MODULE 1

OVERVIEW OF CHEMICAL REACTION

ENGINEERING
BT 303- CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL REACTION ENGINEERING
FIFTH SEMESTER BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING
SREE CHITRA THIRUNAL COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

REFERENCE: CHEMICAL REACTION ENGINEERING BY OCTAVE LEVENSPIEL

Chapter 1: OVERVIEW OF CHEMICAL REACTION ENGINEERING
Overview of Chemical Reaction Engineering
1. Typical chemical process
2. Classification of chemical reaction
3. Variables affecting the rate of reaction
4. Definition of reaction rate
1. Typical Chemical Process
 UNIT OPERATIONS UNIT PROCESS UNIT OPERATIONS

RAW Physical Chemical Physical

PRODUCTS
MATERIALS Treatment steps Treatment steps Treatment steps

RECYCLE
INPUT OUTPUT
REACTOR

Output= f(Input, Kinetics, Contacting pattern)

KINETICS CONTACTING PATTERN

PERFORMANCE EQUATION
2. Classification of reactions
CLASSIFICATION OF REACTIONS

HOMOGENEOUS REACTIONS HETEROGENEOUS REACTIONS

• A reaction is homogeneous if it • A reaction is heterogeneous if it
takes place in one phase alone requires the presence of at least
two phases to proceed at the
rate that it does.

CATALYTIC REACTIONS NON-CATALYTIC REACTIONS

• Reaction proceeds in presence • Reaction proceeds in without

of catalysts* catalysts

*A catalyst is a substance that speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction but is not consumed during
the course of the reaction
3. Variables Affecting the Rate of
Reaction
Variables Affecting the Rate of Reaction

HOMOGENEOUS SYSTEMS HETEROGENEOUS SYSTEMS

• Temperature • Temperature
• Pressure • Pressure
• Composition • Composition
• Rate of mass transfer
• Rate of heat transfer
IN HETEROGENEOUS SYSTEMS.. HOW DOES…
THE RATE OF MASS TRANSFER BECOME
IMPORTANT
• For example,
• in the burning of a coal
briquette the diffusion of
oxygen through the gas film
surrounding the particle, and
through the ash layer at the
surface of the particle, can play
an important role in limiting the
rate of reaction.
IN HETEROGENEOUS SYSTEMS.. HOW DOES…
THE RATE OF HEAT TRANSFER BECOME
IMPORTANT
• For example, an exothermic
reaction taking place at the
interior surfaces of a porous
catalyst pellet.
• If the heat released by reaction
is not removed fast enough, a
severe non uniform temperature
distribution can occur within the
pellet, which in turn will result in
differing point rates of reaction.
4. Definition of reaction rate
1) BASED ON UNIT VOLUME OF REACTING
FLUID
2) BASED ON UNIT MASS OF SOLID IN FLUID-
SOLID SYSTEMS
3) BASED ON UNIT INTERFACIAL SURFACE IN TWO-
FLUID SYSTEMS OR BASED ON UNIT SURFACE
OF SOLID IN GAS-SOLID SYSTEMS
4) BASED ON UNIT VOLUME OF SOLID IN GAS-
SOLID SYSTEMS
5) BASED ON UNIT VOLUME OF REACTOR, IF DIFFERENT
FROM THE RATE BASED ON UNIT VOLUME
OF FLUID
• In homogeneous systems the volume of fluid in the reactor is often
identical to the volume of reactor. In such a case V and Vr are
identical and Eqs. 1 and 5 are used interchangeably
• In heterogeneous systems all the above definitions of reaction rate
are encountered, the definition used in any particular situation often
being a matter of convenience
FOLLOW EXAMPLE 1.1 and
EXAMPLE 1.2 FOR
UNDERSTANDING THE
CALCULATION OF RATE OF
REACTION IN CHEMICAL
REACTION ENGINEERING
BY OCTAVE LEVENSPIEL
Outcome
• Distinguish between Unit process and Unit Operations
• How typical chemical processes are
• Relating the output as function of inputs, contacting pattern, kinetics
-The performance equation
• Classification of chemical reactions- explaining classifications with
suitable examples
• Understanding the variables that affect the rate of reaction
• Definitions of reaction rate