CBE

441: Chemical Reaction Engineering

Spring 2015

Review Questions for Week #4


Additional Review Questions from Chapter #4






Assume isothermal operation unless specified otherwise. Similarly, unless specified
otherwise, consider the following system of reaction:

ns

"!

ij

Aj = 0,

i = 1,nr

j=1

1) For a PFR operating under steady state conditions, what is the relation between
the molar flow rate of any species at some location in the reactor N j , j = 1,ns
and the extents of reaction at that location ( ! i ,i = 1,nr ) ?

a. Assume that the feed molar flow rates are N jf , j = 1,ns and that the reaction
extents are zero at the inlet.


nr

N j = N jf + #! ij " i ,

j = 1,ns

i=1

b. What if you are given that molar flow rates N j0 , j = 1,ns correspond to some
reference condition where the reaction extents had been defined to be zero
and that at the inlet the reaction extents are ! if ,i = 1,nr . (Such a scenario
could happen if we have reactors in series and we prefer to define the extent
to be zero at the beginning of the first reactor and increment the extents
cumulatively as the reactants and products work their way through the
reactor train.) First identify N jf , j = 1,ns as per this definition and then adapt
result of part (a)!

nr

N jf = N j0 + #! ij " if ,

j = 1,ns

i=1

nr

nr

i=1

i=1

N j = N j0 + #! ij " i = N jf + #! ij " i $ " if ,

j = 1,ns

2) Consider a single reaction taking place in a CSTR. Suppose we split a CSTR of

volume V into two CSTRs of volumes V1 and (V-V1) placed in series. Will it change
the overall conversion achieved? If yes, how? (That is, for what reaction kinetics
will the conversion increase upon splitting the reactor and under what reaction
kinetics will be lowered upon splitting the reactor?) Hint: Consider the example
of a CSTR with no volume change for the fluid with reaction extent i.e. Q = Q f

and a limiting reactant; then, sketch different (1/r) vs. (limiting) reactant
concentration plots and see what happens!

Ans. If (1/r) increases monotonically with the (limiting) reactant concentration
(i.e. the reaction has a negative order) in the concentration range of interest, then
we will lower the overall conversion by splitting the reactor into two.

On the other hand, if (1/r) decreases monotonically with the (limiting) reactant
concentration (i.e. the reaction has a positive order) in the concentration range of
interest, then we will increase the overall conversion by splitting the reactor into
two.

If (1/r) varies non-monotonically with the (limiting) reaction concentration in the
concentration range of interest (i.e. the reaction has a negative order), then a
definitive statement cannot be made and the situation should be analyzed in detail
to predict the outcome.


3) As in #2, consider a single reaction taking place in a CSTR. Suppose we split a
CSTR of volume V into two CSTRs of volumes V1 and (V-V1) placed in parallel,
while also splitting the feed to maintain the same residence time in both
reactors. Will that change the overall conversion achieved? If yes, how?

Ans: The reaction extents in an isothermal CSTR are determined by the feed
composition and the residence time. As they are identical for the two reactors in
parallel configuration, the effluent stream from each reactor will be identical, and
the same as that of a combined reactor. Hence, the overall conversion is unaffected.


4) Suppose we split a CSTR of volume V into two CSTRs of volumes V1 and (V-V1)
placed in parallel, while splitting the feed in a way that the two reactors have
different residence times. Will that change the overall conversion achieved?

Ans: The two reactors have same feed composition, but different residence times
(which is also different from that of the combined reactor). So, the extents in the
two reactors in parallel configuration will be different and there is no reason why
the overall conversion should be the same as that in the single reactor case.

5) Suppose we split a PFR of volume V into two PFRs of volumes V1 and (V-V1)
placed in series. Will that change the overall conversion achieved? If yes, how?

Ans: No, splitting the PFR will not affect the conversion as all we are doing is
replacing
V

V1

V1

! ( )dV with ! ( )dV + ! ( )dV

6) Suppose we split a PFR of volume V into two PFRs of volumes V1 and (V-V1)
placed in parallel, while also splitting the feed to maintain the same residence
time in both reactors. Will that change the overall conversion achieved? If yes,
how?

