1.

The reaction A→ B

is to be carried out isothermally in a continuous-flow reactor. Calculate both

CSTR and PFR reactor volumes necessary to consume 80% of A (Hint: CA = 0.2 CA0)

when entering molar flow rate is 4 mol/hr and entering volumetric flow rate is 20 dm3/hr

assuming the reaction rate –rA is kCA with k = 0.0001 s-1.

CSTR
We know that, Volume of CSTR can be calculated by the equation
F X
V  A0 A where X A  0.8, C A  0.2C A0 , FA0  4 mol / hour , k  0.0001sec 1
rA
FA0 4 mol
C A0    0.2
v0 20 lit
F X 4  0.8
V  A0 A   222.2 dm3
rA 0.0001 3600  0.2  0.2
PFR
Mole balance for a differential element of volume dV
Input = Out put +Disappearance of A due to reaction
Input  FA
Output  FA  dFA
Disappearance of A   rA  dV
 FA  FA  dFA  rA dV
 dFA  rA dV , where  rA  kC A
dFA
 dV
kC A
d  C Av0 
  dV FA  C Av0
kC A
v0 dC A
  dV
k CA
CA
v0 dC A V

CA0

k C A 0
 dV

v0 C A
 ln V
k C A0
20
V  ln 0.2  89.413 dm3
3600  0.0001

2. Repeat Q1 to calculate the time necessary to consume 80% of species A in a 1000

dm3 constant volume batch reactor with CA0 = 0.2 mol/dm3.

dC A
 rA    kC A
dt
dC A
  kdt
CA
CA t
dC
C  CAA  0 kdt
A0

CA t
dC A

C A 0
 kdt
CA 0

CA
 ln  kt
C A0
0.2C A0
 ln  kt
C A0
k t  1.609
t  16090 Sec  4.47 hr
3. An isothermal PFR is used for the gas phase reaction A → 2B+C. The feed,

flowing at 2.0 L/s, contains 50% mol A and 50% mol inert species. The rate is first order

with respect to A; the rate constant is 2.0 s-1. 

a)  Determine the reactor volume required to consume 90% of A?

b) If the reactor is replaced with CSTR, what is the reactor volume required to consume

99% of A?  

C A  0.1C A0
PT
C A0  y A0
RT
Assuming PT  1 atm T=298.15 K
0.5
y A0   0.5
1
1 mol
C A0  0.5   0.02
0.082  298.15 lit
mol
C A  0.1C A0  0.1 0.02  0.002
lit
 dFA  rA dV , where  rA  kC A
dFA
 dV
kC A
d  C Av0 
  dV FA  C Av0
kC A
v0 dC A
  dV
k CA
CA
v0 dC A V
  k C A  0 dV
CA0

v0 C A
 ln V
k C A0
2.0 0.002
V  ln  2.303 dm3
2.0 0.02

b.

FA0 X A mol mol

V where X A  0.99, C A0  0.02 , C A  0.1C A0  0.1 0.02  0.002 ,
rA lit lit
C A0  v0  X A C A0  v0  X A C A0  2  0.99
V    9.9 dm3
rA kC A 2.0  0.1 C A0