UNIVERSIDAD DE CARTAGENA

TAKEHOME OF CHEMICAL REACTION ENGINEERING

Escudero Romero Eduardo* Gamarra Rodríguez María*, PhD. Acevedo María T.**.
*Estudiante de VII Semestre de Ingeniería Química, **Docente de la Universidad de Cartagena.

1. The Diels-Alder liquid-phase reaction between 1,4-benzoquinone (A, C6H4O2)

and cyclopentadiene (B, C5H6) to form the adduct C11H10O2 is second-
order with a rate constant KA = 9.92X10-6 m3 mol-1 s-1 at 25 °C (Wassermann,
1936). Calculate the size (m3) of Batch reactor required to produce adduct at
the rate of 125 mol h-1 , if CA0=CB0 =100mol m-3, the reactants are 90%
converted at the end of each batch (cycle), the reactor operates isothermally
at 25°C, and the reactor downtime (for discharging, cleaning, charging)
between batches is 30% of the total batch (cycle) time.
Calculate the size (m3) of a batch reactor required to produce adduct at similar
conditions but at room temperature of Cartagena City.
2. The liquid-phase reaction 𝐴 → 𝐵 + 𝐶 takes place in a series of three CSTRs
with an overall conversion (XA) of 0.90. One of the reactors develops a leak
and is removed from the series. The throughput (q) is then reduced in irder to
keep the overall conversion at 0.90. If the original throughput was 250 L min-
1, what is the new throughput? Assume: (i) steady-state operation; (ii) the
reactors are of equal volume and operate at the same temperature; (iii) the
reaction is first-order in A.
3. a. Estimate the volume of a plug-flow reactor (in m3) required for production
of ethylene from ethane (A) based on the following data and assumptions:
(i) The feed is pure ethane at 1 kg s-1, 1000K and 2 bar
(ii) The reaction is first-order and irreversible at low conversion, with rate
constant kA=0.254 s-1at 1000K
(iii) The reactor is operated isothermally and isobarically
(iv) Conversion of ethane is 20% at the outlet

b. If 4” schedule.40 pipe is used (0.102 m I.D.), calculate the length required

(m).

c. Comment on the most important assumptions which represent over

simplifications.
4. An isothermal PFR is used for the gas-phase reaction 𝐴 → 2𝐵 + 𝐶. The feed,
flowing at 2 L s-1, contains 50 mol% A and 50mol% inert species. The rate is
first-order with respect to A; the rate constant is 2 s-1.
a. Determine the reactor volume required for 80% conversion of A.
b. What is the volumetric flow rate at the exit of the reactor, If XA= 0.8?
c. What volume of CSTR would be needed to achieve the same conversion?
Assume ideal gas behavior and negligible pressure drop.