CHFEN 3553 Chemical Reaction Engineering

April 14, 2003; 12:55 PM 1:45 PM

Answer all questions
1. The value of the overall heat transfer coefficient U is 20

Btu
Joules
. Find the value of U in 2
.
0
ft hour F
m s K
2

15 points
2
0
Btu
J
1 h
F
2 ft

1055.6

3.28

1.8

2
0
2
ft hr F
Btu
m 3600 s
K
Joules
113.6 2
m s K

U 20

No partial credit

2. The following multiple reactions are taking place in a reactor system.

2 A B C , r1 A k1C A2
A C D, r2 A k2C ACC
A D E , r3 A k3C ACD
Write down the composite rates for species A, B, C, D and E.
15 points
rA k1C A2 k2C ACB k3C ACD 4 points
rB k1C A2 / 2 2 points
rC k1C A2 / 2 k2C ACC 4 points
rD k2C ACC k3C ACD 3 points
rE k3C ACD 2 points

3. The following liquid-phase consecutive reaction is taking place in a PFR.

k1
A
B k2 C
The reactor volume is 100 liters, volumetric flow rate is 20 liters/second and CA0=0.2 mol/liter. The rate
constants k1 and k2 are 0.5 s-1 and 0.3 s-1 respectively. Determine the concentrations of A, B and C at the exit of
the reactor.

20 points
dC A
k1C A ; C A C A0 e k1
2 points
d
dCB
k1C A k2CB k1C A0e k1 k2CB
4 points
d
dCB
k2CB k1C A0 e k1 Integrating factor is e k2 - Multiply both sides
d
dCB
e k2
e k2 k2CB k1C A0 e( k2 k1 )
d
d
CB e k2 k1C A0 e( k2 k1 )
d
k1
CB e k2
C A0 e( k2 k1 ) C1 where C1 is the integration constant
k2 k1

CB 0 at =0, C1
CB

k1
k2 k1

k1
C A0 e k1 e k2 5 points Solution was given in class and is also on page 293 of the text.
k2 k1

CC C A0 C A CB
C A 0.01642

3 points

mol
mol
mol
; CB 0.0705
; CC 0.1131
lit
lit
lit

6 points

4. This first order reversible reaction takes place in a flow reactor.

A B
The equilibrium constant at 300 K is 35 and the heat of reaction is 5,000 cal/mol. A conversion of 80% is
desired. The engineer designing the reactor contends that you need to operate below 1250 C to achieve this
conversion. Verify is this is correct or incorrect.
20 points

 H Rx 1 1

R T1 T
5000 1
1
K e (T ) 35 exp

1.987 300 T
K e (T ) K e (T1 ) exp

4.437 at 398 K

8 points

C
First-order rate law: rA k C A B
K e

At equilibrium, rA 0 C Ae C Be / K e
C A0 (1 X e )

C A0 X e
Ke
Xe
Ke
1 Ke

X e 0.816

4 points

8 points

Above this temperature, X will decrease and fall below 0.8. Hence, the contention is correct.
5. The following reaction goes to 75% completion in a 300 liter CSTR. A and B are fed to the reactor at
identical rates of 1.5 mol/s at a temperature of 270C. Specific heats (in J/mol-K) of A, B and C are 200, 180
and 190, respectively.
A B 2C
The reactor is jacketed by water at a temperature of 200C. The overall heat transfer coefficient has been
estimated at 225 J/(m2.s.K), while the heat transfer area is 1 m2. Mixing is ensured through an agitator, which
contributes a work of 15 KW to the reactor. The heat of reaction is -35,000 J/mole of A. Calculate the steady
state temperature in the reactor by assuming that the heat of reaction is independent of temperature.
30 points
Use equation 8-50 from the text
Q& W&
X H Rx = iC%pi (T Ti 0 )
FA 0
T
T

FA0 X (H Rx ) F0 (C pA C pB )T0 UATa W&

F0 (C pA C pB ) UA

12 points

1.5 0.75 (35000)

1.5 (200

180)
300
225
1 293
15000

1.5 (200 180) 225 1

=366.4 K
Recognition of parameters and solution 18 points