Chemical Reaction Engineering II

No. V

Tutorial Sheet

Qu 1. An irreversible first order reaction occurs on the interior pore surface of

catalyst particles in a fixed bed tubular reactor. Assume isothermal
operation and the dispersion model for the reaction mixture flowing
through the bed. The reactant concentration in the feed is C 0. Derive an
equation for the conversion in the reactor effluent. How is the equation
simplified if:
a.
Intraparticle diffusion resistance is unimportant?
b.
Fluid to particle (or external) mass transfer resistance is
unimportant?
c.
The global rate is controlled by the intrinsic reaction at the interior
site?
d.
Axial dispersion is unimportant ( Plug flow conditions)?
e.
Both conditions (c) and (d) apply?
Qu 2 Catalytic dehydrogenation of ethyl benzene to styrene is represented by
the following reaction
C6H5C2H5 C6H5CH=CH2 + H2 .
The global rate is given as rp = k(pE pspH/ K) where pE, pS and pH are
partial pressures of ethyl benzene, styrene and hydrogen, respectively.
The specific reaction rate and equilibrium constants are
Log k = -1.462 4770/ T where k is in kgmol/ s. kPa kg catalyst
T 0C

400
1.7 x 10-3
500
2.5 x 10-2
600
2.3 x 10-1
700
1.4
Estimate the amount of catalyst necessary to produce 13,620 kg of styrene a
day using a vertical tubes 1.22 m in diameter, packed with catalyst pellets.
Assume that there is no side reaction taking place and also there is no heat
exchange between the reactor and the surroundings. Assume that under
normal operation the exit conversion will be 45%. However, also prepare
graphs of conversion and temperature vs. Catalyst bed depth, up to
equilibrium conditions. He feed per reactor tube is 1.70 x 10 -3 kg mol/ s for
ethyl benzene and 34.0 x 10-3 kg mol/ s for steam. In addition,
Temperatue of mixed feed entering reactor
Bulk density of catalyst as packed
Average pressure in reactor tubes
Heat of reaction H
Surrounding temperature

898 K
1440 kg/ m3
121 kPa
1.39x 105 kJ/ kg mol
294 K