Kuwait University

Faculty of Engineering & Petroleum

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Dr. Ahmad Bishara
ChE 324 - Kinetics A

Homework #3

Problem #1 (P3-13, 3rd Edition)

Nitric acid is made commercially from nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is produced by the gas-phase oxidation of
ammonia:
4NH3 + 5O2 4NO + 6H2O
The feed consist of 15 mol% ammonia in air at 8.2 atm and 227oC.
a. What is the total entering concentration?
b. What is the entering concentration of ammonia?
c. Set up a stoichiometric table with ammonia as your basis of calculation.
Then
1. Express Pi and Ci for all species as functions of conversion for a constant-pressure batch
reactor operated isothermally. Express volume as a function of X.
2. Express Pi and Ci for all species as functions of conversion for a constant-volume reactor.
Express PT as a function of X.
3. Express Pi and Ci for all species as functions of conversion for a flow reactor.
Problem #2 (P3-16, 3rd Edition)
The gas-phase reaction
2A + 4B 2C
which is first-order in A and first-order in B is to be carried out isothermally in a plug-flow reactor. The
entering volumetric flow rate is 2.5 dm3/min, and the feed is equimolar in A and B. The entering
temperature and pressure are 727oC and 10 atm, respectively. The specific reaction rate at this
temperature is 4 dm3/gmol.min and the activation energy is 15,000 cal/gmol.
a. What is the volumetric flow rate when the conversion of A is 25%?
b. What is the rate of reaction at the entrance to the reactor?
c. What is the rate of reaction when the conversion of A is 40%?
d. What is the concentration of A at the entrance to the reactor?
e. What is the concentration of A at 40% conversion of A?
f. What is the value of the specific reaction at 1227oC?
Problem #3 (P3-7, 4th Edition)

a. The rule of thumb that the rate of reaction doubles for a 10oC increase in temperature occurs
only at a specific temperature for a given activation energy. Develop a relationship between the
temperature and activation energy for which the rule of thumb holds. Neglect any variation of
concentration with temperature.
b. Determine the activation energy and frequency factor the following data:
k (min-1)
T (oC)

0.001
0.0

0.05
100.0

Problem #4 (P3-11, 4th Edition)

Set up a stoichiometric table for each of the following reactions and express the concentration of each
species in the reaction as a function of conversion evaluating all constants (e.g., , ). Then, assume the
reaction follows an elementary rate law, and write the reaction rate solely as a function of conversion.
i.e., -rA = f(X).
a. For the liquid-phase reaction

O
CH2

CH2

H2SO4

H2O

CH2

OH

CH2

OH

the entering concentrations of ethylene oxide and water are 1 lb-mol/ft3 and 3.47 lb-mol/ft3
(62.41 lbm/ft3 18), respectively. If k = 0.1 dm3/mol.s at 300 K with E = 12,500 cal/mol, calculate
the CSTR space-time for 90% conversion at 300 K and at 350 K.
b. For the isothermal, isobaric gas-phase pyrolysis

C2H6

C2H4 + H2

Pure ethane enters the flow reactor at 6 atm and 1100 K. How would your equation for the
concentration and reaction rate change if the reaction were to be carried out in a constantvolume batch reactor?
c. For the isothermal, isobaric, catalytic gas-phase oxidation

O
C2H4 +

1
2

O2

CH2

CH2

the feed enters a PBR at 6 atm and 260 C and is a stoichiometric mixture of only oxygen and
ethylene.
d. For the isothermal, isobaric, catalytic gas-phase reaction carried out in a fluidized CSTR

+ 2H2
the feed enters at 6 atm and 170oC and is a stoichiometric mixture. What catalyst weight is
required to reach 80% conversion in a fluidized CSTR at 170oC and at 270oC? The rate constant is
defined wrt benzene and o = 50 dm3/min.

53

= . . 3 at 300 K with E = 80 kJ/min

Problem #5 (P3-15, 4th Edition)
The gas-phase reaction
1
2

2 +

3
2

2 3

Is to be carried out isothermally. The molar feed is 50% H2 and 50% N2, at a pressure of 16.4 atm and
227oC.
a. Construct a complete stoichiometric table.
b. What are CAo, , and ? Calculate the concentration of ammonia and hydrogen when the
conversion of H2 is 60%.
c. Suppose by chance the reaction is elementary with kN2 = 40 dm3/mol/s. Write the rate of
reaction solely as a function of conversion for (1) a flow system and (2) a constant volume batch
system.