Chemical Reaction Engineering

Asynchronous Video Series

Chapter 1:
General Mole Balance Equation Applied to
Batch Reactors, CSTRs, PFRs, and PBRs

H. Scott Fogler, Ph.D.

 Chemical Identity
• A chemical species is said to have reacted when it has lost its chemical
identity.
 Chemical Identity
• A chemical species is said to have reacted when it has lost its chemical
identity.

• The identity of a chemical species is determined by the kind, number, and

configuration of that species’ atoms.
 Chemical Identity
• A chemical species is said to have reacted when it has lost its chemical
identity.

• The identity of a chemical species is determined by the kind, number, and

configuration of that species’ atoms.

1. Decomposition
 Chemical Identity
• A chemical species is said to have reacted when it has lost its chemical
identity.

• The identity of a chemical species is determined by the kind, number, and

configuration of that species’ atoms.

1. Decomposition

2. Combination
 Chemical Identity
• A chemical species is said to have reacted when it has lost its chemical
identity.

• The identity of a chemical species is determined by the kind, number, and

configuration of that species’ atoms.

1. Decomposition

2. Combination

3. Isomerization
 Reaction Rate
• The reaction rate is the rate at which a species looses its chemical identity per
unit volume.
 Reaction Rate
• The reaction rate is the rate at which a species looses its chemical identity per
unit volume.

• The rate of a reaction can be expressed as the rate of disappearance of a

reactant or as the rate of appearance of a product.
 Reaction Rate
• The reaction rate is the rate at which a species looses its chemical identity per
unit volume.

• The rate of a reaction can be expressed as the rate of disappearance of a

reactant or as the rate of appearance of a product.

Consider species A:
 Reaction Rate
• The reaction rate is the rate at which a species looses its chemical identity per
unit volume.

• The rate of a reaction can be expressed as the rate of disappearance of a

reactant or as the rate of appearance of a product.

Consider species A:

rA = the rate of formation of species A per unit volume

 Reaction Rate
• The reaction rate is the rate at which a species looses its chemical identity per
unit volume.

• The rate of a reaction can be expressed as the rate of disappearance of a

reactant or as the rate of appearance of a product.

Consider species A:

rA = the rate of formation of species A per unit volume

-rA = the rate of a disappearance of species A per unit volume

 Reaction Rate
• The reaction rate is the rate at which a species looses its chemical identity per
unit volume.

• The rate of a reaction can be expressed as the rate of disappearance of a

reactant or as the rate of appearance of a product.

Consider species A:

rA = the rate of formation of species A per unit volume

-rA = the rate of a disappearance of species A per unit volume

rB = the rate of formation of species B per unit volume

 Reaction Rate
• EXAMPLE:
If B is being formed at 0.2 moles per decimeter cubed per second, ie,

rB = 0.2 mole/dm3/s
 Reaction Rate
• EXAMPLE:
If B is being formed at 0.2 moles per decimeter cubed per second, ie,

rB = 0.2 mole/dm3/s

Then A is disappearing at the same rate:

-rA= 0.2 mole/dm3/s
 Reaction Rate
• EXAMPLE:
If B is being formed at 0.2 moles per decimeter cubed per second, ie,

rB = 0.2 mole/dm3/s

Then A is disappearing at the same rate:

-rA= 0.2 mole/dm3/s

The rate of formation (generation of A) is

rA= -0.2 mole/dm3/s
 Reaction Rate
• For a catalytic reaction, we refer to -rA', which is the rate of disappearance of
species A on a per mass of catalyst basis.
 Reaction Rate
• For a catalytic reaction, we refer to -rA', which is the rate of disappearance of
species A on a per mass of catalyst basis.

NOTE: dCA/dt is not the rate of reaction

 Reaction Rate
Consider species j:
 Reaction Rate
Consider species j:

• rj is the rate of formation of species j per unit volume [e.g. mol/dm3*s]

 Reaction Rate
Consider species j:

• rj is the rate of formation of species j per unit volume [e.g. mol/dm3*s]

• rj is a function of concentration, temperature, pressure, and the type of catalyst

(if any)
 Reaction Rate
Consider species j:

• rj is the rate of formation of species j per unit volume [e.g. mol/dm3*s]

• rj is a function of concentration, temperature, pressure, and the type of catalyst

(if any)

• rj is independent of the type of reaction system (batch, plug flow, etc.)

 Reaction Rate
Consider species j:

• rj is the rate of formation of species j per unit volume [e.g. mol/dm3*s]

• rj is a function of concentration, temperature, pressure, and the type of catalyst

(if any)

• rj is independent of the type of reaction system (batch, plug flow, etc.)

• rj is an algebraic equation, not a differential equation

 Reaction Rate
Consider species j:

• rj is the rate of formation of species j per unit volume [e.g. mol/dm3*s]

• rj is a function of concentration, temperature, pressure, and the type of catalyst

(if any)

• rj is independent of the type of reaction system (batch, plug flow, etc.)

• rj is an algebraic equation, not a differential equation

• We use an algebraic equation to relate the rate of reaction, -rA, to the

concentration of reacting species and to the temperature at which the reaction
occurs [e.g. -rA = k(T)CA2].
General Mole Balance
General Mole Balance
Batch Reactor Mole Balance
Batch Reactor Mole Balance
Batch Reactor Mole Balance
Batch Reactor Mole Balance
Constantly Stirred Tank Reactor
Mole Balance
Constantly Stirred Tank Reactor
Mole Balance
Constantly Stirred Tank Reactor
Mole Balance
Constantly Stirred Tank Reactor
Mole Balance
Constantly Stirred Tank Reactor
Mole Balance
Plug Flow Reactor Mole Balance

PFR:
Plug Flow Reactor Mole Balance

PFR:
Plug Flow Reactor Mole Balance

PFR:
Plug Flow Reactor Mole Balance

PFR:
Plug Flow Reactor Mole Balance

PFR:
Plug Flow Reactor Mole Balance

PFR:

dFA
FA
The integral form is: V
FA 0 rA
Plug Flow Reactor Mole Balance

PFR:

FA dFA
The integral form is: V
FA 0 rA

This is the volume necessary to reduce the entering molar flow rate (mol/s) from FA0 to the
exit molar flow rate of FA.
Packed Bed Reactor Mole Balance

PBR
Packed Bed Reactor Mole Balance

PBR

FA0 FA   rdW  dNdt

A
A
Packed Bed Reactor Mole Balance

PBR

FA0 FA   rdW  dNdt

A
A
Packed Bed Reactor Mole Balance

PBR

FA0 FA   rdW  dNdt

A
A
Packed Bed Reactor Mole Balance

PBR

FA0 FA   rdW  dNdt

A
A

FAdFA
The integral form to find the catalyst weight is: W
FA 0 rA
Reactor Mole Balance Summary
Reactor Mole Balance Summary
Reactor Mole Balance Summary
Reactor Mole Balance Summary
Reactor Mole Balance Summary