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Conversion Material Balance

A conversion factor is a ratio expressed as a fraction that equals 1. When we use conversion factors to convert units, we multiply our original measurement by the conversion factor to get the same measurements expressed in new units.

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Busisiwe Mhlongo
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24 views3 pages

Conversion Material Balance

A conversion factor is a ratio expressed as a fraction that equals 1. When we use conversion factors to convert units, we multiply our original measurement by the conversion factor to get the same measurements expressed in new units.

Uploaded by

Busisiwe Mhlongo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

P. O. BOX 1906
BELLVILLE
7535
TEL: (021) 959 6083
FAX: (021) 959 6023

CET260S Tutorial 2-3 - Material Balance with Reaction

1) Nitric oxide (NO) can be produced by oxidizing ammonia (NH3) with oxygen (O2) over a
catalyst. This reaction follows the stoichiometric equation:
4 NH3 + 5 O2  4 NO + 6 H2O
The feed to the reactor consists of an equimolar mixture of NH 3 and O2 (50 mol% NH3 and
50 mol% O2). Under a given set of reactor conditions, 80% conversion is obtained with a
fresh feed rate of 100 mol/hr.

The products of the reactor are fed to a separator which separates all the NH 3 and O2 from the
NO and H2O.

1.1) Draw and label the flow block diagram for the process. [2]

1.2) Show that O2 is the limiting reactant. [3]

1.3) Determine the rates of production of the various species from the process. [7]

1.4) Suppose that the recovered NH3 and O2 are recycled back to the reactor via a
mixing unit. Suppose further that the fresh feed composition and conversion in the
reactor is the same as before.

1.4.1) Draw and label the flow block diagram for the modified process. [3]

1.4.2) Determine if you have enough information to calculate the production rate
of NO from the process. Do not solve for the production rate of NO! [5]

2) The solvent ethyl ether, (C2H5)2O, is made industrially by the dehydration of ethanol
(C2H5OH) according to the following reaction:
2 C2H5OH → (C2H5)2O + H2O
The flow process for the production and recovery of ether is shown in the diagram below:
The feed rate to the process is 1000 mol/hr and the recycle is eighty percent of the feed
rate to the process i.e. N2 = 800 mol/hr. In the process shown a 90% overall conversion of
C2H5OH is obtained. Assuming the recycle to 70% methanol, perform the following: Fill in
all relevant data on the diagram and degree-of-freedom table supplied and from the results
indicate whether the problem statement is correctly defined and the order of solving for all
unknowns. Determine the composition and flow-rate of the reactor product stream (N3).

3) Methyl iodide can be produced by reacting hydriodic acid (HI) with an excess of methanol
via the reaction:
HI + CH3OH  CH3I + H2O
A typical process for the large-scale production of methyl iodide is shown in the figure
below:

The process conditions are:


1) The feed to the reactor contains 2 mol CH3OH per mol HI ie

2) 50% conversion of HI is obtained in the reactor


3) 90% of the H2O entering the first separator leaves in stream 5

For a feed rate of 1000 mol/hr of stream 1, do a degree-of-freedom analysis to determine if


the process is correctly specified. Determine where the basis ought to be located; with
which unit the calculations ought to be started; and the order of solving the units if all
unknowns are to be determined. Determine the flow-rate and composition of stream 8.

4) Perchloric acid (HClO4) can be produced via the following reaction:

Ba(ClO4)2 + H2SO4 → BaSO4 + 2HClO4

A possible flow diagram for this production is shown in the figure below. If the H 2SO4 fed to the
reactor is 20% in excess of the stoichiometric amount required by the reactor and if 1000
moles/hr of stream 1 is fed, perform the following: Do a Degree-of-Freedom analysis to show
that the problem statement is correctly defined and that the problem can be completely solved
by starting the solution with the overall system. Determine the moles of product HClO 4 leaving
per mole of feed (stream 1). Explain, using your degree-of-freedom analysis, how you would
proceed to determine the single pass conversion.
Separator
Reactor

Mixer

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