ADAMSON UNIVERSITY CHE CALCULATIONS 1 Score

College of Engineering Long Examination No. 4 (1st semester AY 2223)

Chemical Engineering Department Date: ___________________

Name: __________________________ Student No. ____________ Section ___________ Instructor: Engr. Anies

General Instruction: Please read the questions CAREFULLY before answering and FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS. Write
ONLY your student number in the top right section of your solution papers. The use of scientific calculators (except
smartphones and online calculators) in this exam is allowed. Failure to comply with the instructions will result to a score of
0.

Problem Solving. Read the following problems carefully. State your basis of calculation and assumptions if any. Show
your COMPLETE and NEAT solutions and BOX your final answers. Keep your final answers in 4 decimal places. Retain
fractions along your solutions to avoid rounding-off errors (if applicable). Answer each problem on a separate set of papers.
Goodluck!

1. (25 points) Ethylene oxide is produced in a catalytic steady flow reactor. A feed consisting of 70% 𝐶2 𝐻4 and 30% 𝑂2
(mole percent) is fed into the reactor at a rate of 100 mol/s. The following chemical reactions take place in the reactor:
𝐶2 𝐻4 + 𝑂2 → 𝐶2 𝐻4 𝑂
𝐶2 𝐻4 + 𝑂2 → 𝐶𝑂2 + 𝐻2 𝑂
𝐶2 𝐻4 + 𝑂2 → 𝐶𝑂 + 𝐻2 𝑂

An analysis of the exit stream indicates that its composition is 41.17% 𝐶2 𝐻4, 37.65% 𝐶2 𝐻4 𝑂, and 7.06% 𝑂2 (mole
percent). Using the method of extent of reactions, determine the following:
a. The conversions of ethylene and oxygen.
b. The conversions of ethylene and oxygen
c. The yield of ethylene oxide.
d. The selectivity of ethylene oxide relative to 𝐶𝑂.

2. (25 points) Ethanol is produced by the hydration of ethylene according to the first reaction below. However, some of
the products are converted to diethyl ether (DEE) according to the second reaction.

𝐶2 𝐻4 + 𝐻2 𝑂 → 𝐶2 𝐻5 𝑂𝐻
𝐶2 𝐻5 𝑂𝐻 → (𝐶2 𝐻5 )2 𝑂 + 𝐻2 𝑂

The feed to the reactor contains ethylene, steam, and 𝑁2 . An effluent analysis is given in the following table:

Component C2H4 H2O C2H5OH (C2H5)2O N2

Mole percent 39.12 45.08 2.95 0.27 12.58

Determine the following:

a. Extent of both reactions.
b. Fractional conversion of ethylene.
c. Fractional yield of ethanol.
d. Maximum fractional conversion of the excess reactant.

3. (35 points) Methanol is synthesized from carbon monoxide and hydrogen in a catalytic reactor. The fresh feed (100
moles per hour) to the process contains 32.0%𝐶𝑂, 64.0% 𝐻2 , and 4.0% 𝑁2 . This stream is mixed with a recycle stream
in a ratio of 5 mole recycle per 1 mole of fresh feed to produce the feed to reactor, which contains 13.0 mole% N2. A
low single-pass conversion is attained in the reactor. The reactor effluent goes to a condenser from which two streams
emerge: a liquid product stream containing essentially all the methanol formed in the reactor, and a gas stream
containing all the CO, H2, and N2 leaving the reactor. The gas stream is split into two fractions: one is removed from
the process as a purge stream, and the other is the recycle stream that combines with the fresh feed to the reactor.:

a. Draw the correct block flow diagram for the described process. Label completely. State your assumptions and
basis if applicable.
b. For the given flow rate of the fresh feed, calculate the following:
i. Rate (mol/min) of methanol production.
ii. Rate (mol/min) of the purge gas.
iii. Composition of the purge gas.
iv. Overall conversion
v. Single pass conversion.