ENG2113/SEMR2 /19-20/ 7 pgs

UNIVERSITY OF SURREY©

Faculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences

Department Chemical and Process Engineering

Undergraduate Programmes in Chemical Engineering

Postgraduate Programmes in Chemical Engineering

Module ENG2113; 7.5 Credits

CHEMICAL REACTION ENGINEERING

FHEQ Level 5 Examination

Time allowed: Three hours Semester 2 2019/20

Answer ALL questions

The mark carried by an individual part of a question is indicated in square brackets [ ].

This is an open book exam candidates may use any resource available they consider useful
to answer the questions

© Please note that this exam paper is copyright of the University of Surrey and may not be
reproduced, republished or redistributed without written permission.

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ENG2113/SEMR2 /19-20/ 7 pgs

Question 1

(a) Define the reaction rate constant k and explain its dependence on temperature. Explain the
physicochemical meaning of the different parameters in the k expression. [2.5]

(b) At 50 °C in an isothermal batch reactor at constant volume and density, the irreversible
liquid phase elementary reaction
k
A → products

is first order with respect to A. The half-life for A is 30 min. Calculate the reaction rate when
the concentration of A is 4.X mol/L [2.5]

In the same batch reactor methanol is oxidised to formic acid. The reaction is a liquid phase
unimolecular and irreversible process (A → Products).

Given the data below:

(c) Formulate the reaction and perform the mass balance to obtain the general design
equation for batch reactors. [2.5]
(d)Considering that the reaction is second order with respect to methanol calculate the
reaction time to achieve 60 % conversion of methanol. [10]
(e) How many moles of methanol are left in the reactor at the end of the reaction cycle? [2.5]

Data: Initial mass of methanol = 0.6 mol

Batch Reactor Volume = 6.Y m3
Reaction rate constant = 0.070 m3 mol-1 s-1

X = is the last number of your URN

Y = is the second number of your URN

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ENG2113/SEMR2 /19-20/ 7 pgs

Question 2

(a) Acetic anhydride (liquid reactant) is hydrolysed in three stirred tank reactors connected
in series under isothermal conditions. Assuming equal volume for the three reactors calculate
the concentration of acetic anhydride after each reactor if the initial concentration of acetic
anhydride is 3.5 mol/L [10]

DATA: kinetic constant, k = 0.2X sec-1; feed rate to the first reactor is 600 cm3 sec-1 ;
VCSTR = 2Y00cm3

(b) For continuous flow reactors space time and space velocity are key concepts

(i) Explain the meaning of space time and space velocity. [1]
(ii) Calculate the space time and the space velocity for the first reactor in part (a) [2]
(iii) What are the implications of increasing the space velocity [2]

X = is the last number of your URN

Y = is the second number of your URN

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ENG2113/SEMR2 /19-20/ 7 pgs

Question 3

Using Figure 1 as guidance

(a) Perform the mass balances to obtain the general design equation for PFR with recycle [7.5]

(b) For an irreversible first-order liquid-phase reaction (CAO = 8.X mol/L) conversion is 75% in
a plug flow reactor. If we consider the same reactor but we recycle one-third of the stream
leaving the reactor to the reactor entrance, assuming the throughput to the whole reactor-
recycle system is kept unchanged, calculate the final concentration of the reactant and the
conversion with the recycling system. [10]

(c) Which are the practical uses of PFR with recycle? [2.5]

Figure 1: Schematic representation of a PFR with recycling

X = is the last number of your URN

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Question 4

Figure 2 represents a very simplified block flow diagram (BFD) for Methanol production from
natural gas. The process involves 3 reactors: R1: a desulphuriser; R2: a Reforming Reactor; R3
a Methanol converter.

Figure 2: Simplified BFD of MeOH production from natural gas

The reactions taking place in each reactor are:

R1: a complete reaction: H2S + ZnO → ZnS + H2O

R2: Methane Steam Reforming: 𝐶𝐻4 + 𝐻2 𝑂 ↔ 𝐶𝑂 + 3𝐻2 ΔH298K = +206 kJ/mol

R3: Methanol synthesis: 𝐶𝑂 + 2𝐻2 ↔ 𝐶𝐻3 𝑂𝐻 ΔH298K ,5 MPa = −90.7 kJ/mol

Side reactions for R3:

𝐶𝑂 + 𝐻2 𝑂 ↔ 𝐶𝑂2 + 𝐻2 (water gas shift – WGS)

2𝐶𝐻3 𝑂𝐻 ↔ 𝐶𝐻3 𝑂 𝐶𝐻3 + 𝐻2 𝑂 (Methanol dehydration)

Propose a simplified reactor design for reactors R1, R2 and R3. Your reactor design must
include:

(i) Type of reactor; (ii) operation conditions (Pressure and Temperature) (iii) Type of
catalysts; (iv) material of construction; (v) indications on how to maximise conversion and
selectivity (vi) a simplified reactor sketch. [18]

Make sure you justified well all your choices

This process has a remarkable carbon fingerprint in terms of CO2 emissions (mainly due to
natural gas combustion to heat up the reactors). Propose a potential solution to reduce CO2
emissions. [2]

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Question 5

(a) Assume the following enzymatic reaction scheme (where enzyme E reacts with substrate S to
produce product P):

The Michaelis-Menten model is given by the following mathematical formula:

𝑘2 ∙ 𝐶𝐸0 ∙ 𝐶𝑆
𝑟𝑝 =
𝐶𝑠 + 𝑘𝑆

where rp is the rate of product production, CE0 is the total concentration of enzyme E, CS is the
substrate concentration and ks is the enzyme-substrate complex dissociation constant.

Explain mathematically and physically how the rate of product production is affected by the substrate
concentration.
[6]

(b) Assume the following enzymatic reaction scheme (where the enzyme E reacts with the substrate
S for the production of the product P):

Show that at steady state the product rate, rp, is given by the following formula:

where
k-1 + k2 𝑘
KM = and 𝑘𝑃 = 𝑘−3
k+1 3

CE0 is the initial enzyme concentration and the system is closed for the enzyme.
CS, CP are the substrate and product concentrations at steady state.

[10]
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(c) Assume that the above enzyme E is catalysing a lysis of feedstock for the growth of bacteria which
produce antibiotics in a chemostat reactor. The optimal temperature for maximum feedstock lysis
and for maximum bacterial growth is 37oC. Discuss and sketch how the productivity of your reactor,
i.e., bacterial concentration and antibiotics concentration, would be affected if the temperature of the
reactor would increase to 45 oC.

[5]

(d) Discuss and sketch how the productivity of your reactor would change in (c) if you would have
mammalian cells instead of bacteria in your reactor and monoclonal antibodies instead of antibiotics
as a product.

[4]

Internal Examiner: Dr Tomas R. Reina

Dr Eirini Velliou

FINAL PAGE

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