Aspen Plus Tutorial:

Reactors

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Model Description Purpose Use For
RStoic Stoichiometric Models stoichiometric Reactors where reaction kinetics are unknown or
reactor reactor with specified unimportant but stoichiometry and extent of
reaction extent or conversion reaction are known
RYield Yield reactor Models reactor with specified Reactors where stoichiometry and kinetics are
yield unknown or unimportant but a yield distribution is
known
REquil Equilibrium reactor Performs chemical and Reactors with simultaneous chemical equilibrium
phase equilibrium by and phase equilibrium
stoichiometric calculations
RGibbs Equilibrium reactor Performs chemical and Reactors with phase equilibrium or simultaneous
with Gibbs energy phase equilibrium by Gibbs phase and chemical equilibrium. Calculating
minimization energy minimization phase equilibrium for solid solutions and vapor-
liquid-solid systems.

RCSTR Continuous stirred Models continuous stirred One-, two, or three-phase stirred tank reactors
tank reactor tank reactor with rate-controlled and equilibrium reactions in
any phase based on known stoichiometry and
kinetics
RPlug Plug flow reactor Models plug flow reactor One-, two-, or three-phase plug flow reactors with
rate-controlled reactions in any phase based on
known stoichiometry and kinetics
RBatch Batch reactor Models batch or semi-batch One-, two-, or three-phase batch and semi-batch
reactor reactors with rate-controlled reactions in any
phase based on known stoichiometry and kinetics
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• RCSTR, RPlug, and RBatch are kinetic reactor
models. Use the Reactions form to define the
reaction stoichiometry and data for these
models.
• You do not need to specify heats of reaction,
because Aspen Plus uses the elemental enthalpy
reference state for the definition of the
component heat of formation. Therefore, heats
of reaction are accounted for in the mixture
enthalpy calculations for the reactants versus the
products.
• RYield uses the Fenske, Underwood and Gilliland
method

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 Rstoic: Problem description
• The process of Hydro-dealkylation of Toluene to
produce Benzene and Methane takes place at a
pressure of 25bar and 600 degrees celsius. The feed
is available in vapour form at a temp of 200 degrees
celcius and 25bar. The single pass conversion of
Toluene in the reactor is 90%
• Feed flow rate of both Toluene and Hydrogen are
100kmol/hr. The reaction takes place as follows;

• Determine the mass flow rate and composition of

the product stream
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 REquil
Direct Dimethyl ether synthesis
• Dimethyl ether (DME) is a clean and economical
alternative fuel which can be produced from
natural gas through synthesis gas (Hydrogen &
CO)
• An equimolar feed of Hydrogen and CO is reacted
to produce DME
• Feed is available at reaction temperature and
pressure that is 260 degrees celcius and 5 bar
respectively
• Determine the equilibrium composition
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 Reactions

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 RCSTR

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 24 83
6491 6491
319 B1 300

S1 S2

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 Design Spec
• Determine the composition of the
product stream
• Determine the volume of reactor (V)
required to achieve a conversion of
X =99% of Propylene Oxide
• X=(Po_in-Po_out)/Po_in
• Give reasons for the obtained value
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