Problems 113

PROBLEMS
5.1. Consider a gas-phase reaction 2A-R + 2s with unknown kinetics. If a
space velocity of llmin is needed for 90% conversion of A in a plug flow
reactor, find the corresponding space-time and mean residence time or
holding time of fluid in the plug flow reactor.
5.2. In an isothermal batch reactor 70% of a liquid reactant is converted in 13
min. What space-time and space-velocity are needed to effect this conver-
sion in a plug flow reactor and in a mixed flow reactor?
5.3. A stream of aqueous monomer A (1 mollliter, 4 literlmin) enters a 2-liter
mixed flow reactor, is radiated therein, and polymerizes as follows:
+A t A t A
A-R-S-T.. .
In the exit stream CA = 0.01 mollliter, and for a particular reaction product
W, C, = 0.0002 mollliter. Find the rate of reaction of A and the rate of
formation of W.
5.4. We plan to replace our present mixed flow reactor with one having double
the volume. For the same aqueous feed (10 mol Alliter) and the same feed
rate find the new conversion. The reaction kinetics are represented by
and present conversion is 70%.
5.5. An aqueous feed of A and B (400 literlmin, 100 mmol Alliter, 200 mmol
Blliter) is to be converted to product in a plug flow reactor. The kinetics
of the reaction is represented by
mol
A+ B+ R, - r AZ200C C
A liter .min
Find the volume of reactor needed for 99.9% conversion of A to product.
5.6. A plug flow reactor (2 m3) processes an aqueous feed (100 literlmin) con-
taining reactant A (CAo = 100 mmollliter). This reaction is reversible and
represented by
First find the equilibrium conversion and then find the actual conversion
of A in the reactor.
114 Chapter 5 Ideal Reactors for a Single Reaction
5.7. The off gas from a boiling water nuclear power reactor contains a whole
variety of radioactive trash, one of the most troublesome being Xe-133
(half life = 5.2 days). This off gas flows continuously through a large holdup
tank in which its mean residence time is 30 days, and where we can assume
that the contents are well mixed. Find the fraction of activity removed in
the tank.
5.8. A mixed flow reactor (2 m3) processes an aqueous feed (100 literlrnin)
containing reactant A (C,, = 100 mmollliter). The reaction is reversible
and represented by
mol
A R, -7, = 0.04 CA - 0.01 CR
liter. min
What is the equilibrium conversion and the actual conversion in the reactor?
5.9. A specific enzyme acts as catalyst in the fermentation of reactant A. At a
given enzyme concentration in the aqueous feed stream (25 literlmin) find
the volume of plug flow reactor needed for 95% conversion of reactant
A (C,, = 2 mollliter). The kinetics of the fermentation at this enzyme
concentration is given by
enzyme 0.1 CA m01
A-R, -rA =
1 + 0.5 C, liter. min
5.10. A gaseous feed of pure A (2 mollliter, 100 mollmin) decomposes to give
a variety of products in a plug flow reactor. The kinetics of the conversion
is represented by
A -t 2.5 (products), -rA = (10 min-')C,
Find the expected conversion in a 22-liter reactor.
5.11. Enzyme E catalyses the fermentation of substrate A (the reactant) to
product R. Find the size of mixed flow reactor needed for 95% conversion
of reactant in a feed stream (25 literlmin) of reactant (2 mollliter) and
enzyme. The kinetics of the fermentation at this enzyme concentration are
given by
enzyme 0.1 cA m01
A-R, -?'A=
1 + 0.5 C, liter min
5.12. An aqueous feed of A and B (400 literlmin, 100 mmol Alliter, 200 mmol
Blliter) is to be converted to product in a mixed flow reactor. The kinetics
Problems 115
of the reaction are represented by
mol
A+ B+ R, -rA=200CACB
liter min
Find the volume of reactor needed for 99.9% conversion of A to product.
5.13. At 650C phosphine vapor decomposes as follows:
What size of plug flow reactor operating at 649C and 11.4 atm is needed
for 75% conversion of 10 mollhr of phosphine in a 213 phosphine-113
inert feed?
