Chemical Reaction Engineering

Asynchronous Video Series

Chapter 2:
Conversion and Reactors in Series

H. Scott Fogler, Ph.D.

Reactor Mole Balance Summary
Conversion
Conversion

moles reacted
X=
moles fed
Conversion

moles reacted
X=
moles fed
 Batch Reactor Conversion
• For example, let’s examine a batch reactor with the following design equation:

dN A
= rA V
dt
 Batch Reactor Conversion
• For example, let’s examine a batch reactor with the following design equation:

dN A
= rA V
dt

• Consider the reaction:

moles reacted
moles remaining = moles fed - moles fed •
moles fed
 Batch Reactor Conversion
• For example, let’s examine a batch reactor with the following design equation:

dN A
= rA V
dt

• Consider the reaction:

moles reacted
moles remaining = moles fed - moles fed •
moles fed
 Batch Reactor Conversion
• For example, let’s examine a batch reactor with the following design equation:

dN A
= rA V
dt

• Consider the reaction:

moles reacted
moles remaining = moles fed - moles fed •
moles fed

Differential Form:

Integral Form:
 CSTR Conversion

Algebraic Form:

There is no differential or integral form for a CSTR.

 PFR Conversion

PFR
dF A
= rA
dV
FA = F A0 (1− X)
 PFR Conversion

PFR
dF A
= rA
dV
FA = F A0 (1− X)
 PFR Conversion

PFR
dF A
= rA
dV
FA = F A0 (1− X)

Differential Form:

Integral Form:
Design Equations
Design Equations
Design Equations
Design Equations

V
Design Equations

V
Example
 Example

X⎛ 1 ⎞
V = F A0 ∫0 ⎜ ⎟ dX
⎝ − rA ⎠ 0.010
 Example

X⎛ 1 ⎞
V = F A0 ∫0 ⎜ ⎟ dX
⎝ − rA ⎠ 0.010
 Example

X⎛ 1 ⎞
V = F A0 ∫0 ⎜ ⎟ dX
⎝ − rA ⎠ 0.010

50
1 40
30
−rA 20
10
0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8
X
 Reactor Sizing
• Given -rA as a function of conversion, -rA=f(X), one can size any type of reactor.
 Reactor Sizing
• Given -rA as a function of conversion, -rA=f(X), one can size any type of reactor.

• We do this by constructing a Levenspiel plot.

 Reactor Sizing
• Given -rA as a function of conversion, -rA=f(X), one can size any type of reactor.

• We do this by constructing a Levenspiel plot. 50

1 40
30
−rA 20
F 1
• Here we plot either −rA 0 or −r as a function of X. 10
A A 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8
 Reactor Sizing
• Given -rA as a function of conversion, -rA=f(X), one can size any type of reactor.

• We do this by constructing a Levenspiel plot. 50

1 40
30
−rA 20
F 1
• Here we plot either −rA 0 or −r as a function of X. 10
A A 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8

FA0
• For −r vs. X, the volume of a CSTR is:
A
F A0 ( X − 0 )
V= XEXIT
− rA
EXIT Equivalent to area of rectangle
on a Levenspiel Plot
 Reactor Sizing
• Given -rA as a function of conversion, -rA=f(X), one can size any type of reactor.

• We do this by constructing a Levenspiel plot. 50

1 40
30
−rA 20
F 1
• Here we plot either −rA 0 or −r as a function of X. 10
A A 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8

FA0
• For −r vs. X, the volume of a CSTR is:
A
F A0 ( X − 0 )
V= XEXIT
− rA
EXIT Equivalent to area of rectangle
on a Levenspiel Plot
FA0
• For −r A vs. X, the volume of a PFR is:

XF =area
VPFR = ∫0 A0
− rA
dX = area under the curve
 Numerical Evaluation of Integrals

• The integral to calculate the PFR volume can be evaluated using Simpson’s
One-Third Rule:
 Numerical Evaluation of Integrals

• The integral to calculate the PFR volume can be evaluated using Simpson’s
One-Third Rule (see Appendix A.4 on p. 924):
Reactors In Series
Reactors In Series
Reactors In Series
 Reactors in Series
• Also consider a number of CSTRs in series:
 Reactors in Series
• Finally consider a number of CSTRs in series:

• We see that we approach the PFR reactor volume for a large number of
CSTRs in series:

FA 0
− rA

X
Summary
Summary
Summary
Summary
Summary