CHBE 355 Assignment 2

Due: February 13

This assignment consists of 10 problems. You are expected to complete a minimum

of 8 problems to receive full credit. These problems are representative of problems
that could appear on the midterm examination.

Problem 1

The following reaction is undertaken in a PFR:

KEQ
A !" 2B

Pure A is fed to the PFR at 340 K and 2 atm. If the equilibrium conversion is 0.51, what
is value of the equilibrium constant?

Problem 2

A dilute, liquid stream comprising species A is fed to a CSTR and PFR in series. The
CSTR precedes the PFR. Both reactors are maintained at the same temperature and
the entire system is operated isothermally at steady-state.

Under these conditions, A undergoes a second-order reaction. The reaction rate

constant is estimated to be 0.1 L mole-1 sec-1. Additionally, both reactors have the
same volume of 10 L and the molar flow rate of A into the CSTR is 10 moles sec-1. The
residence time of species A in the CSTR is 10 seconds.

What are the conversions of A in (a) the CSTR, (b) the PFR and for (c) the entire
system?

Problem 3

The following elementary reaction takes place in an ideal, isothermal PFR:

k
2A → B

An equimolar mixture of A and an inert species is fed to the reactor at 10 L/s. The total
molar inflow into the reactor is 200 mol/s & the reaction rate constant is 1 L mol-1 s-1.

(a) What is the volume of the PFR required to achieve a final conversion of 80%?

(b) What is the overall yield of B?

Problem 4

A dilute, aqueous solution of species A is fed to a series of 2 CSTRs that are operated
at steady state. The inlet concentration of A in the stream entering the first reactor is 1
M and it undergoes a second-order reaction inside the system of reactors.

Although the reactors are operated isothermally, the two CSTRs are maintained at
different temperatures and differ in size. The first reactor has a volume of 3 L and is
operated at 20oC, whereas the second reactor has a volume of 6 L and is operated at
30oC. However, since both operating temperatures are similar, the flow rate through
the system, which is 1 L/s, can be assumed to be constant. Also, the reaction rate
constant for the first reactor is 0.33 L mol-1 s-1 and the activation energy for the
transformation of A is 40 kJ/mol.

Under these conditions, what are the exit conversions for the first reactor and the series
of both reactors?

Problem 5

A first-order gas phase reaction takes place in an ideal PFR:

k
A → 3B

Pure A is fed to the reactor at 10 L/s. The rate constant is 0.1 sec-1. The concentration
of A in the feed stream is 10 M. What is the volume of the PFR required to achieve a
final conversion of 60%?

Problem 6

A 50%-50% mixture (molar basis) of isobutene and steam is passed through a PFR at
9 mol/hr. In this system, isobutene is the reactant and steam is the diluent. The reactor
is 50 cm long, has a cross-sectional area of 0.2 cm2, and is operated at 1200oC and 1
atm. The reactant pyrolyzes and forms a series of products that exit the reactor at a
volumetric flow rate that is 1.3 times greater than the flow rate of the entering gas. The
final conversion is 75%. Assuming that pyrolysis is a first order reaction and that the
gases behave ideally, what is the rate constant for the reaction at this temperature.

Problem 7

A gas stream leaving an ammonia oxidation plant comprises of 9 mole % nitric oxide
(NO), 1% nitrogen oxide (NO2) and 8% oxygen (O2). The gas is allowed to oxidize until
the NO2:NO molar ratio reaches 5:1. What is the conversion of NO?
If the oxidation is carried out in a PFR, what is the size of the reactor required to
achieve the same conversion if the process is maintained at 20oC and 1 atm, and the
gas feed rate is 10,000 m3/hr at 0oC and 1 atm. The reaction details are:

2
2NO + O2 → 2NO2 and rNO2 =14000 CNO CO2 kmol m-3 s-1

Problem 8

200 m3 of a gaseous mix comprising 80% acetylene – 20% inerts stream (molar basis)
measured at 550oC and 20 atm are to be fed to a series of tubular reactors. Each tube
is 3.5 m long and has an ID of 5 cm. At this temperature, acetylene polymerizes
according to the following reaction:

k
4C2 H2 → (C2 H2 )4

The reaction is 2nd order with respect to acetylene and k = 0.6 L mol-1 s-1. Assume that
acetylene behaves like an ideal gas and that the reaction is isothermal and isobaric.
How many tubes are required for achieving a final conversion of 60%.

Problem 9

Pure A enters an ideal CSTR of volume 10 L at a volumetric flow rate of 10 L/s. Here,
it undergoes a second-order reaction. The reaction rate constant is 0.5 and the
Damköhler number is 1.5.

(a) What are the units of the rate constant? What about the Damköhler number?

(b) What is the conversion of A under these conditions?

(c) If the volume of the reactor is doubled and every other operating parameter
remains the same, what is the new conversion?

(d) How do the residence times in parts (a) and (b) compare?

Problem 10

A gaseous stream of pure A is fed to a mixer. Herein, it combines with the exit stream
of an ideal, isothermal PFR. The mixture is subsequently re-fed to the reactor at a total
rate of 4 L/s, where A undergoes the following reaction:

k
A→B
The reaction is second-order and depends solely on the abundance of A. The reaction
rate constant is determined to be 0.2 L mol-1 s-1. Species A spends 25 seconds within
the reactor, after which 60% of it is consumed. What is the ratio of the volumetric flow
rate of stream comprising pure A to that of the recycled stream if the overall conversion
in the system is 80%?
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