5-3-1 Application for Adiabatic Liquid-Phase Isomerization

The isomerization of butane:

was carried out adiabatically in the liquid phase. The data for this reversible reaction are given in Table below.

The reaction is carried out adiabatically, and the reactor used is schematized in in Figure below.
1- Calculate the volume of each of the reactors for an entering molar flow rate of n-butane of 50 kmol/hr.

Solution:

Taking the reciprocal of –rA and multiplying by FA0, we obtain the following Table:

(a) For the first CSTR:

𝐹𝐴0
when X = 0.2, then = 0,94
−𝑟𝐴
𝐹𝐴0 𝑋1
𝑉1 = = 0,94 ∗ 0,2 = 0,188𝑚3
−𝑟𝐴1
(b) For the PFR:
0,6
𝐹𝐴0
𝑉2 = න 𝑑𝑋
−𝑟𝐴
0,2

Using Simpson’s three-point formula with ΔX = (0.6 – 0.2)/2 = 0.2, and X1 = 0.2, X2= 0.4, and X3 = 0.6

0,2
𝑉2 = 0,94 + 0,85 ∗ 4 + 1,32 = 0,37777𝑚3
3
For the last reactor, the mole balance on A for the CSTR:

𝐼𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡 − 𝑂𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡 + 𝐺𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 0

𝐹𝐴2 − 𝐹𝐴3 + 𝑟𝐴3 𝑉3 = 0

Rearranging:
𝐹𝐴2 − 𝐹𝐴3
𝑉3 =
−𝑟𝐴
By another hand:
𝐹𝐴2 = 𝐹𝐴0 − 𝐹𝐴0 𝑋2
𝐹𝐴2 − 𝐹𝐴3 = 𝐹𝐴0 (𝑋3 − 𝑋2 )
𝐹𝐴3 = 𝐹𝐴0 − 𝐹𝐴0 𝑋3
From where:
𝐹𝐴0
𝑉3 = ( )(𝑋3 − 𝑋2 )
−𝑟𝐴
𝐹𝐴0
when X = 0.65, then =2
−𝑟𝐴

𝑉3 = 2 ∗ 0,65 − 0,6 = 0,1𝑚3

A Levenspiel plot of (FA0/–rA) vs. X is shown in Figure below:

Levenspiel plot for adiabatic reactors in series.

6- Some Further Definitions
Some terms and equations commonly used in reaction engineering need to be defined. We also consider the
special case of the plug-flow design equation when the volumetric flow rate is constant.

6.1 Space Time or Holding Time

The space time tau, τ, is obtained by dividing the reactor volume (V) by the volume flow rate entering the
reactor (V’)
the volume V [m3] of the reactor is crossed by a volume flow V‘ [m3.s-1] of product
𝑉
The ratio defines the time of stay τ (s). It represents a measure of reactor performance
𝑉′

For example, a 2 minute space time means that every 2 minutes the reactor treats a feed volume equal to the
reactor volume
The space time is the time necessary to process one reactor volume of fluid based on entrance conditions. For
example, consider the tubular reactor shown in Figure below, which is 20 m long and 0.2 m3 in volume. The
dashed line represents 0.2 m3 of fluid directly upstream of the reactor. The time it takes for this fluid to enter
the reactor completely is called the space time tau. It is also called the holding time or mean residence time.

For example, if the reactor volume is 0.2 m3 and the inlet volumetric flow rate is 0.01 m3/s, it would take the
upstream equivalent reactor volume (V = 0.2 m3), shown by the dashed lines, a time τ equal to:

0,2
𝜏= = 20 𝑠
0,01
to enter the reactor (V = 0.2 m3). In other words, it would take 20 s for the fluid molecules at point a to move to
point b, which corresponds to a space time of 20 s.
We can substitute for FA0=CA0.V’ in Equations (13) and (16) and then divide both sides by V’ to write our mole
balance in the following forms:

For a PFR:
𝑋
𝑉𝑝 𝑑𝑋
𝜏𝑝 = = 𝐶𝐴0 න
𝑉′ −𝑟𝐴
0

For a CSTR: 𝑉 𝑋
𝜏= = 𝐶𝐴0
𝑉′ −𝑟𝐴

6-3 Space Velocity

The space velocity (SV), which is defined as:

𝑉′ 1
𝑆𝑉 = =
𝑉 𝜏
6-3 Examples: Reactor Space Times and Space Velocities

Calculate the space time, 𝜏, and space velocities for the reactor in previous Example for an entering volume
flow rate of 2 dm3/s.

We consider the isothermal gas-phase isomerization.

A B

From this Example, the CSTR volume was 6.4 m3 and the corresponding space time, τ, and space velocity, SV
are:
𝑉 6,4
𝜏= = = 3200 𝑠 = 0,89 ℎ
𝑉′ 0,002
𝑉′ 1 −
𝑆𝑉 = = = 1,12 ℎ 1
𝑉 𝜏