University of New South Wales

School of Chemical Sciences & Engineering

CEIC 2005 Reaction Engineering

Tutorial Problem - Set 12 2010

12-1 The flow through a reactor is 10 dm3/min. A rectangular pulse of inert material (I) is
injected into a fluid entering a reactor. Analysis of I leaving the reactor is given below.

Time, min. Concn., Time, min Concn.,

gmole/litre x 105 gmol/litre x 105

0 0 15 238
0.4 329 20 136
1.0 622 25 77
2 812 30 44
3 831 35 25
4 785 40 14
5 720 45 8
6 650 50 5
8 523 60 1
10 418

(i) What is the volume of the reactor?

(ii) If the reactor is modelled by a dispersion model, what is the Peclet number
(reciprocal of Vessel Dispersion Number)?

(iii) What will be the conversion in the reactor for a reaction with k=0.1 min -1,
assuming that the dispersion model holds?

(iv) Compare the answer in (iii) with that which be obtained if the reactor was
operating as an ideal plug flow reactor.

(v) Use the tracer response data directly to determine average conversion
12-2 The first-order reaction A  B is carried out in a 1cm diameter tubular reactor 6.36 m in
length. The specific reaction rate is 0.25 min -1. The results of the tracer test carried out
on this reactor are as follows:

time, min 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 14
C 0 1 5 8 10 8 6 4 3 2.2 1.5 0.6 0
mg/litre

Calculate conversion using:

(i) Axial dispersion model

(ii) PFTR

(iii) A single CSTR

(iv) Tracer response data directly