Individual Assignment 01

1. What does the o refer to in the symbols CAo, FAo, etc.?

The o in CAo describes initial concentration of species A at the moment of reference time.
The o in FAo describes flow rate of species A into the system boundary.
2. How is FA related to FAo in terms of conversion (give the equation)? Since we consider r as rate of
consumption of A. Assume in a steady state process such as CSTR reactor, FA can be related to FAo by the following expression:
V

F A =F Ao r A dV

Assume well mixing

F A =F Aor A V
3. Define CA, NA and FA
CA is concentration of species A to describe number of amount of A in mole per unit volume
NA describe the amount of species A accumulate in a chemical process. The unit is mole.
FA describe flow rate of species A in a chemical process; it has unit of mole per unit time
4. List 3 useful types of information that can be found in the Appendices of Foglers text?
There are a lot of useful information that Appendices of Foglers book has offer. Firstly, the appendix B
provides list of constants and values to help convert among units. It is critical during test to get the
right unit. Secondly, the appendix A contains numerical techniques that are helpful to solve difficult
mathematic integration. Thirdly, the appendix C provides quick review about crucial relationship
between Thermodynamic values.
5. Suppose a 2-liter reaction vessel contains 1 liter of liquid reactant A. What volume, V, of the liquid or of
the vessel, should be used in equation 1.9 on page 14 of Fogler? Explain.
The volume V should be at least 1 litter to ensure the reaction can convert species A with preset rate r.
6. Make a list of 5 journals which the SJSU library currently subscribes to, in which it would be possible to
find reactor design and/or kinetics articles.
The following able is my list of journals that SJSU library currently subscribes to from data base
ScienceDirect.
1
2
3
4
5

Journals Name
Chemical Engineering and Processing: Process Intensification
Chemical Engineering Research and Design
Applied Catalysis
Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science
Filtration + Separation

7. Make a list of 5 books, including call numbers, which are in the SJSU library related to reactor design
and/or kinetics.
The following table is my list of books about reactor design or kinetics.
Tittle

Author

Call Number

Reactor design/

Kinetic
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Chemical Reactor Design

for Process Plans Vol. 1 Principle and Technique
Concept and Design of
Chemical Reactors
Chemical Reactor Design
and Operation
Vaporisers
Chemical Kinetics and
Reactor Design
Gas-Liquid-Solid Reactor
Design

Rase

TP 157.P47 2013

Reactor Design

Whitaker &
Cassano

TP 157.C63 1986

Reactor Design

Westerterp

TP 157.W43 1984

Reactor Design

Smith
Copper and
Jeffreys
Yatish T.
Shah

TP 159.A85 S65 1986

Kinetic
Kinetic and Reactor
Design

TP 157.C64 1973
TP 157 S30 1979

Reactor Design

8. Find two ChE job ads that describe jobs you think you would be interested in and attach a copy of each to
your homework. Include where you found them. Some places to look are listed on my links page of
my website in the local ACS, AIChE, ISPE newsletters or website, Craigslist, and Biospace.com if
you are interested in bioprocess engineering jobs.
Please see attachments
9. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using batch, CSTR and PFR reactors? Name an industrial
situation in which each type of reactor is used. See section 1.5 of the text for ideas. Also the
Professional Reference Shelf on page 27 and the supplementary reading list given on page 35 could
be useful.
The following table is table of advantage and disadvantage of reactors.
Industrial
Advantage
Disadvantage
Application
It is easy to monitor, obtain data, The batch reactor cannot run
Medication
and control the process of the
continuously. The scale up process
production that
reaction. The reaction sometime, for large amount production is hard
require high
is predictable and rate of reaction and costly.
control and
Batch
can be assumed to be uniform
certain about
with high conversion and could
product.
produces different products at
Fermentation
different state.
The reaction once established at
CSTR requires continuous supply of This method is
desired rate, can run continuously reactants so it is not suitable for
widely used in
with low running and maintain
small scale reaction such as benchtop industry with
cost. Due to the continuously
laboratory. The continuously mixing agitation is
stirring, the rate of reaction is
require extra energy and might not be required or a
CSTR uniform and the output product
able to do if reaction was too volatile. series of tank
has the same property of the inner According to Professional Reference connected.
reaction. So it is easy to monitor
Self, the CSTR has low conversion
and control reaction toward
per unit volume and sometime with
desired product especially in case poor agitation, by-passing and
of two phase runs.
channeling might occur.
PFR Rate of reaction varies along the
Long reaction tube might cause poor Continuous Gas
axial direction while remain
temperature control or temperature
Phase reactions
constant in radial direction give
gradient.
with high
opportunity to control reaction
temperature

process with low operating cost

and high rate of conversion.