CHFEN 3553 Chemical Reaction Engineering

March 9, 2005; 12:55 PM – 1:45 PM - Solutions

Total – 100 points

1. A liquid-phase reaction A + 2 B → C is taking place in a semi-batch reactor. The reaction is

begun with 84 moles of A in the reactor. The initial reactor volume is 50 liters. B is added at
a volumetric rate of 2 lit/min and a concentration of 10 mol/lit. The reaction is assumed to be
mol
zero order with respect to both A and B. The rate constant k is 0.125 . How much
lit-min
time does it take to reach a conversion of 50% A. What is the concentration of B at this
time?
20 points

Semi-batch design equation:

dX
− rAV = N A0
dt
V = V0 + vt
dX
k (V0 + vt ) = N A0
dt
t X
N
∫0 (V0 + vt )dt = kA0 ∫0 dX
vt 2 N A0
V0t + = X
2 k
t 2 + 50t − 336 = 0
t=6
N (1 − X ) 84 ⋅ 0.5 mol
C A = A0 = = 0.6774
V0 + vt 50 + 12 lit
CB 0 vt − 2 N A0 X 10 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 6 − 2 ⋅ 84 ⋅ 0.5 mol
CB = = = 0.58
V0 + vt 62 lit

2. A series reaction A ⎯⎯⎯→

1st order
B ⎯⎯⎯⎯
Zero order
→ C is taking place in a CSTR. Derive the
concentrations of A, B and C as functions of residence time τ , the rate constants ( k1 and k2 )
and the initial concentration of A ( C A0 ). Assume that the concentrations of B and C in the
reactor entrance stream are zero.
20 points

Composite rates

1
− rA = k1C A
rB = k1C A − k2
C A0 − C A C A0 − C A
τ= =
− rA k1C A
CA 1
=
C A0 1 + k1τ
CB 0 − CB C − CB CB
τ= = B0 =
− rB −k1C A + k2 k1C A − k2
CB C A0
= k1 − k2
τ 1 + k1τ
CB kτ kτ
= 1 − 2
C A0 1 + k1τ C A0

3. Determine the composite rates of reaction for all of the species in the following reaction
sequence.

k − First order k3 − First order

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
1
A ←⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ → B ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
⎯ →C
k − First order
2
k4 − Second order
2 A ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ →D

16 points
C
− r1 A = k1 (C A − B ) + k4C A2
K1
CB
rB = k1 (C A − ) − k 3C B
K1
rC = k3CB
1
rD = k4C A2
2

4. Measured concentrations in a constant-volume batch reactor are tabulated. Determine the

order of the reaction and the rate constant.

t (mins) 0 5 13 20 30
Ca (mol/lit) 5 0.93 0.41 0.27 0.18

22 points

2
 1/Ca

4
1/Ca

3 1/Ca

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Time

Assume second order (n=2); slope=k=0.179

5. The following first-order reaction is taking place in a PBR.

A→ B
The reaction rate and the rate constant are given by:

mol
− rA' = kp A
kg cat-h
mol
k = 0.75
atm-kg cat-h
0
A is fed to the reactor with 50% inerts at 327 C and 1 atmosphere. Feed rate of A is 37.5
moles/h. The pressure drop parameter α = 0.0045 kg -1. Obtain an expression that relates the
conversion in the reactor to the weight of the catalyst used. State your assumptions.
What conversion can you obtain with 100 kg of the catalyst?
22 points

3
− rA' = kp A = kC A RT
ε =0
C A = C A0 (1 − X ) y = C A0 (1 − X ) (1 − αW )
1/ 2

dX P
= − rA' = kRT/ ⋅ y A0 0 (1 − X ) (1 − αW )
1/ 2
FA0
dW RT
dX kPA0
= (1 − X ) (1 − αW )
1/ 2

dW FA0
X W
dX kP
∫0 (1 − X ) = FAA00 ∫ (1 − αW )
1/ 2
dW
0

kP 2
− ln(1 − X ) = A0 ⎡⎣1 − (1 − αW )3/ 2 ⎤⎦
FA0 3α
X=0.584 for the given parameters.