CHE 407 WORKED EXAMPLE

1
.The reaction H 2 + O 2 → H 2 O occurs with a platinum-on-alumina catalyst at low
2
temperatures. The rate in g moles O2/(sec)(g catalyst), at the catalyst surface is given by
r =0.327 ¿ ¿ ¿ Where PO is in atmosphere and T is in degree kelvin
2

(a) Calculate the global rate of reaction at a location in a packed bed reactor where the
bulk conditions are T b=373 K , P t=1 atm , ¿ ¿ and ρ of hydrogen=4.075 ×10−3 lb /ft 3 .
The heat capacity and thermal conductivity of hydrogen are 6.94 cal/gmole ( oC) and
4.71 × 10-4 cal/sec (cm2) (oC/cm) respectively. Are external mass and heat transfer
resistance negligible?
The diameter and mass of the non-porous catalyst pellet are 1.86 cm and 2.0 g and the
superficial mass velocity of the flowing gas is 250 lb/(hr )( ft 2). At these conditions,
the molecular diffusivity of oxygen in hydrogen is about 1.15cm 2/sec. The properties
of the gas mixture are essentially the same as those of hydrogen.
(b) Determine the ratio  of the global rate to the rate evaluated at bulk-gas conditions.