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Lecture 4 Conversion

This document discusses conversion and how to calculate it in chemical reactions. It defines conversion as relating the species involved in a reaction to the limiting reactant chosen as the basis. Conversion quantifies how far a reaction proceeds based on the amount of limiting reactant consumed. The document provides equations to calculate conversion over time in batch reactors and as a function of volume in continuous flow reactors like CSTR, PFR, and PBR. It discusses sizing reactors by determining either the required volume to achieve a given conversion or the conversion achievable in a given reactor volume and type based on the limiting reactant and extent of reaction.

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Sameer Ahmed
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20 views22 pages

Lecture 4 Conversion

This document discusses conversion and how to calculate it in chemical reactions. It defines conversion as relating the species involved in a reaction to the limiting reactant chosen as the basis. Conversion quantifies how far a reaction proceeds based on the amount of limiting reactant consumed. The document provides equations to calculate conversion over time in batch reactors and as a function of volume in continuous flow reactors like CSTR, PFR, and PBR. It discusses sizing reactors by determining either the required volume to achieve a given conversion or the conversion achievable in a given reactor volume and type based on the limiting reactant and extent of reaction.

Uploaded by

Sameer Ahmed
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CRE Lecture 4

Conversion
Engr. Muhammad Hassam Wajahat
Define Conversion
• To define conversion, we chose one of the reactants as the basis of
calculation.
• The other species involved in the reaction are related to the basis
chosen.
• The limiting reactant must be chosen as the basis of calculation at
almost each instance.
• We develop stoichiometric relationships and design equations by
considering the general reaction
• The upper-case letters are the chemical species while the lower-case
letters are stoichiometric coefficients.
• As an example, A is our limiting reactant and hence the basis of
calculations.
• Limiting reactant is the reactant that is completely consumed first
when the reactants are mixed.
• We divide the entire reaction by the coefficient of the limiting
reactant to arrange the equation per mole of A basis with our
limiting reactant.
• Questions which can arise include the quantification of how far a
reaction proceeds to the right? Or how many moles of C are formed
for every mole of A consumed?
• To answer the above questions a parameter is defined which is
known as conversion.
Batch Reactor Design Equations
•
• When no spatial variations in reaction rate exist the mole balance on
species A for a batch system is given by

• The above equation is valid whether the reactor volume is constant


or not constant.
• As the reactant is disappearing, we multiply both sides of the above
equation by -1 to obtain the mole balance in the form
• In batch reactors we are interested in determining how long to leave
the reactants in the reactor to achieve a certain conversion X.
• To determine this time we write the mole balance in term of
conversion by differentiating equation 2.4 with respect to time
keeping in mind the initial number of moles with respect to time is
constant.
Design Equations for Flow Reactors
• For batch reactor we saw conversion increases with time spent in a
reactor.
• For continuous flow this time usually increases with increasing the
reactor volume.
• Hence the conversion X is a function of the volume V.
•
•
CSTR (Back mix reactor or a Vat)
Tubular Flow Reactor (PFR)
PBR
Sizing of a Reactor
• By sizing a chemical reactor, we either deter the reactor volume to
achieve a given conversion.
• Or we determine the conversion that can be achieved in a given
reactor and type.
• To size a reactor we must first know what a reactor should do, how
large conversion it can accomplish. Fraction amount of reactant
species converted into products or consumed by reaction. Extent of
reaction which is indicated by the limiting reactant.
Example of sizing
•

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