PROBLEM SET

1. Reactant A decomposes with stoichiometry A R and with the rate dependent

only on CA. The following data on this aqueous decomposition are obtained in a mixed flow
reactor in terms of concentration of A mole/L:CA0=100mole/L, Volumetric flow rate:5L/sec.

CA0 200 190 180 170 160 150 140 130 120 110 101
CA 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 1
(sec) 14 25 29 30 29 27 24 19 15 12 20

a)What PFR volume is necessary to achieve 40% conversion?

b)What CSTR volume is necessary to achieve 40% conversion?
c)What CSTR volume must be added to raise the conversion in part (a) to 90% conversion?
d)What PFR volume must be added to raise the conversion in part (a) to 90% conversion?
e)Which type of reactor would you prefer to achieve 80% conversion of A in a single reactor
or reactor combinations?

2. We are planning to operate flow reactors to convert A into R. This is a liquid reaction, the
stoichiometry is A R, and the rate of reaction as a function of concentration is given
in table below.

CA(mol/L) 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 1.0 1.3 2.0
-rA(mol/L.min) 0.1 0.3 0.5 0.6 0.5 0.25 0.10 0.06 0.05 0.045 0.042

a)What size of CSTR is needed for 75% conversion of feed stream of 1000mol A/hr at
CA0=1.2mol/L?
b) What size of CSTR is needed for 75% conversion of feed stream of 1000mol A/hr at
CA0=1.2mol/L?
c)Repeat part (a) with the modification that the feed rate is doubled, thus 2000mol A/hr at
CA0=1.2mol/L are to be treated .

3. An isothermal PFR is used for the gas phase reaction A 2B+C. The feed, flowing
at 2.0L/s, contains 50% molA and 50% mol inert species. The rate is first order with respect to
A; the rate constant is 2.0s-1.

a) Determine the reactor volume required for 80% conversion of A?

b) What 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?

5. The irreversible reaction A+B C+D is carried out isothermally in two flow reactors
in series, first reactor (V1=10L) is CSTR and second one (V 2=40L) is PFR. Inlet
concentrations of A and B are 0.01 mol/L and 0.7 mol/L, respectively. The concentration of
product C at the exit of the first reactor is 0.002 mol/L. The reaction is first order with respect
to B. Find the concentration of C at the exit of the plug flow reactor?