exp(-E/RT) * C A * C B 0.5 mol/litre.s , E=50 kcal/mol, R=1.98 cal/mol.K

The conversion for this process is 50%. We would like to operate the reactor adiabatically.

The inlet flow is equimolar of A & B, inlet temperature is 850 C, inlet pressure is 1 atm, N A0 =

N B0 =1 kmol/h, M A =92 kg/kmol, M B =2 kg/kmol, C P =36 cal/mol.K, ∆H R = -12,900 cal/mol. Value of

the gas constant R=0.08206 atm.Litre/mol.K. Find:

i. The reactor exit temperature for 50% conversion. (5 marks)

ii. Reactor volume for 50% conversion. (20 marks)

i)

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[EAX_5_227.1/18CHME11I] Chemical Reaction Engineering [Solution] S1 2018/2019

ii)

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[EAX_5_227.1/18CHME11I] Chemical Reaction Engineering [Solution] S1 2018/2019

By evaluating the integral using the calculator:

V = 42 L

Good luck

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