CCB 3043 KINETICS AND REACTOR DESIGN

HOMEWORK 1
(DUE DATE: 28 JANUARY 2014, 5.00 PM. Submit your answer in Dr Nurhayati’s pigeon hole, Block 5)
Additional notes:
Table R2.2-1 Typical Space Time for Industrial Reactors1
Reactor Type Mean Residence Time Range Production Capacity

Batch 15 minutes to 20 hours Few kg/day to 100,000 tons/year

CSTR 10 minutes to 4 hours 10 to 3,000,000 tons/year

Tubular 0.5 seconds to 1 hour 50 to 5,000,000 tons/year

Table R2.2-2 Sample Industrial Space Times2

Pressure Space
Reaction Reactor Temperature
atm Times

(1) C2H6 → C2H4 + H2 PFR† 860°C 2 1s

(2) CH3CH2OH + HCH3COOH → CH3CH2COOCH3 + H2O CSTR 100°C 1 2h

1s<τ<
(3) catalytic cracking PBR 490°C 20
400 s

(4) C6H5CH2CH3 → C6H5CH=CH2 + H2 PBR 600°C 1 0.2 s

(5) CO + H2O → CO2 + H2 PBR 300°C 26 4.5 s

(6) C6H6 + HNO3 → C6H5NO2 + H2O CSTR 50°C 1 20 min

†
The reactor is tubular but the flow may or may not be ideal plug flow.

1
Tramboue, Landeghem, and Wauquier, Chemical Reactors, p. 154, (Paris: Editions Technip, 1988;
Houston: Gulf Publishing Company, 1988).

Walas, S.M. Chemical Reactor Data, Chemical Engineering, 79 (October 14, 1985).
2

List of equations:
1. Simpson’s one third rule

X
X2

 f ( x)dX   f  X 0   4 f  X 1   f  X 2 
X0
3

2. Simpson’s three-eighth rule

X2

 f ( x)dX  8 X  f  X   3 f  X   3 f  X   f  X 3
3
0 1 2
X0

3. Five point quadrature formula

X
X2

 f ( x)dX   f  X 0   4 f  X 1   2 f  X 2   4 f  X 3   f  X 4 
X0
3
QUESTION 1
From the Levenspiel plot below, suggest the best reactor arrangement to give the minimum reactor
volume and calculate the reactor volume required for 80% conversion.

QUESTION 2
The exothermic reaction A B+C was carried out adiabatically and the following data was recorded:
X 0 0.2 0.4 0.45 0.5 0.6 0.8 0.9
-rA (mol/dm3.min) 1.0 1.67 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 1.25 0.91

The entering molar flow rate of A was 300 mol/min

a. What are the volumes of PFR and CSTR required to achieve 40% conversion?
b. Over what range of conversion would the CSTR and PFR reactor volumes be identical?
c. What is the maximum conversion you can achieve in a 10.5 dm3 CSTR?
d. If 90% conversion is required, suggest the best reactor arrangement that will give the minimum total reactor
volume, and calculate the volume of each reactor that you have suggested.
e. For a PFR of volume = 100 dm3, produce the following 2 plots:
i. Conversion as a function of reactor volume
ii. Reaction rate as a function of reactor volume
Give 3 comments that you observed from these two plots, and one of your comment must explain the
downward trend of the rate of reaction in part e(ii).

NOTE: ONLY SUBMIT YOUR ANSWER PAPER – NO NEED TO ATTACH THE QUESTION PAPER. PLEASE KEEP THE
QUESTION PAPER FOR REVISION!!
 GROUP DISCUSSION

One of the points emphasized in Outcome Based Education is the ability of students to think critically in solving
complex engineering problems. In this Group Discussion, you are required to use your acquired knowledge in
Kinetics and Reactor Design so far, to discuss in group and give your opinion in solving the problem.

In a group of 3-4 students per group, discuss the possible solution to this problem. This is an open ended question.
There is no definite right or wrong answer. I am looking at your ability to reason out your proposed solution.
SUBMIT YOUR REPORT (MAXIMUM 2 PAGES, HAND WRITTEN) TO MY PIGEON HOLE BY 28TH JANUARY 2014