Ans: The reaction extents in an isothermal PFR are determined by the feed
composition and the residence time. As they are identical for the two reactors in
parallel configuration, the effluent stream from each reactor will be identical, and
the same as that of a combined reactor. Hence, the overall conversion is unaffected.

7) Suppose we split a PFR of volume V into two PFRs of volumes V1 and (V-V1)
placed in parallel, while splitting the feed in a way that the two reactors have
different residence times. Will that change the overall conversion achieved?

Ans: The two reactors have same feed composition, but different residence times
(which is also different from that of the combined reactor). So, the extents in the
two reactors in parallel configuration will be different and there is no reason why
the overall conversion should be the same as that in the single reactor case.


8) Suppose we split a well-stirred constant-volume batch of volume V into two
well-stirred constant-volume batch reactors of volumes V1 and (V-V1). Will that
change the overall conversion achieved if we run the two reactors for the same
length of time as in the single reactor case (and the initial contents of the original
reactor split in the same proportion as the reactor volume)? If yes, how?

Ans: No. The reaction extents in an isothermal batch reactor are determined by the
initial composition and the time for which the reaction is carried out. As they are
identical for the two reactors in parallel configuration, the final extents in each
reactor will be identical, and the same as that of a combined reactor. Hence, the
overall conversion is unaffected.

9) True or false: The performance of any PFR of volume VR can be approximated by

a large number of CSTRs (each having a volume VR/n, where n is the number is
CSTRs) in series.

Ans: True. It is easily illustrated by a plot of (1/r) vs. reactant concentration.

10)Consider a liquid phase reaction where the density is essentially invariant with
conversion. Under what conditions would a constant-volume batch reactor be
equivalent to a PFR of volume VR and flow rate Q? That is, what specifications
should we place on the batch reactor operation to ensure the same conversion as
in the PFR? (Assume that the feed conditions for the PFR are identical to the
starting conditions for the batch reactor.)

Ans: The feed composition to the PFR is the same as that in a batch reactor. Then
the effluent extents in a PFR with a residence time ! will be identical to that in a
batch reactor operated for duration ! .

11)Consider a gas phase reaction where the number of moles changes with reaction.
(If it would help in your reasoning, assume ideal gas mixture.) Under what
conditions would a constant-pressure batch reactor be equivalent to a PFR of
volume VR and feed flow rate Qf? That is, what specifications should we place on
the batch reactor operation to ensure the same conversion as in the PFR?
(Assume that the feed conditions for the PFR are identical to the starting
conditions for the batch reactor.)


Ans: The actual time spent by a tracer injected into the PFR is: tactual =

VR

dV

! Q(V ) . If
0

the batch reactor whose volume is allowed to change is operated from

t = 0 to t = tactual , it will yield the same final extents as the PFR under steady
operation.


12)Assuming an ideal gas mixture, deduce the relationship between the
concentration of any species at a given location in a PFR and the molar flow rates
of all the species, pressure and temperature at that location.

Ans: See eq. 4.70 in the book; see derivation in the book.


13)Are you comfortable with equations (4.95) to (4.103) in p.172 of R&E?

Ans: Yes, I am!

14)Suppose we have a batch reactor where we implement a specified temperature-

time history. (That is, we do not need to solve the energy balance and can
assume that the temperature is a given function of time.) Can we employ the
equations we have studied in Chapter 4, with simple adaptations? If yes, what
adaptations?

Ans: Yes! Simply make sure that the correct T(t), 0 < t < tfinal is used when
evaluating all the temperature-dependent quantities such as the rate constant and
total molar concentration (if the reactor volume is allowed to change).


15)Suppose we have a PFR operating under steady state conditions, where we
control through external heating/cooling sources a specified temperature profile
along the reactor. (That is, we do not need to solve the energy balance and can
assume that the temperature is a given function of axial position.) Can we
employ the equations we have studied in Chapter 4, with simple adaptations? If
yes, what adaptations?

Ans: Yes! Simply make sure that the correct T(V), 0 < V < VR is used when
evaluating all the temperature-dependent quantities such as the rate constant and
total molar concentration (if the volumetric flow rate is allowed to change).


16)Is it fair to claim that the performance of a PFR with a recycle will approach that
of a CSTR in the limit of very large recycle ratio for any reaction kinetics?

Ans: Yes!