CH-5010: Chemical Reactor Theory

July-Nov 2016

Assignment 3
Due: Monday, 10th October 2016

All problems carry equal weightage

Please submit your own work only

Problem 1: PFR with Side Feed

In our tutorial problem, the following reaction scheme was executed in a CSTR:
P

' = 1

Q O = 5"

R ) = 4"O
Recall that the optimal concentration for selectivity of Q is given by ",$ =

' /) . In this problem,

the same reaction mechanism is executed in a PFR. In order to maintain appropriate concentration of
A in the PFR, it is decided to run it with side stream. This reactor is shown in the figure below:
( )

Qs, CAs
Qm
CAm, CBm

Qtotal
CAm

The main inlet is at the same desired concentration ",$ , and its flow rate is + = 1 l/s.
A side stream is introduced in the reactor such that the flow-rate per unit volume of the reactor (in
m3/s-flowrate/m3-PFR-volume) is given by . Thus, represents distribution of the flow along
the PFR length (or equivalently, PFR volume).
1. Show that the model for the PFR is given by:
23
24

= ,

2
24

" = "5 + " (where " is rate of formation of A)

2. Also derive the model equation for the desired product, Q.

3. If the concentration of A in the side stream is "5 = 2 mol/l, obtain .
4. How does the concentration of the desired product, 3 , vary with volume?
Problem 2: Adiabatic PFR (Solve using Excel)
In the class, we used Excel to simulate an adiabatic PFR with a single irreversible, or a single
reversible reaction. In this problem, we extend it to the case of series reactions:
,

'@ = 2.510E exp

5000 K.LE
" ,

N' = 5,

O@ = 10E exp

6000
Q

CH-5010: Chemical Reactor Theory

CH-5010: Chemical Reactor Theory

July-Nov 2016
The inlet flowrate is = 0.01 ) /, and the feed contains only the reactant A at
concentration of ",WX = 5 mol/m) . The inlet temperature is 330 K, specific heats of all species is 160
J/mol.K and the heat of reaction is = 9.6 kJ/mol. If the reactor volume is 0.25 m3, compute the
exit flow rates of all species and the temperature.
Note: Please feel free to use the Excel sheet uploaded on Moodle or do your own from scratch. You
are permitted to submit only this problem in groups of two students.
Problem 3: Reaction Mechanism (Adapted from Fogler, Problem 10-4A)
Hydrolysis of isobutene (B) to t-butyl alcohol (T) takes place over an acid catalyst. Derive the
rate expressions for the following mechanisms proposed for this process. The reaction in bold
represents the rate limiting step. Let _ represent equilibrium constant for adsorption of , ab be for
desorption of T and 5c be for the surface reaction. All the steps are elementary
Mechanism (a)

Mechanism (b)

Mechanism (c)

Mechanism (d)

B + B

B + B

B + B

HO O + HO O

HO O + HO O

B + HO O T

B + HO O T +

+ +

T T +

T T +

T T +

Write down the net reaction rate expressions for each of these mechanisms.
Problem 4: Diffusion and Reaction for a Catalyst Particle (F&B, Problem 3.1)

CH-5010: Chemical Reactor Theory