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CHL 723: Chemical Reaction and Reactor Engineering

Tutorial Sheet 2

(26.08.2014)


Derive the following relationships for reaction time in a batch reactor as a function of
concentration of unreacted reactant A (problems 1-5).

1. Second order reaction (single reactant): A products

t kC
X
C
C
A
A
A
A
0 0
1
1
1
+
= =



2. First order reversible reaction: A rR

+
+
=

+
=
A Ae
Ae Ae
Ae A
Ae A A
Ae
X X
X
r M
rX M
C C
C C
r M
C
C
r M
kt ln ln
1
0 0



3. Second order reaction (two reactants):


B A A
C kC r products bB A = +


A
B
Ao
bMC
C
M ktbC ln ) 1 ( =

) 1 (
ln
A
A
X M
X M

=

For ... 1 = M
A
A
A
Ao
Bo
X
X
C
C
ktC

= =
1
1
or
Bo Ao
A
ktC C
C
+
=
1
1


What happens when ? ) 1 ( >> >> M bC C
Ao Bo

How to interpret it physically?







1 =
Ao
Bo
bC
C
M
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4. Third Order Reaction:


C B A A
C C kC r products C B A = + +

(a) For
Co Bo Ao
C C C

( )( ) ( )( )
( )( )

+

+

=
C
Co
Bo Co Ao Co
B
Bo
Co Bo Ao Bo A
Ao
Co Ao Bo Ao
C
C
C C C C
C
C
C C C C C
C
C C C C
kt
ln
1
ln
1
ln
1



(b) For
Bo Co Ao
C C C =


( )
Ao Bo
kt
C C 2
2



( )( )
Ao B
A Bo
A Ao
A Ao Ao Bo
C C
C C
C C
C C C C
ln
2
+

=


(c) For
Co Bo Ao
C C C = =


2 2
1 1
2
Ao A
C C
kt =


2
2 1
1
Ao
Ao
A
ktC
C
C
+
= =


5. Reactions of shifting order:


A
A
A
C M
kC
r
products A
+
=

(1
st
order at low
A
C
0 order at high
A
C )

A Ao
A
Ao
C C
C
C
M kt + = ln
A Ao A Ao
A Ao
C C
t
k M
C C
C C
/ ln / ln
+ =

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6. Levenspiel problem 3.9

7. Levenspiel problem 3.11

8. Levenspiel problem 3.14

9. Levenspiel problem 3.18

10. Levenspiel problem 3.21

11. Levenspiel problem 3.25

12. Levenspiel problem 3.27

13. Levenspiel problem 3.31

Problem 14:
Consider a long PFR of length L in which a fluid with reactants is flowing with linear
velocity u. Thus the space time is vessel is =L/u. Consider a first order reaction (with
rate constant k) taking place in the PFR.
a. Write the governing design equation (differential equation) for steady state operation.
b. Now lets say you wish to discretize this equation into N segments, so that you have a
equivalent finite difference equation. The segments are all equal and of length z, and
the end nodes are labelled j =0, 1, 2, N. Thus, N.z = L. Let the space time in each
segment, be a =z/u.
c. Write an explicit finite difference scheme for the concentration of the reactant species
at the end of the (j+1)
st
node in terms of concentration at the j
th
node (i.e, over the j
th
segment).
d. Let the conversion in the j
th
segment be xj. Simplify the expression in c. to get xj, a, k
and cj.
e. From d., what do you conclude about the behavior of sub-segments that make up a
PFR.

Problem 15:
Now consider a CSTR with space time is vessel is a. Consider a first order reaction (with
rate constant k) taking place in the CSTR.
f. Write the governing design equation (now a difference equation) for steady state
operation. Let the incoming concentration be c0 and the outgoing concentration be c1.
g. Now lets say you add a second identical CSTR in series to the first one. Now the
incoming concentration in this is c1 and the outgoing concentration is c2. Write now
first the design equation for the second CSTR, and then express the concentration at the
end of the second CSTR in terms of the incoming concentration c0.
h. Repeat this exercise for N such identical CSTRs all connected in series, i.e., express the
concentration at the end of the N
th
CSTR in terms of the incoming concentration c0.
i. Simplify the expression obtained in part c. when N . Use mathematical limits as
appropriate.
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j. The expression obtained in part d. is a solution to which first order ODE with what
initial/boundary conditions? What physical system does such a ODE represent? What
do you conclude (mathematically, and physically)?

16. Refer to Table 5.1 of Levenspiel's book.

Derive the following expressions from first principles:
(a) PFR and CSTR (MFR) expressions for Damkohler number as a function of conversion for
n-order irreversible reaction (row 4 in the Table)
(a) PFR and CSTR (MFR) expressions for Damkohler number as a function of conversion for
first order reversible reaction (row 5 in the Table).

