Chemical Reaction Engineering

Exercises in class (25/04/2022)

1. A → B reaction is carried out isothermally in a constant volume batch reactor. The reaction is
first order and specific rate constant is k = 0.01 s-1. The initial concentration of A is 2 mol/L.
a) Find the required time to convert 90 %, 99 % and 99.9 % of A.
b) If the reaction was second order, find the time required for the same conversion rates.
2. A → B reaction is carried out in a CSTR. Reaction is first order and specific rate constant is
k = 0.5 min-1. If A with an initial concentration of 2 mol/L is fed into the reactor with a flow
rate of 4 L/min, find the time and reactor volume needed to convert 90 % of A.
3. A → B reaction is carried out in a PFR. Reaction is first order and specific rate constant is k =
0.5 min-1. If A with an initial concentration of 2 mol/L is fed into the reactor with a flow rate of
4 L/min, find the time and reactor volume needed to convert 90 % of A.
4. A → B + C gas phase reaction is carried out isothermally in 20 𝑑𝑚3 constant volume batch
reactor. Initially, there is 20 moles of A in the reactor.
a) If the reaction is first order (k = 0.865 min-1), find the reqiured time to decrease the
mole of A to 0.2 moles.
b) Calculate the initial pressure value for 127℃. What is the total pressure at the end of
the reaction?
5. A → B + C reaction is carried out in a 200 dm3 constant volume batch reactor. The mixture of
75 % A and 25 % B is fed to reactor at 20 atm. This reaction is performed at 227 ℃ isothermally.
a) Calculate the initial moles of A (Assuming that ideal gas law is valid.)
b) If the reaction is first order (k = 0.1 min−1), find the necessary time to consume 99 %
of A.
6. A → B first order reaction is carried out in a Plug flow reactor (PFR) with constant volumetric
flow rate. Derive an equation based on the input and output concentration of the reactant A,
volumetric flow rate, v, reaction rate constant, k, and reactor volume, V. Determine the reactor
volume required for the output concentration of A to be up to 10% of the input concentration.
Volumetric flow rate is 10 dm3/min; Specific rate constant is 0.23 min-1
7. A → B is carried out isothermally in a flow reactor. Calculate both the CSTR and PFR reactor
volumes necessary to consume 99 % of A (CA = 0.01CA0) assuming the reaction rate, –rA , is:

–rA = k k=0.05 (mol/dm3 h)

–rA = k CA k=0.0001 (1/s)

–rA = k CA2 k=3 (dm3/mol h)

The entering molar flow rate is 5 mol/h and the volumetric flow rate is 10 dm3/h.