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CL 322: Reaction Engineering I

Roll Number:
March 2004

Tutorial (Ideal Reactor Design: Problems from Levenspiel)

1. An aqueous feed of A and B (400 l/min, 100 mmol A/l, 200 mmol B/l) is to be converted to product in a PFR.
The kinetics of the reaction is represented by A + B > R , rA = 200CA CB mol=l=min. Find the volume of reactor
needed for 99.9% conversion of A to product.

2. A mixed flow reactor (2 m3 ) processes an aqueous feed (100 l/min) containing reactant A (CA0 = 100mmol=l).
The reaction is reversible and represented by A < > R , rA = 0:04CA 0:01CR mol=l=min. What is the equilib-
rium conversion and the actual conversion in the reactor?

3. A gaseous feed of pure A (2 mol/l, 100 mol/min) decomposes to give a variety of products in a PFR. The kinetics of
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the conversion is represented by A > 2:5(produ ts), rA = (10min )CA :Find the expected conversion in a 22-liter
reactor.

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4. Gaseous reactant A decomposes as follows: A > 3R, rA = (0:6min )CA . Find the conversion of A in a
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50% A - 50% inert feed (v0 = 180l=min, CA0 = 300mmol=l) to a 1m mixed flow reactor.

5. The aqueous decomposition of A is studied in an experimental mixed flow reactor. The data obtained is given in
table below. Find the space-time required in a CSTR and a PFR for 75% conversion of a feed of CA0 = 0:8mol=l.

Concentration of A, mol/l Space Time, sec

In Feed In Exit Stream
2.00 0.65 300
2.00 0.92 240
2.00 1.00 250
1.00 0.56 110
1.00 0.37 360
0.48 0.42 24
0.48 0.28 200
0.48 0.2 560

Summary of Mole Balance Equations for Ideal Reactors:

1. Batch: j = r V
dN
dt j
2. CSTR: Fj 0 Fj + rj V = 0
3. PFR: j = r
dF
dV j
CA0 (1 XA )
4. Conversion: NA = NA0 (1 XA ) FA
; = FA0 (1 XA ) CA ; = 1+ÆyA0 XA