Acid Neutralization

Reactor

Module 4:
Acid neutralization reactor
Lecture 2:
Analysis of the feed tank and the
reactor for the case of no reaction

Mark J. McCready
Chemical Engineering

Introduction to Engineering Systems Module 4- Acid Neutralization Reactor Copyright ©2001, University of Notre Dame
 Outline for today

 Quick review of mass balance equations

 Analysis of the reactor for 2 feeds but no
reaction
 Expectation of a Steady State ...
 Analysis of the feed tank that is draining by
gravity
 How does the depth of liquid affect the flow
rate?
 Bernoulli equation to relate effects of gravity,
pressure and velocity within a fluid

Introduction to Engineering Systems Module 4- Acid Neutralization Reactor Copyright ©2001, University of Notre Dame
Reactor, what will
the exit
concentration be?
Acid in, 1

Control volume

Base in, 2
3

Flow out, 3

Introduction to Engineering Systems Module 4- Acid Neutralization Reactor Copyright ©2001, University of Notre Dame
 Feed Tank, how
fast does it drain?

Introduction to Engineering Systems Module 4- Acid Neutralization Reactor Copyright ©2001, University of Notre Dame
 Feed Tank, how
fast does it drain?

We will use this

control volume
for the tank
h

Introduction to Engineering Systems Module 4- Acid Neutralization Reactor Copyright ©2001, University of Notre Dame
 Start of new
material

 First we will analyze the reactor using the

mass balance equations.
 Today, there will be no reaction.
 But, we will allow for inlet streams of
different concentration.
 We will see that if the inlet concentrations
and flows are constant, a steady - state is
expected where there is no change in the
concentration with time in the tank.

Introduction to Engineering Systems Module 4- Acid Neutralization Reactor Copyright ©2001, University of Notre Dame
Today, we will not do
reaction,just use the
tank as a mixer

Salt solution in, 1

Control volume

Another salt
solution in, 2
3

Flow out, 3

Introduction to Engineering Systems Module 4- Acid Neutralization Reactor Copyright ©2001, University of Notre Dame
 Recall Mass Balance

 General mass balance equation for a fixed control volume

 Rate of Accumulation =
 Rate In - Rate Out + Production by reaction-
 Consumption by reaction
 Overall

j - density of stream j, (mass/length3 )

dV mass  qj -- volumetric flow rate of stream j,
  q j j   (length3 /time)
 Component t ime 
dt massj (mole) balance V -- active volume of reactor,(length3)

cji-- molar concentration of

species i in stream j, (moles/
dc iV moles  length3 )
  q j c j i  r iV   ri -- molar reaction rate per
dt j  t ime  volume (moles/ (length3 -time))

Introduction to Engineering Systems Module 4- Acid Neutralization Reactor Copyright ©2001, University of Notre Dame
 Today, we will not do
reaction,just use the
tank as a mixer

Salt solution in, 1

Control volume

Another salt
solution in, 2

Flow out, 3

Introduction to Engineering Systems Module 4- Acid Neutralization Reactor Copyright ©2001, University of Notre Dame
 Mass Balance

A sketch of our problem looks like: 1

2
We see two inputs and one output 3
Overall mass balance

dV volume 
 q1  q2  q3  
dt  time 
Component mass balance, for salt
3

dc 3salt
 q1c 1saltflow
Vqj -- volumetric  qrate of 
2c 2salt q3c 3salt
stream j (m3/s)
dt
V -- active volume of reactor (m )3

cjsalt -- molar concentration of salt in stream j (moles/m3)

The reaction term is 0!!

Introduction to Engineering Systems Module 4- Acid Neutralization Reactor Copyright ©2001, University of Notre Dame
 Simplifications

 Flowrates in are not changing in time

 Reactor is filled at the beginning
 Thus, overall mass balance tells us nothing
we don’t find obvious.

q3  q1  q2
 What about the salt balance? We expect
that it will tell us what comes out, if we
know what goes in.

