palladium based catalyst. The reaction is first order w.r.to hydrogen and diol. The initial concentration of
diol is 2.5 kmol/m3. Liquid volume is 2 m3. Pure hydrogen is bubbled through the reactor at a pressure of
35 atm and at 35 degree C. The equilibrium hydrogen solubility is 0.01 kmol/m3. The catalyst charge is
0.1 kg/m3 with particle size of 0.01 cm and pellet density of 1500 kg/m3. Diffusivity of hydrogen in liquid
is 10-9 m2/s. Heat of reaction is 44.57 kJ/mol. The overall rate is limited by transfer of hydrogen across the
interface. Design a stirred reactor in such a way that catalyst is in suspension, uniform dispersion of gas
and heat transfer requirements are satisfied.
N .VL
PG
= 0.1
PO
Q
G
N CD D
=4
QG0.5T 0.25
where constant 4 has the units m0.25 s 0.5
Critical impeller speed for complete suspension
(Nm) of solid
Nc =
0.25
N 2D4
.66
W
V
g
.
.
L
0.2
P
k l a = 0.026 G
VL
0.4
VG 0.5
dp 4 l 3
k sl .dp
= 2 + 0.4
3
Da
l
0.25
lD
0.33
hRT
0.59
0.33
=1.35 ( Re ) ( N Pr ) wall
k
bulk
-0.14
( N Fr )
-0.1
hRT
0.64
0.33
= 0.87 ( Re ) ( N Pr ) wall
k
bulk
-0.14
( N Fr )
-0.1
Problem 2:
A 1 m3 reactor is to be scaled up 125-fold geometrically similarly. Some operating conditions of
the 1 m3 fermentor are shown below. Both fermentors are to be operated basically in the
turbulent regime with an impeller Reynolds number greater than 104. The power number can be
assumed to be a constant value of 6.5. In both cases the gassed power can be assumed to be 0.6
of ungassed power. The gassed power input per unit liquid volume will be maintained constant in
the scaling up.
Operating conditions of the 1 m3 reactor:
air flow rate: 1 m3/min
exit oxygen partial pressure: 0.17 atm
inlet oxygen partial pressure: 0.21 atm
flooding gas flow rate: 3 m3/min
agitation rate: 120 rpm