FACULTY OF CHEMICAL AND ENERGY ENGINEERING

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA

SEMESTER 1, 2023/2024

CHEMICAL REACTION ENGINEERING PROJECT

SETK 3263/SETB 3223/SETG 3463

Introduction

Students will work together in a team of 4 – 5 members. Each team will work on a slightly
different problem. At the end of the project, each team is required to produce a video
presentation consists of all the important topics of the project.

Project Description

The project objective is to design a reactor for a production of 100 kg/day of a chemical
production. The products are listed in Appendix A. Each group will be assigned only one (1)
chemical product.

The project work will involve the following tasks:

i. Literature review
• Review the processes and typical process conditions (inlet compositions, operating
pressure, and temperature, and typical reactor conversions, and selectivity) for the
manufacture of your chemical product.
• A review of the literature for background on the chemical product.

ii. Synthesis route

• Discuss the synthesis routes of the chemical product.
• Discuss on the most typical reactor types employed to produce the chemical.

iii. Multiple Reactions

• All reactions including the side reactions must be considered.
• Assuming that all reactions are elementary, write the rate law for all components
(species) in the reactions.

iv. Reaction kinetics

• Find the reaction kinetics for your reaction.
• Obtain at least three journal references for possible reaction kinetics for your
reactor. (All references must be listed at the end of your video).
v. Reactor System
• From the literature review, suggest a suitable reactor system (batch or CSTR or PFR
or PBR) that is appropriate to produce the chemical.
• Draw the selected reactor using AutoCAD software with detail dimension.

vi. Calculation and analysis

• Calculate the selectivity (main product) and yield of all products produced in the
process (isothermal and isobaric condition) using numerical methods.
• Simulate your numerical calculations using any computational tools
(MATLAB/Polymath/C++ programming/others software).
• You need to simulate by using different input variables (initial
concentration/flowrate/etc).
• Plot your analysis of input parameter manipulation.

vii. Video
• Each group must produce a video presentation that discusses all the tasks mentioned
above including the engineering drawing.
• Each student should show his/her face video and his/her name during his/her
presentation slot.
• You must also draw a conclusion from your project.
• List of references must also be included at the end of video.
• Maximum duration of video is 10 minutes, if it is more than 10 minutes, your mark
will be deducted.
• Your cover page of video must include program name, course name, section number,
title of project, project group number, your lecturer’s name and all group members’
names.

Project Output
i. Video file
ii. Programming code and simulation file
iii. Name all your files as: group_0#_sect_0#_ChemicalName
iv. Upload and submit all your files using this link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe1G5INeBmv_zAL-
S7bnqdKeF2VUcP0Pawf8c4mSPgwZ643aQ/viewform?usp=pp_url
v. Only the team leader should submit the work.

Grading

The design project will count as 15% of your final grade. The marks distribution is as follows:

Computer simulation (PLO5) : 5%

Video (PLO3) : 5%
Video (PLO7) : 5%

Submission due date: Not later than 14 January 2024

 Appendix A

Group Chemical Synthesis route*

1,7 1,3-Butanediol (1) Hydrogenation of 3-hydroxybutanal gives 1,3-
(Butylene butanediol:
glycol)
CH3CH(OH)CH2CHO + H2 → CH3CH(OH)CH2CH2OH

(2) Dehydration of 1,3-butanediol gives 1,3-butadiene:

CH3CH(OH)CH2CH2OH → CH2=CH-CH=CH2 + 2 H2O

2,8 Caprolactam Caprolactam is synthesized from cyclohexanone (1), which

is first converted to its oxime (2). Treatment of this oxime
with acid induces the Beckmann rearrangement to give
caprolactam (3)

3,9 Diisopropyl Diisopropylbenzenes typically arise by alkylation of

benzene benzene or isopropylbenzene with propylene:

C6H6 + 2 CH3CH=CH2 → C6H5CH(CH3)2

C6H5CH(CH3)2 + CH3CH=CH2 → C6H4(CH(CH3)2)2

4 , 10 Methanol CO + 2H2 → CH3OH (1)

CO2 + 3H2 → CH3OH + H2O (2)

5 , 11 Hydrogen Steam reforming of methane (1) and subsequent water-gas-

shift stages (2):

CH4 + H2O → CO + 3H2 (1)

H2O + CO → CO2 + H2 (2)

Alternatively, dry reforming of methane:

CH4 + CO2 → 2CO + 2H2 (1)

6 , 12 Olefin Methanol to Olefin: Methanol (MeOH)/dimethyl ether (DME)

via a dual-cycle mechanism, where ethylene and propylene are
the secondary products.

*The synthesis route is a suggestion. You can choose another synthesis route if you find an
alternative from the literature review.