5.14. A stream of pure gaseous reactant A (CAo = 660 mmollliter) enters a plug
flow reactor at a flow rate of FA, = 540 mmollmin and polymerizes there
as follows
mmol
3A+R, -r,=54
liter min
How large a reactor is needed to lower the concentration of A in the exit
stream to CAf = 330 mmollliter?
5.15. A gaseous feed of pure A (1 mollliter) enters a mixed flow reactor (2 liters)
and reacts as follows:
mol
2A + R, -rA = 0.05 C i
liter. sec
Find what feed rate (literlmin) will give an outlet concentration CA = 0.5
mollliter.
5.16. Gaseous reactant A decomposes as follows:
Find the conversion of A in a 50% A-50% inert feed (v, = 180 literlmin,
CAo = 300 mmollliter) to a 1 m3 mixed flow reactor.
5.17. 1 literls of a 20% ozone-80% air mixture at 1.5 atm and 93C passes
through a plug flow reactor. Under these conditions ozone decomposes by
homogeneous reaction
liter
20, +30, , -r,,,,, = kC~,on,, k = 0.05 -
mol . s
What size reactor is needed for 50% decomposition of ozone? This problem
is a modification of a problem given by Corcoran and Lacey (1970).
116 Chapter 5 Ideal Reactors for a Single Reaction
5.18. An aqueous feed containing A (1 mollliter) enters a 2-liter plug flow reactor
and reacts away (2A +R, - r , = 0.05 C2, mollliter s). Find the outlet con-
centration of A for a feed rate of 0.5 literlmin.
5.19. Pure gaseous A at about 3 atm and 30C (120 mmollliter) is fed into a 1-
liter mixed flow reactor at various flow rates. There it decomposes, and
the exit concentration of A is measured for each flow rate. From the
following data find a rate equation to represent the kinetics of the decompo-
sition of A. Assume that reactant A alone affects the rate.
v,, literlmin 0.06 0.48 1.5 8.1 A +3R
C, , mmollliter 1 30 60 80 105
5.20. A mixed flow reactor is being used to determine the kinetics of a reaction
whose stoichiometry is A +R. For this purpose various flow rates of an
aqueous solution of 100 mmol Alliter are fed to a 1-liter reactor, and for
each run the outlet concentration of A is measured. Find a rate equation
to represent the following data. Also assume that reactant alone affects
the rate.
v, literlmin 1 6 24
C,, mmollliter 4 20 50
5.21. We are planning to operate a batch reactor to convert A into R. This is a
liquid reaction, the stoichiometry is A+R, and the rate of reaction is
given in Table P5.21. How long must we react each batch for the concentra-
tion to drop from C,, = 1.3 mollliter to CAf = 0.3 mollliter?
Table P5.21
C, , mollliter - rA, mollliter min
0.1 0.1
0.2 0.3
0.3 0.5
0.4 0.6
0.5 0.5
0.6 0.25
0.7 0.10
0.8 0.06
1.0 0.05
1.3 0.045
2.0 0.042
5.22. For the reaction of Problem 5.21, what size of plug flow reactor would be
needed for 80% conversion of a feed stream of 1000 mol Alhr at CAo =
1.5 mollliter?
Problems 117
5.23. (a) For the reaction of Problem 5.21, what size of mixed flow reactor is
needed for 75% conversion of a feed stream of 1000 mol Alhr at CAO
= 1.2 mollliter?
(b) Repeat part (a) with the modification that the feed rate is doubled,
thus 2000 mol Alhr at CAo = 1.2 mollliter are to be treated.
( c) Repeat part (a) with the modification that CAo = 2.4 mollliter; however,
1000 mol Alhr are still to be treated down to CAf = 0.3 mollliter.
5.24. A high molecular weight hydrocarbon gas A is fed continuously to a heated
high temperature mixed flow reactor where it thermally cracks (homoge-
neous gas reaction) into lower molecular weight materials, collectively
called R, by a stoichiometry approximated by A -5R. By changing the
feed rate different extents of cracking are obtained as follows:
The internal void volume of the reactor is V = 0.1 liter, and at the tempera-
ture of the reactor the feed concentration is CAo = 100 millimol/liter. Find
a rate equation to represent the cracking reaction.
