B.E.

(Chemical) 2006
ChE 05012 Chemical Kinetics and Reactor Design

1. We plan to replace our present mixed flow reactor with one having double the
volume. For the same aqueous feed (15 mol A/ liter) and the same feed rate fine the
new conversion. The reaction kinetics are represented by A R, -rA = kCA2 and
present conversion is 80 %.

AR

CAO1 = CAO2 = 15 mol/lit

V1 = v, xA1 = 0.8
V2 = 2v, xA2 = ?

For M.F.R (1),

C AO x A 1 C AO x A 1
m1 = =
rA kC 2AO (1 x A 1 ) 2

v1 C AO x A 1
=
v0 kC 2AO (1 x A 1 ) 2
kC AO v 1 xA
= = 20
v0 (1 x A ) 2
For M.F.R (2),

C AO x A 2 C AO x A 2
m2 = =
rA kC 2AO (1 x A1 ) 2

kCAOv2 x A2
=
v0 (1 x A ) 2
2kC AO v1 x A2
=
v0 (1 x A 2 ) 2
xA 2
40 =
(1 xA 2 ) 2
40 (1-2xA2 +xA22) = XA2
40 80 xA2 +40xA22 = XA2
40xA2 81 xA2 + 40 = 0
xA2 = 0.85
k1 = 0.5

2. The homogeneous gas decomposition of phosphine 4 PH3 (g) P4 (g) + 6 H2

proceeds at 650C with the first-order rate rPH3 = (12hr-12) CPH3. What size of plug
flow reactor operating at 650C and 450 kPa can produce 80 % conversion of a feed
consisting of 40 mol 80% phosphine per hour?

PH3 = A, R = P4, S = H2
4A R +6s
-rA = 10CA
The volume of plug flow reactor,

F 1
v= (1 + A ) ln A x A
kC AO 1 xA
FAO = 40 mol/hr, k = 10, CAO = PAO/RT = 60 mol/m3
74
A = = 0.75, x A = 0.8
4
 400 1
vol of reactor = (1 + 0.75) ln 0.7(0.8)
10(60) 0 .2
= 0.148 m3 = 148 lit

3. Substance A in a liquid reacts to produce R and S as follows:

The feed (CAO = 1.0 , CRO = 0, CSO = 0.3) enters two mixed flow reactors in series, (
1 = 2.5 min, 2 = 10 min). Knowing the composition in the first reactor ( CA1 = 0.4,
CR1 = 0.2, CS1 = 0.7), find the composition leaving the second reactor.

For reactor (1),

C RO C R1
For component R, 1 = rR

0. 2
2 .5 =
k1C 2A
k 1 = 0 .5
4. Consider the following elementary reactions:

k1 k2
A + B R, R + B S

(a) One mole A and 3 mol B are rapidly mixed together. The reaction is very slow,
allowing analysis of compositions at various times. When 2.2 moles B remain
unreacted, 0.2 mole S is present in the mixture. What should be the composition of the
mixture (A, B, R and S) when the amount of S present is 0.6 mol?
(b) One mole of A is added bit by bit with constant stirring to 1 mole B. Left
overnight and then analyzed, 0.5 mole S is found. What can we say about k2/k1?
(c) One mole A and 1 mol B are thrown together and mixed in a flask. The
reaction is very rapid and goes to completion before any rate measurements can be
made. On analysis of the products of reaction 0.25 mole S is found to be present.
What can we say about k2/k1?

B S k
From Fig (4.13), at = 0.8, = 0.2, 2 = 0.8
A0 A0 k1
When present mole of S = 0.6 mol, A, B, R, S =?
k
Same reaction, same 2
k1

From Fig.(4.13), at k 2 = 0.8, S = 0.6 R = 0.3

k1 A0 R0

mole of R = 0.3
B
= 1. 5
A 0
mole of consumed B = 1.5
XA = 1- CA/CAO
= CA/CAO = 0.1
mole of A = 0.1 mole

(b) mole of A0 = 1
mole of B0 = 1
present mole of S = 0.5 mole
 k2
we can't say about
k1

(c) mole of A0 = 1
mole of B0 = 1
B 0 1
mole of consumed B = = =1 (Q goes to completion)
A0 1
present mole of S = 0.25 mole
S
= 0.25
A 0

B S k2
From Fig (4.13) at = 1& = 0.25 = 0.5
A 0 A0 k1
k
A + B
1
R
k
R + B
2
S
mole of A0 = 1
mole of B0 = 1
unreacted mole of B = 2.2
mole of B (consumed) = B = 3-2.2 = 0.8 mole
present mole of S = 0.2 mole

5. A homogeneous first-order reversible aqueous phase reaction

k1
A R
k2

is to be carried out in a plug flow reactor. Using the optimal temperature progression
in the plug flow reactor, calculate the space time and the volume of the reactor for a
feed rate of FA0 = 1000 mol A/min (CA0 = 1 mol/ liter) and a conversion of 60%.
Data: k1 = exp(17.2 11600/RT) , min-1
k2 = exp (41.9 29600/RT), min-1
R = 1.987 cal/mol-K
6. Using a color indicator which shows when the concentration of A falls below 0.1
mol/ liter, the following scheme is devised to explore the kinetics of the
decomposition of A. A feed of 0.6 mol A/ liter is introduced into the first of the two
mixed flow reactors in series, each having a volume of 400 cm3. The color change
occurs in the first reactor for a steady-state feed rate of 10cm3/min, and in the second
reactor for a steady-state feed rate of 50cm3/min. Find the rate equation for the
decomposition of A from this information.
For 1st condition of M.F.R (1),
C A0 C A
=
rA
v 0.6 0.1
=
v0 kC nA
400 0 .5
=
10 k ( 0 . 1) n

k (0.1) n = 0.0125 ---------------------------- (1)

For 2nd condition

C A 0 C A1
1 =
For M.F.R (1), kC nA1

400 0.6 C A1
=
50 kC nA1 _____________ (2)

8k (0.1) n = C A1 0.1 ________________________ (3)

Eq (1) in (3) CA1 = 0.2 mol/lit

From Eq (2) k(0.2)n = 0.05
n=2
k = 1.25
The rate equation is rA = 1.25 CA2