BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, Pilani

Pilani Campus
AUGS/ AGSR Division

FIRST SEMESTER 2019-2020

Course Handout Part II
Date: 31/August/2019

In addition to Part-I (General Handout for all courses appended to the time table) this portion gives
further specific details regarding the course.
CourseNo. : CHE F311
CourseTitle :Kinetics& Reactor Design Instructor-
in-charge : SRINIVAS APPARI
Instructors (Tutorial) : Srinivas Appari, Pradipta Chattopadhyay, Rama Krishna Chava

1. Course Description:
Kinetics of homogeneous, heterogeneous reactions; ideal reactors, non-ideal flow; selectivity;
analysis and design of chemical reactors [Kinetics Reaction rate, order, rate constant; Batch
reactors Design + basics; Kinetic constants from batch reactor data; Ideal flow reactors Mass and
Energy balances; Isothermal, adiabatic and non-isothermal operation; Catalysts, Catalytic rates,
Reaction mechanisms; Internal/External transport in catalysts; Non-catalytic solid-gas reactions;
Reactor design for ideal flow reactors; Kinetics of Solid Catalyzed Reactions; Yield and Selectivity;
Concept of RTD; Segregation and Maximum Mixedness models.]

2. Scope and Objective of the Course:

This course is an introduction to the chemical reaction kinetics, design and performance of various
types of chemical reactors for chemically reacting systems which yield industrially important
products. The emphasis in this course will be to understand the fundamentals of kinetics of
homogeneous reactions, design and analysis of ideal reactors; and non-ideal flow.

3. Text Book (TB | T):

T1 Fogler, H. Scott “Elements of Chemical Reaction Engineering”, Pearson Education, Inc., 4th
Ed, 2006 [or the latest available!].

4. Reference Books (RB | R):

R1 Levenspiel O., “Chemical Reaction Engineering”, John Wiley, 3rd Ed., 1999.
R2 Schmidt Lanny D., “The Engineering of Chemical Reactions”, Oxford University Press,2nd Ed., 2005.
R3 K. Doraiswamy, Deniz ÜnerL., “Chemical Reaction Engineering- Beyond the fundamentals”, CRC
Press
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Pilani Campus
AUGS/ AGSR Division

5. Course Plan:

Module Lecture / Tutorial$ | Ref: Sec Learning Outcomes

(M) Objectives: Topics (TB)

L1 :Introduction: Scope 1.1-1.2  Be able to weave the fundamentals of chemical reaction

and objectives of the engineering (CRE) into a structure or algorithm that is easy to use.
M1 course, methodology, The first building block of this algorithm is mole balances.
concept of mole
balances  With this algorithm, one can approach and solve chemical reaction

L2-3 | Mole balances: 1.3-1.5 engineering problems through logic rather than memorization.
Different types of
reactors, mole balances

L4 | Design equations: 2.1-2.3
Conversion and reactor
M2 sizing
L5-7 | Applications of 2.4-2.6
design
equations
: Reactor sizing for
batch and flow systems
M3 L8-10 | Rate laws and 3.1-3.6
stoichiometry: Basic
definitions
an
d stoichiometric tables
L11-12 | Isothermal 4.1-4.4
reactor design: Design
structure, design of
M4 batch and flow reactors
L13 | Effect of 4.5
pressure: Pressure
drop in reactors
L14 | Mole balances in 4.7
terms of concentration
and molar flow rates:
Mole balance on CSTRs,
PFRs, PBRs
and Batch reactors
After completing this module, students should be able to
 define the parameter conversion and rewrite the mole balances in
terms of conversion.
 show that by expressing -rA as a function of conversion X, a number
of reactors and reaction systems can be sized or a conversion
calculated from a given reactor size.
 arrange reactors in series to achieve the maximum conversion for
a given Levenspiel plot.
Having completed this module, one should be able
 to write the rate law in terms of concentration and the Arrhenius
temperature dependence.
 The next step is to use the stoichiometric table to write the
concentrations in terms of conversion to finally arrive at a
relationship between the rate of reaction and conversion.
 We have now completed the first three basic building blocks in our
algorithm to study isothermal chemical reactions and reactors.
This module presents the heart of chemical reaction engineering for
isothermal reactors. After completing this module, the student should be
able
 to apply the algorithm building blocks: [ Mole Balance | Rate Law
| Stoichiometry | Combine | Evaluate ] to any of the reactors:
batch reactor (BR), CSTR, PFR, PBR, membrane reactor (MR), and
semi-batch reactor(SBR).
 to account for pressure drop and describe the effects of the system
variables such as particle size on the conversion and explain why
there is an optimum in the conversion when the catalyst particle
size is varied.
 to use: either conversions (Part I) or concentration and molar flow
rates (Part 2) to solve chemical reaction engineering problems. Pls
note: chapter 4 is divided in 2 parts … .
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Pilani Campus
AUGS/ AGSR Division