5.25. The aqueous decomposition of A is studied in an experimental mixed flow
reactor. The results in Table P5.25 are obtained in steady-state runs. To
obtain 75% conversion of reactant in a feed, CA, = 0.8 mollliter, what
holding time is needed in a plug flow reactor?
Table P5.25
Concentration of A, mollliter
Holding Time,
In Feed In Exit Stream sec
5.26. Repeat the previous problem but for a mixed flow reactor.
5.27. HOLMES: You say he was last seen tending this vat . . . .
SIR BOSS: You mean "overflow stirred tank reactor," Mr. Holmes.
HOLMES: You must excuse my ignorance of your particular technical
jargon, Sir Boss.
SIR BOSS: That's all right; however, you must find him, Mr. Holmes.
118 Chapter 5 Ideal Reactors for a Single Reaction
Imbibit was a queer chap; always staring into the reactor, taking deep
breaths, and licking his lips, but he was our very best operator. Why,
since he left, our conversion of googliox has dropped from 80% to 75%.
HOLMES (tapping the side of the vat idly): By the way, what goes on in
the vat?
SIR BOSS: Just an elementary second-order reaction, between ethanol
and googliox, if you know what I mean. Of course, we maintain a large
excess of alcohol, about 100 to 1 and . . . .
HOLMES (interrupting): Intriguing, we checked every possible lead in
town and found not a single clue.
SIR BOSS (wiping away the tears): We'll give the old chap a raise-about
twopence per week-if only he'll come back.
DR. WATSON: Pardon me, but may I ask a question?
HOLMES: Why certainly, Watson.
WATSON: What is the capacity of this vat, Sir Boss?
SIR BOSS: A hundred Imperial gallons, and we always keep it filled to
the brim. That is why we call it an overflow reactor. You see we are
running at full capacity-profitable operation you know.
HOLMES: Well, my dear Watson, we must admit that we're stumped, for
without clues deductive powers are of no avail.
WATSON: Ahh, but there is where you are wrong, Holmes. (Then, turning
to the manager): Imbibit was a largish fellow-say about 18 stone-was
he not?
SIR BOSS: Why yes, how did you know?
HOLMES (with awe): Amazing, my dear Watson!
WATSON (modestly): Why it's quite elementary, Holmes. We have all the
clues necessary to deduce what happened to the happy fellow. But first
of all, would someone fetch me some dill?
With Sherlock Holmes and Sir Boss impatiently waiting, Dr. Watson
casually leaned against the vat, slowly and carefully filled his pipe, and-
with the keen sense of the dramatic-lit it. There our story ends.
(a) What momentous revelation was Dr. Watson planning to make, and
how did he arrive at this conclusion?
(b) Why did he never make it?
5.28. The data in Table P5.28 have been obtained on the decomposition of
gaseous reactant A in a constant volume batch reactor at 100C. The
Table P5.28
t, sec PA, atm t , sec PA, atm
0 1.00 140 0.25
20 0.80 200 0.14
40 0.68 260 0.08
60 0.56 330 0.04
80 0.45 420 0.02
100 0.37
Problems 119
stoichiometry of the reaction is 2A -+ R + S. What size plug flow reactor
(in liters) operating at 100C and 1 atm can treat 100 mol Alhr in a feed
consisting of 20% inerts to obtain 95% converson of A?
5.29. Repeat the previous problem for a mixed flow reactor.
5.30. The aqueous decomposition of A produces R as follows:
The following results are obtained in a series of steady state runs, all having
no R in the feed stream.
Space Time, r, C, , , In Feed, CAf, In Exit Stream,
sec mollliter mollliter
From this kinetic information, find the size of reactor needed to achieve
75% conversion of a feed stream of v = 1 literlsec and C, , = 0.8 mollliter.
In the reactor the fluid follows
(a) plug flow
(b) mixed flow