ECH 146 Winter, 2011

Midterm 2 (consisting of two pages)

3/2/11
CLOSED BOOK
TIME ALOTTED: 50 MINUTES

1. The following data were obtained with an isothermal steady-state backmix reactor (CSTR) with a
volume of 10.0 L for the liquid-phase reaction A → B taking place with negligible volume change on
reaction. The feed concentration of species A to the reactor was CA0 = 1.0 mol/liter in an inert
solvent.

Volumetric flow rate of feed Concentration of B in product

(liter/min) (mol/liter)
40.5 0.10
8.1 0.30
1.3 0.60
0.65 0.70
0.25 0.80

Use these data to determine the volume of a PFR operated at the same temperature as the backmix
reactor with the same feed composition as the backmix reactor and a volumetric flow rate of 0.30
liter/min and a conversion of 80%. (4 points)

2. The highly reversible liquid-phase reaction A → 2B was carried out isothermally in an inert solvent
within a constant-volume batch reactor. No species B was present initially. The following data were
obtained:

Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4

(50ºC) (50ºC) (50ºC) (40ºC)
Time CA Time CA Time CA Time CA
(min) (mol/liter) (min) (mol/liter) (min) (mol/liter) (min) (mol/liter)
0 0.100 0 1.00 0 4.00 0 4.00
0.2 0.0981 0.1 0.910 0.05 3.34 0.1 3.57
0.4 0.0963 0.2 0.836 0.10 2.87 0.2 3.23
0.6 0.0947 0.3 0.775 0.15 2.52 0.3 2.95
0.8 0.0931 0.4 0.724 0.20 2.25 0.4 2.72
1.0 0.0917 0.5 0.681 0.25 2.04 0.5 2.53

A. (4 points) Determine the reaction order and rate constant for the forward reaction.

B. (3 points) Determine the activation energy for the forward reaction.

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3. The following network of gas-phase reactions occurs isothermally and isobarically in a PFR. Each
reaction is irreversible and follows elementary kinetics. The reactor is fed with pure A at
concentration CA0 and volumetric flow rate ν0.

A. (5 points). Clearly write down a complete set of governing equations, in terms of molar flow
rates, that could be solved numerically to determine the molar flow rate of each species as a function
of reactor volume. Include any initial conditions or other conditions necessary for a complete
solution.

B. (2 points). Assuming species D is the desired product from this reaction network, state the
instantaneous selectivity of species D, with respect to all other undesired species, in terms of molar
flow rates.

C. (2 points). If k2 is negligible compared to k3, and if the reactor volume is large enough that all
reactions approximately go to completion, how does the volumetric flow rate at the reactor exit
compare to the flow rate at the entrance? Provide your answer in terms of the ratio ν /ν0 .

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Some equations that may help:
Ideal Reactor type Design Equation (Mol balance equation)

Steady-state CSTR rj = (Fj – Fj0)/V

PFR rj = dFj/dV

Perfectly mixed batch rj = (1/V)(dNj/dt)

Arrhenius equation: k(T) = A exp(−E/RT)

Notation: rj is rate of reaction of species j. Fj is molar flow rate of species j. Subscript 0 refers to inlet.
Nj is number of moles of j. V is volume; t is time. E is activation energy, T is temperature, A is the
Arrhenius prefactor, R = 8.314 J/mol.K is the gas constant.