L15-17 | Collection and 5.1-5.5 After going through this module, the student should be able
analysis of rate data:  to analyze data to determine the rate law and rate law parameters
M5 using the graphical and numerical techniques as well as software
Differential
an packages.
d integral methods of  Nonlinear regression is the easiest method to analyze rate-
analysis, examples concentration data to determine the parameters, but the other
L18 | Evaluation of 5.6-5.7 techniques such as graphical differentiation help one get a feel for
laboratory reactors: the disparities in the data.
Differential reactors,  to describe the care that needs to be taken in using nonlinear
comparison of regression to ensure one does not arrive on a false minimum for
experimental reactors σ2. Consequently, it is advisable to use more than one method to
analyze the data.
 to carry out a meaningful discussion on reactor selection to
determine the reaction kinetics along with how lo efficiently plan
experiments.

M6 L19-21 | Multiple 6.1-6.3 After completing this module, the student should be able
reactions: Maximizing  to describe the different types of multiple reactions (series,
desired product in parallel, complex, and independent) and to select a reaction
parallel and series system that maximizes the selectivity.
reactions  to write down and use the algorithm for solving CRE problems with
multiple reactions.
 to point out the major differences in the CRE algorithm for the
multiple reactions from that for the single reactions, and then
discuss why care must be taken when writing the rate law and
stoichiometric steps to account for the rate laws for each reaction,
the relative rates, and the net rates of reaction.
 to feel a sense of accomplishment by knowing … s(he) has now
reached a level … s(he) can solve realistic CRE problems with
complex kinetics.
L22-24 | Non 8.1-8.2 Virtually all reactions that are carried out in industry involve heat effects.
isothermal This module provides
reacto  the basis to design reactors that operate at steady state and
M7 r design: Energy involve heat effects. To model these reactors, we simply add
balance another step to our algorithm; this step is the Energy Balance.
L25 | Flow reactors: 8.3 Here it is important to understand how the energy balance was
Steady state reactor applied to each reaction type so that one will be able to describe
design of CSTR and what would happen if one changed some of the operating
PFR
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Pilani Campus
AUGS/ AGSR Division

L26-28 | Additional 8.4, 8.6 conditions (e.g., To).

topics: Equilibrium  The living example problems (especially 8T-8-3) and the ICM
conversion, module will help one achieve a high level of understanding.
nonadiabatic  Another major goal after studying this module is to be able to
operation, multiple design reactors that have multiple reactions taking place under
study states, multiple nonisothermal conditions. Try working Problem 8-26 to be sure
reactions you have achieved this goal.
 An industrial example that provides a number of practical details is
included as an appendix to this chapter. The last example of the
chapter considers a tubular reactor that has both axial and radial
gradients. As with the other living example problems, one should
vary a number of the operating parameters to get a feel of how
the reactor behaves and the sensitivity of the parameters for safe
operation.
M8 L29 | Unsteady state 9.1-9.2 After completing this module, the student should be able
reactor design: Batch  to apply the unsteady state energy balance to (various) reactors.
reactors  to discuss rector safety.
L30-31 | Catalysis: 10.1-10.2 After studying this module, one should be able
Catalysts  to discuss the steps in a heterogeneous reaction (adsorption,
an surface reaction, and desorption) and describe what is meant by a
M9 d mechanism of rate-limiting step.
catalytic  The differences between molecular adsorption and dissociated
reactions adsorption should be explained by the student as should the
L32 | Finding the rate 10.3 different types of surface reactions (single site, dual site, and Eley-
law: Mechanism, rate- Rideal).
limiting step and rate  Given heterogeneous reaction rate data, s(he) should be able to
law develop a rate law for Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetics.
L33 | Reactor design: 10.4  Because under a harsh environment catalysts do not maintain
Design of reactors for their original activity, one needs to define and describe the basic
Gas-Solid reactions types of catalyst decay (sintering, fouling, coking, and poisoning).
 In addition, one should be able to carry out calculations that
predict conversion in the types of reactors (namely moving bed
and STTR) used to offset the deactivation of the catalyst.

