ChE 125 WFR/WFU

Ideal Reactor Sample Problems

March 9, 2016

1. Consider the liquid phase reaction A R with kinetics given below. 100 liters per minute

Determine
a. The equilibrium conversion
b. The actual conversion of A for a 2m3 PFR.
c. The volume of reactor needed in m3 (for the same feed flowrate and concentration) needed to
achieve 90% of the equilibrium conversion
d. Repeat b for a CSTR of the same volume (2m3)
e. Repeat c for a CSTR (with the same desired conversion)
2. The homogenous gas decomposition of Phosphine (PH3) to P4 and H2 has a first order kinetics with
r=(2.5/hr)CPH3.
a. What size (in Liters) of a plug flow reactor operating at 649C and 460kPa can ahieve 80%
conversion of a feed consisting of 40mol/hr of pure phosphine.
b. What size (in Liters) of a plug flow reactor operating at 649C and 460kPa can achieve 75%
conversion of a feed consisting of 10mol/hr of phosphine and the feed is 2/3 phosphine and
1/3 inerts
c. Repeat (a) but this time for a CSTR
d. Repeat (b) but this time for a CSTR

3. A high molecular weight hydrocarbon gas A is fed continuously to a heated high temperature
mixed flow reactor where it thermally cracks (homogeneous gas reaction) into lower molecular
weight materials, collectively called R, by a stoichiometry approximated by A 5 R. By changing
the feed rate, different extents of cracking are obtained as follows:

FA0(mmol/hr)

300

1000

3000

5000

CAout(mmol/L)

16

30

50

60

The internal void volume of the reactor is V = 0.1 L, and at the temperature of the reactor, the
feed concentration
is CA0 = 100mmol/L. Find the rate equation to represent the cracking reaction.

ChE 125 WFR/WFU

Ideal Reactor Sample Problems

March 9, 2016

1. A plug flow reactor (V=2m3) processes an aqueous feed (100L/min) containing pure reactant A
(CA0 = 100mmol/L). This reaction is reversible and represented by:
Determine
a. The equilibrium conversion
b. The actual conversion of A

c. The volume of reactor needed in m3 (for the same feed flowrate and concentration) needed to
achieve 90% of the equilibrium conversion
d. Repeat b for a CSTR of the same volume (2m3)
e. Repeat c for a CSTR (with the same desired conversion)
2. The homogenous gas decomposition of Phosphine (PH3) to P4 and H2 has a first order kinetics with
r=(2.5/hr)CPH3.
a. What size (in Liters) of a plug flow reactor operating at 649C and 460kPa can ahieve 80%
conversion of a feed consisting of 40mol/hr of pure phosphine.
b. What size (in Liters) of a plug flow reactor operating at 649C and 460kPa can achieve 75%
conversion of a feed consisting of 10mol/hr of phosphine and the feed is 2/3 phosphine and
1/3 inerts
c. Repeat (a) but this time for a CSTR
d. Repeat (b) but this time for a CSTR

3. A high molecular weight hydrocarbon gas A is fed continuously to a heated high temperature
mixed flow reactor where it thermally cracks (homogeneous gas reaction) into lower molecular
weight materials, collectively called R, by a stoichiometry approximated by A 5 R. By changing
the feed rate, different extents of cracking are obtained as follows:

FA0(mmol/hr)

300

1000

3000

5000

CAout(mmol/L)

16

30

50

60

The internal void volume of the reactor is V = 0.1 L, and at the temperature of the reactor, the
feed concentration is CA0 = 100mmol/L. Find the rate equation to represent the cracking
reaction.