LAB 3: AN ACYCLIC PROCESS

Objective: 1. To install and converge a conversion reactor 2. To simulate a process involving reaction and
separation

Process:

Toluene is produced from n-heptane by hydrogenation over a Cr2O3 catalyst adsorbed on Al2O3:

C7H16 → C7H8 + 4H2

n-heptane is heated from 65oF to 800oF in a heater at molar flowrate of 100 lbmole/hr and fed to a
catalytic reactor, which operates isothermally and converts 15% of nheptane to toluene. The effluent is
cooled to 30oF and fed into flash separator to remove all the hydrogen from the liquid stream.

Then, use a separation equipment to separate toluene from excess n-heptane. The

Hint:

1. Use Soave-Redlick-Kwong property package.

2. Use adjust operation in HYSYS to achieve the goal

3. Optimize the separation process in the first separator.

Questions:

1. What is the phase of n-heptane at the inlet and outlet of the heater?

2. What is the mole fraction for each component after conversion of 15% n-heptane?

3. What is the phase and temperature of the inlet of separator?

4. Determine the mole fraction for each component at the outlet of the separator.

5. Use a separation equipment to obtain a high purity toluene. Record toluene purity you obtain.