Introduction to Engineering Systems Module 4- Acid Neutralization Reactor Copyright ©2001, University of Notre Dame
 Balance equation

 The salt balance equation#

dc 3
V  q1c 1  q2c 2  q3c 3
 Can be solved to give… dt

  V 3 
tq

(c 1q1 c 2q2 )1  e 

 
c3 
q3
 You can solve this equation by numerical
integration

A green background slide means that we don’t expect you to get the answer,
#

because we used mathematics you may not yet understand. But, the answer
will be insightful.
Introduction to Engineering Systems Module 4- Acid Neutralization Reactor Copyright ©2001, University of Notre Dame
 Plot of the
concentration
 We see that there is an Initial concentration =0
initial transient
(exponential) that
depends on reactor
volume and then a
steady state is reached Note different volumes and
after which there is no abscissa scales
further time variation.
(If the inlets remain
constant!)
Initial concentration =0
 Steady state answer:

(c 1q1 c 2q2 )
c3 
q3

Introduction to Engineering Systems Module 4- Acid Neutralization Reactor Copyright ©2001, University of Notre Dame
 Steady state
concentration
(c 1q1 c 2q2 )
c3 
q3
 For this example we have
 q1 = 10 m3/s, c1 = 2 moles/ m3
 q2 = 5 m3/s, c2 = 3 moles/m3
 Thus:
 q3 = (10 + 5)= 15 m3/s

(2* 10  3* 5)
c3  Note different volumes and
15 abscissa scales

 2.33moles / m3

Introduction to Engineering Systems Module 4- Acid Neutralization Reactor Copyright ©2001, University of Notre Dame
 Steady state
behavior?

 Is there always a steady state if we

have steady inputs to a reactor?
 Maybe this is obvious ??
 Should we have even bothered to
integrate?

 Think of some examples….

Introduction to Engineering Systems Module 4- Acid Neutralization Reactor Copyright ©2001, University of Notre Dame
 Feed Tank, how
fast does it drain?
Now let’s examine a feed tank

We need a new
control volume

This tank has an

h exit stream, but
no inlet streams.

Introduction to Engineering Systems Module 4- Acid Neutralization Reactor Copyright ©2001, University of Notre Dame
 Draining tank

A sketch of our problem looks like:

We have just one output Control valve
Overall mass balance:

dV h
 q3
since dt

we can use  ATank

V the chainhrule to get u3,A3
area of exit pipe,
velocity of fluid
dh leaving in stream 3.
ATank  q3
dt
we know the flowrate and velocity are related by

q3  u3A 3 But…, how do we get u3?

thus
dh
ATank  u3A 3
dt
Introduction to Engineering Systems Module 4- Acid Neutralization Reactor Copyright ©2001, University of Notre Dame
 Draining tank

Factors that affect exit liquid flowrate


dh Control valve, K
ATank  u3A 3
dt
ATank --not really h
h-- yup!

A3 -- yes, consider a h=0

4” pipe versus a u3,A3
hypodermic needle area and velocity
How open the valve is (as denoted by K)

g, gravity -- well of course

• can’t drain a tank on the space station with gravity!

Introduction to Engineering Systems Module 4- Acid Neutralization Reactor Copyright ©2001, University of Notre Dame
 Pressure-depth
relation
 Common occurrence in the summer

Wow,my ears hurt

 =density
g=gravitation
constant
P=pressure
h=depth of
 Basic equation of hydrostatics: liquid

P  gh
Introduction to Engineering Systems Module 4- Acid Neutralization Reactor Copyright ©2001, University of Notre Dame
 Effect of depth

 So we expect that if the depth is

greater, the flow rate will be faster
 Can we quantify this?
 Recall from Physics,
 Consider conversion of potential to
kinetic energy for a fluid blob.
 First we take the case of no “friction” or
drag

Introduction to Engineering Systems Module 4- Acid Neutralization Reactor Copyright ©2001, University of Notre Dame
 KE--PE relation,
we get velocity
 Consider a blob of fluid in our tank. It will
follow the path shown with no friction
Control valve, K

h
a m g h = PE
h=0
u3,A3
area and velocity
h
KE+ PE = 0
1/2 m (ub2 - ua2 ) +mg (hb-ha) = 0
h=0
b ub2 = 2 g h
KE = 1/2 m u2 ub  2gh
Introduction to Engineering Systems Module 4- Acid Neutralization Reactor Copyright ©2001, University of Notre Dame
Draining tank with
control valve

