CN2116E NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE (CN2116E - CHEMICAL KINETICS AND REACTOR DESIGN (Semester Il: 2015/2016) Time Allowed: 2.5 Hours INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES his examination paper contains FOUR (4) questions and comprises FIVE (5) printed pages. 2. Answer ALL questions. 3. This is an Open Book examination. 4, Approved models of hand-held calculators may be used. 5. All symbols used have their usual meanings.w CN2116E QUESTION 1 Answer ALL parts (a), (b) and (c) (25 marks) The gas phase reaction, A + 2B —> 3R, is carried out in a Plug Flow Reactor (PFR) at a constant temperature of 100 °C. The rate equation for this reaction is -t4 = kCaCp, where k = 1.0 mol Ls. The conditions of the feed are as shown. the following figure: Cao = 1 mol/L a Yaz ls Plug Flow Reactor Cp = 2 mol/L vp=3 Lis (a) Calculate the volume of the PFR required to achieve 99% conversion of A. (10 marks) (b) Due to an increase in demand for the product of this reaction, the production rate needs to be increased. Suppose an unused vessel with volume 50 L is available and is to be operated as a second PFR arranged in series with the one from (a). Design new volumetric flow rates of the feed streams, va and vs, which can be applied while maintaining 99% conversion of A in the final product stream of this multiple reactor system. (7 marks) (©) A chemical engineer suggests operating the vessel in (b) as a Mixed Flow Reactor (MER) arranged in parallel with the PFR from (a). Design new volumetric flow rates of the feed streams, va and vp, which can be processed by this multiple reactor system while achieving 99% conversion of A in the final product stream. (8 marks)3 CN2116E, QUESTION 2 Answer ALL parts (a), (b) and (c) (25 marks) Reactant A undergoes an autocatalytic reaction, A +R» R +R, with rate constant k mol" 1 Ls". A feed with concentrations Cao = 1.0 mol L and Czy = 0.1 mol L" is to be processed at a volumetric flow rate v. Ls using either a single Mixed Flow Reactor (MFR) or a single Plug Flow Reactor (PFR) to achieve a final conversion of Xe (@) Determine the volume of the single MFR and the volume ofthe single PFR required in terms of k, vo and Xe. (10 marks) (b) Hence, or otherwise, find the value of Xar which will result in the volumes of the single MFR and the single PFR to be equal. (5 marks) (©) If the above reaction is carried out in a Recycle Reactor with the same feed conditions and final conversion value as in (b), find the recycle ratio required in order for the volume of the Recycle Reactor to be 90% of the volume of the single MFR or single PFR in (b). (10 marks)