Assignment 4 (Subject: Ch.E.

401 Chemical Reactor Design)

(Due Date: 17th October 2019)

Solve the following numerical Problems (CLO-1)

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Question # 1
Consider the following exothermic reversible reaction with a variable coolant temperature. The elementary reaction
A + B 2C has the following parameter values for the base case.

E = 23 kcal/mol CPA = CPB = CPC = 18 cal/mol K

= -18 kcal/mol CPI = 40 Cal/mol K

k = 0.004 dm6/mol. kg. s @ 310 K = 0.5 cal/kg. s. k

To = 330 Kc = 1000 @ 303 K Ta = 320 K

= 0.0002 / kg = 1000 g/s

FAo = 5.5 mol/s Cpc = 18 cal/g K

CTo = 0.3 mol/dm3 =1

Vary the following parameters in the ranges shown in parts (a) through (i). Write a paragraph describing the trends
you find for each parameter variation and why they look the way they do. Use the base case for parameters not
varied.

a) FAo: 1 FAo 8 mol/s

b) : 0.5 1 4

c) : 0.1 0.8 cal/kg. s. K

d) To: 310 K To 350 K

e) Ta: 300 K Ta 340 K

f) :1 1000 g/s

g) Repeat (f) for counter current coolant flow.

h) Determine the conversion in a 5000 kg fluidized CSTR where UA = 500 cal/s.K with Ta = 320 K and =2
Kg/m3.

i) Repeat (a), (b) and (d) if the reaction were endothermic with K c = 0.001 at 303 K and = +20 k cal/mol.

Question # 2
Investigators sift through debris from blasr in quest for the cause [that destroyed the new nitrous oxide plant]. A
company spokesman said that it appears more likely that the [fatal] blast was caused by another gas- ammonium
nitrate – used to produce nitrous oxide. An 83 % (wt.) ammonium nitrate and 17 % water solution is fed at 200 F to
the CSTR operated at a temperature of about 510 F. Molten ammonium nitrate decomposes directly to produce
gaseous nitrous oxide and steam. It is believed that pressure fluctuations were observed in the system and, as a
result, the molten ammonium nitrate feed to the reactor may have been shut off approximately 4 min prior to the
explosion. Assume that at the time the feed to the CSTR stopped, there was 500 lbm of ammonium nitrate in the
reactor. The conversion in the reactor is believed to be virtually complete at about 99.99%.

Additional information:

= -330 Btu/lbm ammonium nitrate at 500 F (constant)

Cp = 0.33 Btu/lbm ammonium nitrate F

CP = 0.48 Btu/ lbm of steam F

-rA V = kCAV = k V = kM(lbm/h)

Where M is the mass of ammonium nitrate in the CSTR (lbm) and k is given by the relationship below.

T (F) 510 560

k (h-1) 0.307 2.912

The enthalpies of water and steam are

Hw (200F) = 168 Btu/lbm

Hg (500F) = 1202 Btu/lbm

a) Can you explain the cause of blast?

b) If the feed rate to the reactor just before shutoff was 310 lbm of solution per hour, what was the exact temperature
in the reactor just prior to shut-down?

c) How would you start up or shut down and control such a reaction?

d) Explore this problem and describe what you find. [for example, add a heat exchanger UA(T-Ta), chose values of
UA and Ta and then plot R(T) versus G(T)]?

Question # 3
The elementary gas phase reaction A + B 2 C is carried out in a packed bed reactor. The entering molar flow rates
are FAo = 5 mol/s, FBo = 2 FAo, FI = 2 FAo with CAo = 0.25 mol/dm3. The entering temperature is 325 K and a
coolant fluid is available at 300 K.

additional Data

E = 25 kcal/mol CPA = CPB = CPC = 20 Cal/mol K

= -20 kcal/mol @ 298 K CPI = 18 Cal/mol K

k = 0.0002 dm6/mol. kg. s @ 300

To = 330 Kc = 1000 @ 305 K

= 0.00015 / kg = 18 mol/s
 = 320 cal/s m3 K = 1400 Kg/m3 CPcool = 18 cal/mol (coolant)

Plot X, Xe, T, Ta and -rA down the length of the PFR for the following cases.

a) Co-current heat exchange

b) counter current heat exchange

c) constant heat exchanger temperature Ta

d) Compare and contrast your results for (a), (b) and (c) along with those for adiabatic operation and write a
paragraph describing what you find.

Question # 4
The elementary irreversible organic liquid phase reaction A+ B C is carried out adiabatically in a flow reactor. An
equal molar feed in A and B enters at 27 C, and the volumetric flow rate is 2 dm3/sec and CAo = 0.1 kmol/m3.

Additional data:

(273) = -20 kcal/mol, (273) = -15 kcal/mol

(273) = - 41 kcal/mol

CPA = CPB = 15 cal/mol K CPC = 30 Cal/mol K

K = 0.08 dm3/mol s at 300 K E = 11000 cal/mol

a) plot and analyze the conversion, Qr, Qg and temperature profiles up to a PFR reactor volume of 12 dm3 for the
case when the reaction is reversible with Kc = 8 m3/kmol at 450 K. Plot and then analyze the equilibrium
conversion profile.

b) repeat (a) when a heat exchanger is added, Ua = 22 cal/m3 s K, and the coolant temperature is constant at Ta=
450 K.

c) Repeat (b) for both a co-current and a counter current heat exchanger. The coolant is Tao = 450 K . vary the
coolant rate (10 < mc < 1000 g/s)

d) plot Qr and Ta as a function of V necessary to maintain isothermal operation.

e) Compare your answers to (a) through (d) and describe what you find. What generalizations can you make?

f) Repeat (c) and (d) whne the reaction is irreversible but endothermic with = 6000 cal/mol. Choose Tao = 450
K.