 We see that the velocity will not depend on

the area of exit pipe.
 Now for the real system we have a control
valve that can open and close, the easiest
way to deal with this is to consider that it
causes a “loss” of energy.
 KE + PE + “losses” = 0
 1/2 m (ub2 - ua2 ) +mg(hb-ha) + K/2 ub2 = 0
 (1+K) ub2 = 2 g h As K increases, velocity
decreases.
As the valve is closed,
2gh K increases!
ub 
1 K
Introduction to Engineering Systems Module 4- Acid Neutralization Reactor Copyright ©2001, University of Notre Dame
 WHITE BOARD
STUFF
 Notre Dame law of wind direction
 How momentum of fluid is converted to
an increase in pressure as it impinges
on a wall?
 Student--University paradox
 How the pressure must increase if the
fluid is to be slowed down.
 Work--Energy Principle from Physics
 Bernoulli Equation

Introduction to Engineering Systems Module 4- Acid Neutralization Reactor Copyright ©2001, University of Notre Dame
 Bernoulli equation

 The relation between the pressure, the

velocity, the change in height and frictional
losses:
u2 P u2
   gh  K 0

 tank,
For our draining 2 there is 2 no pressure
change, and the relation between u and h is

2gh
ub 
1 K
 Now we can go back to the mass balance and
finish solving the problem
Introduction to Engineering Systems Module 4- Acid Neutralization Reactor Copyright ©2001, University of Notre Dame
 White board

Introduction to Engineering Systems Module 4- Acid Neutralization Reactor Copyright ©2001, University of Notre Dame
 White board

Introduction to Engineering Systems Module 4- Acid Neutralization Reactor Copyright ©2001, University of Notre Dame
 White board

Introduction to Engineering Systems Module 4- Acid Neutralization Reactor Copyright ©2001, University of Notre Dame
 White Board

Introduction to Engineering Systems Module 4- Acid Neutralization Reactor Copyright ©2001, University of Notre Dame
 Draining tank

Recall the mass balance

dh
ATank  u3A 3
dt
Control valve, K
We use our relation, note that
the “b” subscript is now “3” h

2gh h=0
u3  u3,A3
1K
To get a final equation that can area and velocity
be solved ...
dh 2 gh
You
A  Athis
Tankcan solve numerically to find how h changes in time.
1 K
3
dt

Introduction to Engineering Systems Module 4- Acid Neutralization Reactor Copyright ©2001, University of Notre Dame
 Draining tank

This one has a rather ugly analytical solution…

h(t)=

Here is a plot of some results

K varies
from 0 to
K=12 12

K=0

Introduction to Engineering Systems Module 4- Acid Neutralization Reactor Copyright ©2001, University of Notre Dame
 Filling/draining tank
(for homework)
 What do the equations for this tank look
like? dV 1 2
 q1  q2  q3
dt
Substitute for the unknown flow rate
and the liquid depth
dh 3 3
ATank  q1  q2  u 3A 3
dt
Now use the Bernoulli equation
dh 2gh
 This last
ATank equation
 q1  q2can
 be easily
A3 solved
dt 1 K
numerically to get height versus time.

Introduction to Engineering Systems Module 4- Acid Neutralization Reactor Copyright ©2001, University of Notre Dame
Recap (mixing tank)

 Component mass balance for “mixing 1

2
tank” 3
dc 3salt
V  q1c 1salt  q2c 2salt  q3c 3salt
 The behavior
dt is:

Steady-state answer

(c 1q1 c 2q2 )
c3 
q3

Introduction to Engineering Systems Module 4- Acid Neutralization Reactor Copyright ©2001, University of Notre Dame
 Recap
(draining tank)

 Overall mass balance for draining tank

dh Control valve, K
ATank  u3A 3
dt
2gh
u3 
1K u3,A3
dh 2 gh area and velocity
ATank  A3
dt 1 K K varies
from 0 to
12

Introduction to Engineering Systems Module 4- Acid Neutralization Reactor Copyright ©2001, University of Notre Dame
 Recap
Bernoulli equation

 Bernoulli equation

P u2 u2
   gh  K 0
 2 2
 Useful engineering equation to describe
large-scale fluid flows. It relates
changes in pressure, height and velocity
and accounts for frictional losses.

Introduction to Engineering Systems Module 4- Acid Neutralization Reactor Copyright ©2001, University of Notre Dame