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ASPEN PLUS™ E P
This section is devoted to example reaction problems. The problems were taken from the 4th
Edition of Elements of Chemical Engineering by H. Scott Fogler. Both problems come from
Example 8-5, the first is an adiabatic reactor and the second is a PFR with constant cooling
temperature. Please note, it is assumed that the user knows how to create a flowsheet and enter
process conditions, since these examples explain only the values to enter for each input window.
He states further that this reaction is first-order with respect to acetone and that the specific
reaction rate can be expressed by
where k is in reciprocal seconds and T is in Kelvin. In this design, it is desired to feed 8000 kg of
acetone per hour to a tubular reactor. If the reactor is adiabatic, the feed pure acetone, the inlet
temperature 1035K, and the pressure 1 62 kPa (1.6 atm), a tubular reactor of what volume is
required for 20% conversion?
The flowsheet consists of one inlet stream, a PFR, and one product stream. It should look like
this:
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Create a flowsheet like this in ASPEN PLUSTM. If you do not know how, see Example 4-3. When
the flowsheet is complete, Required Input Incomplete should appear in the lower right corner
of the screen. Click the Next button. Click OK when prompted to Enter Required Data.
This section will explain what values to type in for each input window. If you do not know how to
enter values, change units, or navigate through the input windows, see Example 4-3.
Setup
Components
1. Under Component Name type the following in a column: ACETONE, KETENE, METHANE
2. Under Comp ID type in any id names for the above components: A, K, C1
3. Click Next
Properties
Stream
Blocks
Reactions - Stoichiometry
1. Select New...
2. Reaction Name: enter a name for the reaction set
3. Select Type: LHHW
4. Select OK
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Reactions - Kinetic
k (s-1) = 8.2x1014exp(-32,444/T)
(Note that R is missing in the denominator.)
Click Next again until you are prompted to run the simulation. Click OK. When the simulation is
complete, click next and choose to Display Run-Status results form. If you do not know how to
interpret the results window, see Example 4-3. Otherwise, check the conversion (X = moles
reacted/moles fed). Does X = 20%? If X < 20%, you must increase the length of the PFR. If X >
20%, you must decrease the length of the PFR.
In this case where length = 3 m, diam = 1m, the conversion was greater than 20%. Therefore,
you need to go back to the PFR and input a smaller length. You must access the Rplug.Main
window to do this. If you do not know how to reenter inputs, see Example 4-3.
This time, try a length of 2.5 m while holding the diameter constant at 1 m. When you rerun the
simulation, you will find that X = 20%! Finishing up the example, the volume of the PFR with
these dimensions is V = 1.96 m3.
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The reactor is to be jacketed so that a high-temperature gas stream can supply the energy
necessary for this endothermic reaction (see Figure E8-5.1). Pure acetone enters the reactor at a
temperature of 1035K and the temperature of the external gas in the heat exchanger is constant
at 1150K. The reactor consists of a bank of one thousand 1-in. schedule 40 tubes. The overall
heat-transfer coefficient is 110 J/m2-s-K. Determine the temperature profile of the gas down the
length of the reactor.
Figure E8-5.1
Blocks
1. On the Specifications tab, change reactor type to: Reactor with constant coolant
temperature.
2. Enter the heat transfer parameter U: 110 J/sec-sqm-K.
3. Enter the coolant temperature: 1150 K
4. Length: Need to guess a length, 3 METERS is a good starting point.
5. Diam: Need to guess a diameter, 1 METER is a good starting point.
6. Click Next.
7. If the reaction set has already been made add it in the Reactions tab
Run the simulation. Again, adjust the length until the conversion is X = 20%. In this example,
the proper length was 1.9 m with a diameter of 1 m. Thus the volume was V = 1.49 m3.
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To see the temperature profile down the length of the PFR, do the following:
1. In the left explorer window, double click on blocks and then select B1
2. From the main file menu, select Plot and then Plot Wizard
3. In the window that appears, hit next, and then select Temperature. Hit Next
4. Find the "Which X-axis variable would you like to plut?" Mark the reactor Length choice.
Change any other options (such as units) and when you are done select Finish. You will
see the plot of temperature as a function of reactor length.
You should see a plot of the temperature profile that looks like this:
I. Introduction
V. Example Problems
A. 8-5: Adiabatic Production of Acetic Anhydride
B. 8-5: Operation of a PFR with Heat Exchanger
VII. Credits
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