M10 L34-35 | Reactions in 11.1-11.3 After completing this module, the student should be able
porous catalysts:  to define and describe molecular diffusion and how it varies with
Diffusion and reaction temperature and pressure, the molar flux, bulk flow, the mass
in porous catalysts transfer coefficient, the Sherwood and Schmidt numbers, and the
correlations for the mass transfer coefficient.
 to choose the appropriate correlation and calculate the mass
transfer coefficient, the molar flux, and the rate of reaction.
To be improvised a  to describe the regimes and conditions under which mass transfer-
little later … limited reactions occur and when reaction rate limited reactions
occur and to make calculations of the rates of reaction
and mass transfer for each case.
L36-38 | Non ideal 13.1-13.4 After completing this module, the student
reactors: RTD,  will use the tracer concentration - time data to calculate the
M11 measurement and external age distribution function E(t), the cumulative distribution
characteristics, RTD in
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Pilani Campus
AUGS/ AGSR Division

ideal reactors function F(t), the mean residence time, tm, and the variance, σ2.
L39 | Reactor modeling 13.6-13.7  will be able to sketch E(t) for ideal reactors, and by comparing E(t)
with RTD: Zero- from experiment with E(t) for ideal reactors (PFR, PBR, CSTR,
parameter models laminar flow reactor), one will be able to diagnose problems in
real reactors.
 will also be able to couple RTD data with reaction kinetics to
predict the conversion and exit concentrations using the
segregation and the maximum mixedness models without using
any adjustable parameters.
 by analyzing the second derivative of the reaction rate with respect
to concentration, will be able to determine whether the
segregation model or maximum mixedness model will give the
greater conversion.
M12 L40-41 | Analysis of 14.1-14.2  Student will be able to use the RTD data and kinetic rate law and
non-ideal reactors: reactor model to make predictions of the conversion and exit
One-parameter models concentration. In addition, s(he) should be able to create
L42 | Complex models: 14.7 combinations of ideal reactors that mimic the RTD data and to
Two-parameter models solve for exit conversions and concentrations.

They should be able to appreciate that models of real rectors

usually consist of combinations of PFRs, perfectly mixed CSTRs,
and dead spaces in a configuration that matches the flow
patterns in the reactor.

6. Evaluation Scheme

Components Weightage Marks Nature

Duration Date & Time **
(%)
1 90 <Test> CB +/
Mid Sem. Test 1.5 hr. 30 OB
Tutorial Tests / Surprise (!) Quizzes | Class Tests /
2# - 30 90 - CB/OB
Assignments
3 Comprehensive Exam. 120 CB +/
3 hr. 40 4/12 FN
OB

* If any change in this / rest of the handout : it will be communicated in Classes / Tutorials – pls follow them.

** CB = Close Book OB = Open Book : Only Text Book will be permitted.

# A judicious blend of these components will spread over class and tutorial hours. There will not be “best of option” in
assignments. In case of tutorial tests and/or surprise (!) quizzes, all possible efforts will be made so that “best of option”
may be exercised.

 Chamber consultation hour will be announced in the class.

 The notices, if any, concerning the course, will be displayed on the notice board of the Department of Chemical
Engineering / Nalanda (http://nalanda.bits-pilani.ac.in).

 Make-up will be granted for genuine cases only. Certificate from authenticated doctor, say from the Medical
 BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, Pilani
Pilani Campus
AUGS/ AGSR Division

Center, must accompany make-up application (only prescription or vouchers for medicines will not be sufficient).
Prior permission of IC is compulsory.

Instructor-in-charge
CHE F311