Department of Chemical Engineering, NITK

CH300 : Chemical Reaction Engineering-II

ASSIGNMENT-V

PART-A : Solid Catalyzed Reactions

Due date : 28-10-2024 (17: 00)

(1) A gas containing A (2 mol/m3) is fed (1 m3/hr) to a plug flow reactor with recycle loop
(0.02 m3 loop volume, 3 kg of catalyst), and the output composition from the reactor system
is measured (0.5 mol A/m3). Find the rate equation for the decomposition of A for the
following cases.

(i) Very large recycle, A → R, n = 1/2

(ii) No recycle, A → 3R, n = 2, 25% A-75% inerts in feed

(2) Gaseous A reacts (A → R) in an experimental reactor. From the following conversion data
at various conditions find a rate equation to represent the reaction

(3) The following kinetic data are obtained in an experimental Carberry type basket reactor
using 100 gm of catalyst in the paddles and different flow rates from run to run:

Find W for mixed flow, XA = 0.90, CAo = 10 mol/m3, FAo = 1000 mol/min.

(4) How much catalyst is needed in a packed bed reactor for 80% conversion of 1000 m3/hr
of pure gaseous A (CAo = 100 mol/m3) if the stoichiometry and rate are given by

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(5) A small experimental packed bed reactor (W = 1 kg) using very large recycle of product
stream gives the following kinetic data:

Find the amount of catalyst needed for 75% conversion for a flow rate of 1000 mol A/hr of
a CAo = 8 mol/m3 feed stream (a) in a packed bed reactor with no recycle of exit fluid (b) in
a packed bed reactor with very high recycle

(6) In the absence of pore diffusion resistance a particular first-order gas- phase reaction
proceeds as reported below,

What size of spherical catalyst pellets (De = cm3/cm cat . s) would ensure that pore
resistance effects do not intrude to slow the rate of re action?

(7) The first-order decomposition of A is run in an experimental mixed flow reactor. Find
the role played by pore diffusion in these runs; in effect determine whether the runs were
made under diffusion-free, strong resistance, or intermediate conditions.

(8) Find the activation energy of the first-order reaction from the following data:

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(9) Experiments at 300°C in a packed bed reactor with very large recycle stream give the
results shown below for the first order catalytic decomposition A -+ R -, S. Under the best
possible conditions (always at 300°C) what CR,max/CAO may we expect, and how do you
suggest we get this (what flow pattern and particle size, large or small)?

(10) A first-order catalytic reaction A(l) → R(1) is run in a long, narrow vertical reactor with
upflow of liquid through a fluidized bed of catalyst particles. Conversion is 95% at the start
of operations when the catalyst particles are 5 mm in diameter. The catalyst is friable and
slowly wears away, particles shrink and the fine powder produced washes out of the reactor.
After a few months each of the 5-mm spheres has shrunk to 3-mm spheres. What should
be the conversion at this time? Assume plug flow of liquid. (a) Particles are porous and allow
easy access for reactants (no resistance to pore diffusion). (b) Particles are porous and at
all sizes provide a strong resistance to pore diffusion.

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PART-B : Deactivating Catalysts
Due date : 28-10-2024 (17.00)

(1) The kinetics of a particular catalytic reaction A + R are studied at temperature T in a

basket reactor (batch-solids and mixed flow of gas) in which the gas composition is kept
unchanged, despite deactivation of the catalyst. What can you say about the rates of
reaction and deactivation from the results of the following runs? Note, to keep the gas
concentration in the reactor unchanged the flow rate of reactant had to be lowered to about
5% of the initial value.

(2) A recycle reactor with very high recycle ratio is used to study the kinetics of a particular
irreversible catalytic reaction, A --+ R. For a constant flow rate of feed (τ' = 2 kg. sec/liter)
the following data are obtained:

The progressive drop in conversion suggests that the catalyst deactivates with use. Find
rate equations for the reaction and for the deactivation which fit these data.

(3) The following data on an irreversible reaction are obtained with decaying catalyst in a
batch reactor (batch-solids, batch-fluid) What can you say about the kinetics

(4) Reaction A→R proceeds isothermally in a packed bed of large, slowly deactivating
catalyst particles and is performing well in the strong pore diffusion regime. With fresh
pellets conversion is 88%; however, after 250 days conversion drops to 64%. How long
reactor can run before conversion drops to 50 %.

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It has been suggested that we replace these large particles with very small particles so as
to operate wholly in the diffusion-free regime and thus use less catalyst for the same
conversions. How long a run time can we expect before the conversion drops from 88% to
64% if the catalyst is used in a fluidized solids reactor (assume mixed flow of fluid)?

(5) In catalytic dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons the catalyst activity decays with use
because of carbon deposition on the active surfaces. Let us study this process in a specific
system.
A gaseous feed (10% C4H10, - 90% inerts, 𝜋= 1 atm, T = 555°C) flows (𝜏′ = 1.1 kg. hr/m3)
through a packed bed of alumina-chromia catalyst. The butane decomposes by a first-order
reaction.

and the behavior with time is as follows,

Examination of the 0.55-mm pellets shows the same extent of carbon deposition at the
entrance and the exit of the reactor, suggesting concentration independent deactivation.
Develop rate equations for reaction and deactivation.

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PART-C : Gas-Liquid Reactions on Solid Catalyst
Due date : 28-10-2024 (17: 00)

(1) Dilute aqueous ethanol (about 2-3%) is oxidized to acetic acid by the action of pure
oxygen at 10 atm in a trickle bed reactor packed with palladium-alumina catalyst pellets and
kept at 30°C.

with rate

Find the fractional conversion of ethanol to acetic acid if gas and liquid are fed to the top
of a reactor in the trickle bed reactor.

(2) Find the expected fractional conversion of ethanol in slurry reactor. Take all flows and
other values from the previous problem (PART D, Q: 1)

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