17. Levenspiel problem 5.2

18. Levenspiel problem 5.3

19. Levenspiel problem 5.9

20. Levenspiel problem 5.20

21. Levenspiel problem 5.24

22. Levenspiel problem 5.30

23. Refer to Page 127-128 of Levenspiel's book.
(a) Derive equations (6a) and (6b)
(b) Derive equation (8a).

24. Refer to Section 6.3 of Levenspiel's book, on Recycle Reactors.
(a) Derive equations (18) and (19).
(b) Derive equation (22) and refer the integrals to Figure 6.14 (convince yourself about the
relevant areas).
(c) Carefully study and interpret Figures 6.16.

25. Refer to Section 6.4 of Levenspiel's book, on Autocatalytic Reactions
(a) Derive equation (28).
(b) Derive equation (22) and refer the integrals to Figure 6.14 (convince yourself about the
relevant areas).
(c) Carefully study and interpret Figures 6.16.

26. Levenspiel problem 6.1

27. Levenspiel problem 6.2

28. Levenspiel problem 6.4

29. Levenspiel problem 6.8

30. Levenspiel problem 6.11

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31. Levenspiel problem 6.12

32. Levenspiel problem 6.13

33. Levenspiel problem 6.17

34. Levenspiel problem 6.19

35. Levenspiel problem 6.20

36. Levenspiel problem 6.21

37. Levenspiel problem 6.22

38. Show that on adding any degree of recycle to a CSTR in which a liquid phase reaction
is being conducted, the exit conversion remains the same (as the CSTR without
recycle). (Hint: Start in the same way as the plug flow with recycle is derived, except
that the performance equation for the reactor to be used in the CSTR equation instead
of the plug flow equation.)

39. A quantity of ethyl ethanoate (A) is reacted in a batch with an excess of sodium
hydroxide (B) at 25 C. 100 cc of the reaction mixture required 68.2 cc of 0.05 mol/l
HCl for neutralization at the beginning of the reaction. After 30 minutes, 100 cc of the
mixture similarly required 49.7 cc of the acid, and when the reaction was complete, 100
cc of the mixture required 15.6 cc of the acid. The reaction is not reversible. Find the
rate constant, assuming the reaction to be elementary.

40. The reaction A +B products is conducted in a three-stage CSTR battery of equal-
sized vessels. Specific rate constant is k =25 l/mol-hr. Inlet concentrations are CA0

=
0.15 mol/l, CB0

=0.20 mol/l. Net conversion of A of 90% is required, i.e., CA3

=0.015
mol/l. Find the residence time in each vessel.

41. Consider the elementary series reaction scheme A R S in a plug flow reactor, in
which the reactant A reacts to form R by a zero order reaction (rate constant k1), while
R forms S by a first order reaction (rate constant k2). Only A is present in the
feedstream at the inlet of the plug flow reactor, with initial concentration CA0 (rest of
the feed being inerts).

42. Develop expressions for the concentrations of A, R and S as a function of length of the
reactor, z, assuming that the average velocity of flow is a constant value of u (and that
there is no change in density of the flowing phase). Sketch the trends of the
concentration plots on a single plane (i.e., concentration of each component with z).
At what length of the reactor (residence time), does the maximum in concentration of R
occur? What is the expression for the maximum concentration of R?
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43. It is sometimes stated as a rule of thumb that the rate of a chemical reaction doubles for
a 10 K increase in T. Is this in accordance with the Arrhenius equation? Determine the
value of the energy of activation, EA if this rule is applied for an increase from (a) 300
to 310 K, and (b) 800 to 810 K.What do you conclude from the relative values of
energy of activation?

44. A reaction with rate equation
2
kC r = is carried out in a four stage reactor with
Damkhler number of 1.2 (for each stage). Find the fractional conversion at the end of
each stage.

45. A homogeneous liquid phase reaction has the rate equation:

= =
e
dt
dC
K
C
C k r
2
2
1
) 2 . 2 (

Initial concentration is C0 =1.5, initial rate is r0 =1.076, and equilibrium concentration
is Ce = 0.6798. Find the constants.

46. A first order liquid phase reaction is taking place in a mixed reactor with 92%
conversion. It has been suggested that a fraction of the product stream is to be recycled,
with a recycle ratio of 0.75. If the fresh feed rate remains unchanged, what will be the
effect on conversion?

Derive your result.

47. A liquid phase reaction with rate equation
2
kA r = takes place with 50% conversion in a
CSTR.
(a) What will be the conversion if the reactor is replaced with one that is six times as
large?
(b) What will be the conversion if the original reactor is replaced by a PFR of the
same size?

48. A recent report of the Reserve Bank of India states that.. it costs Rs. 15 to print a
Rs. 100 note, and that approximately 2 billion of them are currently in circulation, of
which 1 billion need to be replaced annually.
Assume that the Rs. 100 notes are put in circulation at a constant rate and continuously,
and that they are withdrawn from circulation at the same constant rate without regard to
their age and condition, in a random manner. The whole exercise is designed by
Reserve Bank so that a constant number of bills (2 billion) are in circulation at any
time.
Suppose a new series of Rs. 100 notes are put in circulation today onwards replacing
the older bills that have been in circulation.
(a) How many new Rs. 100 notes will be in circulation at any time in the future?
(b) After 15 years, how many old Rs. 100 notes are still expected to be in circulation?