AQSHA - CEB2043 - Reaction Engineering I

QUESTION 1 – CSTR VS PFR

A total of 2500 gal/h of metaxylene is being isomerized to a mixture of ortho-xylene, meta-xylene and para-
xylene in a reactor containing 1000 ft3 of catalyst. The reaction is being carried out at 750 oF and 300 psig. Under
these conditions, 37% of the metaxylene fed to the reactor is isomerized. At a flow rate of 1667 gal/h, 50% of
the meta-xylene is isomerized at the same temperature and pressure. Energy changes are negligible. (Assume
the reaction is irreversible)
a) Find out the type of reactor used for the cases above. Show your calculation to prove your answer.
b) It is now proposed that a second plant be built to process 5500 gal/h of meta-xylene at the same
temperature and pressure as described earlier. What size reactor (volume of catalyst) is required if
conversion in the new plant is to be 46% instead of 37%?

STEPS TO SOLVE:
• Analyze the problem, list the known and unknown
• Choose the proper reactor design equation (Only CSTR and PFR, since it’s a flow reactor)
• Define one or two variable that can be used to show whether the reactor is CSTR or PFR
• Do the calculation to prove.
• For part B, use the info from part A and calculate the volume required for part B.

QUESTION 2 – CSTR REACTION DATA

Liquid-phase irreversible reaction A→B+C
is carried out in a CSTR. To learn the rate law, the volumetric flow rate, 0, (hence  = V/0) is varied and the
effluent concentrations of species A recorded as a function of the space time . Pure A enters the reactor at a
concentration of 2 mol/dm3. Steady-state condition exist when the measurements are recorded.

Run 1 2 3 4 5

 15 38 100 300 1200

CA (mol/dm3) 1.50 1.25 1.00 0.75 0.50

Determine the reaction order and the specific reaction rate.

AQSHA - CEB2043 - Reaction Engineering I – Tutorial 04 – ISOTHERMAL REACTOR DESIGN 1

AQSHA - CEB2043 - Reaction Engineering I

QUESTION 3 – CEREAL DEGRADATION

Nutrition is an important part of ready-to-eat cereal. To make cereal healthier, many nutrients are added.
Unfortunately, nutrients degrade over time, making it necessary to add more than the declared amount to
assure enough for the life of the cereal. Vitamin V, is declared at a level of 20% of the Recommended Daily
Allowance per serving size (serving size = 30 g). The Recommended Daily Allowance is 6500 IU (1.7 X 106 IU = 1
g). It has been found that the degradation of this nutrient is first-order in the amount of nutrients. Accelerated
storage tests have been conducted on this cereal, with the following results:

Temperature (oC) 45 55 65
k (week -1) 0.0061 0.0097 0.0185

a) Given this information and the fact that the cereal needs to have a vitamin level above the declared due
of 6500 IU for 1 year at 25°C, what IU should be present In the cereal at the time it is manufactured?
Your answer may also be reported in percent overuse.
𝐶(𝑡 = 0) − 𝐶(𝑡 = 1𝑦𝑟)
%𝑂𝑈 = × 100
𝐶(𝑡 = 1𝑦𝑟)
b) If 10.000.000 lb/yr of the cereal is made and the nutrient cost is $100 per pound, how much will this
overuse cost?
c) What is your suggestion to reduce the nutrient overuse cost?
d) How would your answers change if you stored the material in a Thailand warehouse for 6 months,
where the daily temperature is 40 oC, before moving it to the supermarket?

AQSHA - CEB2043 - Reaction Engineering I – Tutorial 04 – ISOTHERMAL REACTOR DESIGN 2

AQSHA - CEB2043 - Reaction Engineering I

QUESTION 4 - GAS PHASE REACTION IN PBR FOR δ = 0

An elementary chemical reaction with equimolar feed of A and B (CA0=CB =0.2 mol/dm3)
A + B → 2C
and FA0=2 mol/min, kA=1.5dm6/mol kg min, α=0.0099 kg-1. Find the conversion, X at weight of catalyst used,
W=100 kg with and without pressure drop.

STEPS TO SOLVE:
• Start with the right mole balance equation, followed by the rate law, the stoichiometry and then
• Combine all equations and solve analytically (X=0.6 with P and X=0.75 with P=0)

QUESTION 5 - Calculating Pressure Drop in a Packed Bed

Plot the pressure drop in a 60 ft length of 1.5-inch schedule 40 pipe packed with catalyst (1/2-inch in diameter)
(Ac=0.01414 ft2). There is 104.4 lbm/h of gas passing through the bed. The temperature is constant along the
length of pipe at 260°C. The void fraction,  is 45% and the properties of the gas are similar to those of air at this
temperature. The entering pressure is 10 atm.
(For air at 260C and 10 atm, µ=0.0673 lbm/ft hr and 0=0.413 lbm/ft3) (gc=4.17×108 lbmft/lbfh2)

z (ft) 0 10 20 30 40 50 60

P (atm)

0 (ft3/h)

AQSHA - CEB2043 - Reaction Engineering I – Tutorial 04 – ISOTHERMAL REACTOR DESIGN 3