T. Furusawa, H. Nashimura, and T. Miyauchi [J. Chem. Eng. Jpn.

, 2, 95–100 (1969)] studied

stability phenomena in a single stirred-tank reactor using hydrolysis of propylene oxide as a model
reaction:

Their results indicated that for this liquid-phase reaction enthalpy changes associated with both
mixing streams of different composition and reaction were significant. Consider the problem of
determining the steady-state operating conditions for a single CSTR. The reactor is well insulated
and two feed streams enter the reactor, each at 18 °C and 300 kPa. The first feed stream consists
of approximately equal volumes of propylene oxide and an inert solvent (methanol). The second
feed stream is an aqueous solution of H2SO4 (0.1% w/w). Additional operating parameters and
physical property data are presented in the Table. The tabulated heat of formation data correspond
to formation of the compounds as liquids. The total volumetric flow rate to the reactor is 14.25
m3/h. Volumetric expansion effects accompanying the reaction or mixing of the two feed streams
may be regarded as negligible.

Inlet flow rate ∆𝑯°𝟐𝟗𝟖 Mean heat capacity

Species
(kg-mol/h) (KJ/g-mol) (J/g-mol K)
Propylene oxide 40 -117,1 125,6
Water 500 -285,83 75,35
Propylene glycol 0 -492,5 182,5
Methanol 67 -239,1 80,4

18000
The rate expression may be regarded as pseudo first-order with 𝑘 = 4.71𝑥109 𝑒𝑥𝑝 (− ) s-1
𝑅𝑇
for R in calories/(g-mol⋅K) and T in K.

The enthalpy change associated with mixing the entering solution of propylene oxide in methanol
with the incoming dilute solution of H2SO4 is very significant in this system. For the ratio of
feedstocks employed in the system being subjected to analysis, the enthalpy change can be
regarded as equivalent to −9 kJ∕g-mol of propylene oxide fed to the CSTR (i.e., the mixing
process is exothermic and the energy liberated produces an effect that is equivalent to increasing
the temperature of the inlet streams and neglecting the heat of mixing effect).

Conduct analyses that permit you to determine steady state (and adiabatic) operating conditions
(temperature and fraction conversion) for a single CSTR with a volume of (1) 500 L, (2) 750 L,
and (3) 1000 L. Also evaluate different inlet temperatures (283, 295, 308 K).

Comment on the stability characteristics of the operating conditions you identify for each reactor.