Department of Chemical Engineering

IIT Bombay
CL 324 Chemical Reaction Engineering
Tutorial-2
11/8/2014
1. At 6500C phosphine vapour decomposes as follows
4PH3 P4 + 6H2,

-rphosphine = (10hr-1)Cphosphine

What size of the plug flow reactor operating at 650 0C and 11.4 atm is
needed for 75% conversion of 10mol/hr of phosphine in a 2/3
phosphine and 1/3 inert feed.
2. The gas leaving an ammonia oxidation plant consists of
10 % nitric oxide (NO); 1% nitrogen oxide (NO2) and 8% oxygen
This gas is allowed to oxidize (NO NO2) until the NO2: NO ratio
reaches 8:1.
The oxidized gas is then absorbed in water to produce nitric acid.
(3NO2 + H2O 2HNO3 + NO). Calculate the size of the tubular reactor
(assume plug flow) operating at 200C and 1 atm needed for this
oxidation for a gas feed rate of 10000 m 3/hr (measured at 00C and 1
atm). The reaction proceeds at 200C as follows
2NO + O2 2NO2,
-rNO2 = 14000*(CNO)2(CO2) kmol/m3/sec
3. Given the following rate-concentration data for a particular gas phase
reaction (A R) which we plan to run in a plug flow reactor, find the
space time needed for 80% conversion of a 10 mol/lit pure A feed.
CA (mol/lit)
-rA
(mol/lit/sec)

10

0.01

0.02

0.04

0.09

0.16

0.25

4. We plan to replace our present mixed flow reactor with one having
double the volume. For the same aqueous feed (10 mol A/lit) and
the same feed rate find the new conversion. The reaction kinetics is
represented by,
-rA = kCA1.5

A R
and present conversion is 70%.

5. A mixed flow reactor is being used to determine the kinetics of a

reaction whose stoichiometry is
A R. For this purpose various
flow rates of an aqueous solution of 100 mmol A/lit are fed to a 1
litre reactor, and for each run the outlet concentration of A is
measured. Find a rate equation to represent the following data. Also
assume in these problems that reactant alone affects the rates
Tutorial 2; 11/8/2014

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v, lit/min
CA, mmol/lit

1
4

6
20

24
50

6. Pure gaseous A at about 3 atm and 30 (120 mmol/lit) is fed into a

1 litre mixed flow reactor at various flow rates. There it decomposes
and the exit concentration of A is measured for each flow rate. From
the following data find a rate equation to represent the kinetics of
the decomposition of A. Assume that the reactant A alone affects
the rate. (A 3R)
v0, lit/min
C A,
mmol/lit

0.06
30

0.48
60

1.5
80

8.1
105

7. For the gas reaction of problem 3, what volumetric inflow rate v 0 and
outflow rate vf of a CA0 = 320 mmol/lit pure A feed can be 50 %
converted in a 560 litre mixed flow reactor.
8. A constant density liquid is fed at a number of different
temperatures to a mixed flow reactor and there it decomposes. The
flow rate is adjusted to keep the composition of the exit stream
constant. From the following results, find the activation energy of
the reaction A R, first order reaction.
T C
v, arbitrary

19
1

27
2

31
3

37
5

9. The liquid reaction of A R (a second order reaction) is run

number of temperature levels in a 1 litre mixed flow reactor.
feed is introduced at v = 1 lit / min at a concentration of
mmol/lit and the outlet concentration is measured.
Find
complete rate equation for the reaction from the following data.
T C
CA mmol/lit

7
29

76
8

104
5

*******Paper Ends******

Tutorial 2; 11/8/2014

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136
3

at a
The
100
the