CHE3044F, 2013

TUTORIAL 2

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CHE3044F, 2013 : Reactor design 1 : TUTORIAL 2

1. (adapted from Fogler, 2006, P2-5). An industrial plant has two CSTRs and two PFRs available for carrying out a liquid phase reaction A B . All the reactors have the same volume, V = 2.0 [m3 ]. The following data is collected XA rA [mol.m3 .s 1 ] 0 2 0.1 1.75 0.2 1.52 0.3 1.29 0.4 1.07 0.5 0.87 0.6 0.69 0.7 0.48 0.8 0.31 0.9 0.15 0.95 0.072

calculate the conversion (except for (1) and (ii)) of each of the following reactor congurations for a molar feed rate of A FA0 = 4.0 mol.s 1 (i) Size of the CSTR to achieve 90% converision of A (ii) Size of PFR to achieve 90% conversion of A (iii) Two CSTRs in series (note the calculation is the inverse of (i) and (ii) in that you are now given the volume and not the conversion) (iv) Two PFRs in series (v) Two CSTRs in parallel splitting the feed equally to each reactor (vi) Two PFRs in parallel splitting the feed equally to each reactor (vii) A CSTR followed by a PFR using half the feed ow rate (i.e. total volume with be twice the calculated value) (viii) A PFR followed by a CSTR using half the feed ow rate 1 (ix) Look carefully at the shape of the v s XA plot and using the results from the rA scenarios in problems (i)-(viii) decide on the optimal reactor conguration using the 4 given reactors that will yield the highest overall conversion. (This problem can be solved easily on a computer by testing all combinations. That is the only way to get the true answer. However, a good informed decision can be made using the scenarios above) 2. The autocatalytic reaction AB+C was studied in a reactor and the following reaction rate data have been collected XA 0.00 0.05 rA 0.20 1.14 [mol.l 1 .mi n1 ]. 0.10 1.98 0.20 3.36 0.30 4.34 0.40 4.92 0.50 5.10 0.60 4.88 0.70 4.26 0.80 3.24 0.90 1.82 0.95 0.96 0.99 0.20

The molar ow rate of A to the reactor is 300 [mol.min1 ]. (i) Design a PFR that will achieve a conversion of 99% and plot the conversion and reaction rate as a function of reactor volume. (ii) Study the data and design the reaction system that will minimise the reactor volume.

CHE3044F, 2013

TUTORIAL 2

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3. (adapted from Schmidt, 2005). The reaction rate for the the conversion of A B is given 2 by rA = kCA with k = 0.5 [l.mol 1 .mi n1 ] and with CA0 = 2 [mol.l 1 ]. The cost of the reactors as a function of volume is given as
/2 RCST R = 1000 + 100VCST R
1

RP F R = 500 + 100VP F R Where V is given in litres. Compare the size and cost of the following reactor systems to achieve a conversion of 90% for a reactor processing 4 [l.min1 ]. (i) PFR (ii) CSTR (iii) two equal volume CSTRS (iv) a CSTR followed by a PFR with equal volumes (v) a PFR followed by a CSTR with equal volumes (vi) (for those who like a challenge). Design a reaction system that will minimise the COST (note not the volume, cost is more realistic). 4. (Final Exam 2012, Q1). The reaction rate of the liquid phase, isothermal, conversion of A has been measured as a function of conversion and is given by the following data; conversion of A rA , [103 mol.L1 .mi n1 ] 0.00 10.0 0.30 11.8 0.6 14.2 0.675 13.4 0.75 9.0 0.80 0

The initial concentration of A for all of the measurements was 0.1 mol.L1 . The reaction stoichiometry is A 1 2R Experiments also show that the reaction does not proceed past a conversion of 80% with the given feed concentration starting with only A. It is required to design a reactor or reactor system to process A with a feed rate of 100 L.mi n1 . The following options are to be considered. Bonus marks will be awarded for conceptual thinking using the 1 rA v s XA plot. (a) What is the equilibrium constant for this reaction. (4) (3) (2)

(b) What is the size of a PFR that will achieve 75% conversion of A (c) What is the size of a CSTR that will achieve 75% conversion of A

(d) Determine the size of the reactor or reactor sequence that will produce a 75% conversion of A with a minimum total volume. (5) (e) The complete separation of A from R is possible and it is also possible to return only A to the reactor at the same concentration as the feed. Calculate the volume of the smallest possible reactor that will maximise the overall conversion of A. What is (i) the overall conversion of A, (ii) the conversion per pass (iii) and the recycle ow rate for this reactor system. (6)