DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, IIT DELHI

REACTOR SIZING PROBLEMS

ASSIGNMENT-2

1) It is being considered that the following gas-phase reaction be carried out in a CSTR:
A + 2B →4C
The reactor will be operated isobarically and isothermally. The rate law for the reaction is given as: (-rA)
= k⋅CA⋅CB where, k= 8 L/mol-min at the operating temperature. The total feedvolumetric flow rate to the
reactor at operating temperature and pressure is 10 L/min. The feed consists of A, B and an inert (I). The
feed molar flow rates are FA0= FB0= 1 mol/s and FI0=2 mol/s.
a) Calculate the volume of reactor required to achieve 80% conversion of the limiting reactant.
b) If all other conditions are kept constant (including total volumetric flow rate) but no inert is present in
the feed, calculate the reactor volume required to achieve 80% conversion of limiting reactant.
2) Estimate the volume of a plug-flow reactor (in m3) required for production of ethylene from ethane
(C2H6→C2H4+ H2) based on the following data and assumptions:
a. The feed is pure ethane at 1 kg s-1, 1000K and 2 bar (abs).
b. The reaction is first-order irreversible at low conversion, with k= 0.254 s-1at 1000 K.
c. The reactor is operated isothermally and isobarically.
d. Conversion of ethane is 20% at the outlet.
3) Pure A is fed at a volumetric flow rate of 1000 dm 3 /h and at a concentration of 0.005 lb mol/ft 3
to an existing CSTR, which is connected in series to an existing tubular reactor. If the volume of
the CSTR is 1200 dm 3 and the tubular reactor volume is 600 dm 3 , what are the intermediate and
final conversions that can be achieved with the existing system? The reciprocal rate is plotted in
the Figure below as a function of conversion for the conditions at which the reaction is to be

carried out.

4) A 400-L CSTR and a 100-L PFR are available to process 1.0 L of feed per second. The feed contains
41% A, 41% B, and 18% inerts. The irreversible gas-phase reaction
is to be carried out at 10 atm and 227°C. The rate of reaction in g mol/L min is given below as a
function of conversion:

(a) What is the maximum conversion that can be achieved with these two reactors connected in
series? (Ans.: X C,P   = 0.445, X P,C . = 0.515.)
(b) What would be the overall conversion if two 400-L CSTRs were connected in series for the
same feed and operating conditions? (Ans.: X  = 0.595.)
(c) What would be the overall conversion if two 400-L CSTRs were connected in parallel with
half of the feed going to each reactor? (Ans.: X  = 0.52.)
(d) What is the volume of a single tubular reactor necessary to achieve 60% conversion if the
molar feed rate is 2 g mol A/min? (Ans.: V  = 180 L)
(e) If the total pressure were reduced by a factor of 10, would the conversion increase, decrease,
or remain the same?
(f) Plot the rate of reaction and conversion as a function of PFR volume.
(g) Give a critique of the answers to this problem.