Example with change in number of moles.

Simple reaction, hence we can use the idea

of ‘ε’, fractional increase in molar flow rate.

Example with a change in number of moles, simple reaction: Consider a gas phase
reaction, 2A → B, gas phase. At the inlet, feed is a mixture of 80% A, 10% B and 10 % inert.
Reaction is first order wrt A, rate of consumption of A is rA = −0.31[ A] mol lit -1 min −1 . Flow
rate at the inlet is 100 mol/min and the volumetric flow rate is 250 lit/min. Reaction is
isothermal and pressure drop in the reactor is negligible. Reactor volume is 500 lit.

Determine the conversion, if the reactor is (a) PFR (b) CSTR. What is the flow rate at the
outlet in each case?

Note: Gas phase reactions are normally not conducted in CSTR, but we will go along
with this story anyway.

Solution

(a) PFR

Species Feed # moles/min Outlet (at 100%

conversion)

A 80 0

B 10 50

I 10 10

Total 100 60

FT 100% conversion
− FT −in 0.6 − 1
ε= = = −0.4
FT −in 1

This idea of ε is applicable when we have simple reaction. This will not be applicable in
complex multiple reactions.

At any point in the reactor (at any conversion ‘x’), we can write the total molar flow rate as
FT = FT −in (1 + ε x ) = 100 (1 − 0.4 x )
Since the pressure and temperatures are constant, we can write PQ = FT RT as
FT P
= = constant
Q RT

For each species, we can write the concentration as

CA =
FA 1 F F
= FA = FA T −in = FA (1 − x ) × T −in
1 F
= A−in
(1 − x ) = C 1 − x
Ain
Q Q Qin FT Qin FTin (1 + ε x ) Qin (1 + ε x ) 1+ ε x

This formula is not always applicable. This is Ok when we have simple reaction, constant
pressure and temperature.

FA−in 0.8 ×100

In this particular case we can write C Ain = = = 0.32 mol/lit
Qin 250

1− x
C A = 0.32
1 − 0.4 x

PFR design equation yields

dFA
= rA = −0.31C A
dV
dx dx 1− x
FAin = 80 × = 0.31× 0.32 ×
dV dV 1 − 0.4 x

1 − 0.4 x 0.31× 0.32 1

dx = × dV = dV
1− x 80 806.45

0.6 + 0.4 − 0.4 x 1 1

dx = 0.6 dx + 0.4dx = dV
1− x 1− x 806.45

x 1
−0.6 × ln (1 − x ) − 0.4 x 0 = 500 = 0.62
806.45

The equation is satisfied when x = 0.79

 (b) If it were conducted in a CSTR, then

FA−in + ( rA ) out V = FA−out

80 − 0.31× C A × 500 = 80 × (1 − x )

80 − 155 × C Ain
(1 − x )= 80 × (1 − x )
1 − 0.4 x
(1 − x ) = 80 × 1 − x
80 − 49.6 ( )
1 − 0.4 x

80 x = 49.6 ×
(1 − x )
1 − 0.4 x
2
80 x − 20 x = 49.6 − 49.6 x
20 x 2 − 129.6 x + 49.6 = 0

Conversion x = 0.408. The other value of x is 6.07 and it is physically meaningless.