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Assignment#8

The document outlines a series of problems related to chemical reactor analysis, focusing on various reaction types and conditions including first-order reactions in spherical catalyst pellets, the effects of particle size and reactor length on conversion, and the removal of chlorine from waste gas. Each problem requires calculations based on given parameters such as concentration, diameter, diffusivity, and reaction rates. Additionally, there is an optional bonus problem that involves computing concentration profiles and verifying bed length sufficiency for eliminating axial diffusion effects.

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52 views2 pages

Assignment#8

The document outlines a series of problems related to chemical reactor analysis, focusing on various reaction types and conditions including first-order reactions in spherical catalyst pellets, the effects of particle size and reactor length on conversion, and the removal of chlorine from waste gas. Each problem requires calculations based on given parameters such as concentration, diameter, diffusivity, and reaction rates. Additionally, there is an optional bonus problem that involves computing concentration profiles and verifying bed length sufficiency for eliminating axial diffusion effects.

Uploaded by

Warden
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL & MATERIALS ENGINEERING

CHE 445 Chemical reactor Analysis II winter 2025

Problem #1. (25pts)


A first-order heterogeneous irreversible reaction is taking place within a spherical catalyst pellet that is
plated with platinum throughout the pellet (see Figure). The reactant concentration halfway between the
external surface and the center of the pellet (i.e., r = R/2) is equal to one-tenth the concentration of the
pellet’s external surface. The concentration at the external surface is 0.001 gmol/dm3, the diameter (2R)
is 2 ×10-3 cm, and the diffusion coefficient is 0.1 cm2/s.
𝐴→ 𝐵

(a) What is the concentration of reactant at a distance of 3 × 10-4 cm in from the external pellet
surface?
(b) To what diameter should the pellet be reduced if the effectiveness fac-tor is to be 0.8?

Problem #2. (25pts)


A first-order isothermal reaction occurs in a bed of 3 mm diameter spherical catalyst pellets. The first-
order rate constant is 0.3 s−1. The effective diffusivity in the catalyst pellets is 3 × 10−7 m2/s. The reactor
length is 2 m. It is desired to replace the 3 mm diameter particles with 6 mm diameter particles. Calculate
the length of the reactor required to maintain the same conversion as before. Assume that the bulk
densities of the two beds are the same.

Problem #3. (25pts)


A plant is removing a trace of Cl2 from a waste-gas stream by passing it over a solid granulm absorbent
in a tubular packed bed (Figure). At present, 63.2% removal is being accomplished, but it is believed
that greater removal could be achieved if the flow rate were increased by a factor of 4, the particle
diameter was decreased by a factor of 3, and the packed tube length increased by 50%. What percentage
of chlorine would be removed under the proposed scheme? (The chlorine transferring to the absorbent is
removed completely by a virtually instantaneous chemical reaction.
Problem #4. (25pts)
The second-order decomposition reaction

is carried out in a tubular reactor packed with catalyst pellets 0.4 cm in diameter. The reaction is internal-
diffusion-limited. Pure A enters the re-actor at a superficial velocity of 3 m/s, a temperature of 250°C,
and a pressure of 500 kPa. Experiments carried out on smaller pellets where surface reaction is limiting
yielded a specific reaction rate of 0.05 m6/mol g-cat ·s. Calculate the length of bed necessary to achieve
80% conversion.

Problem # 5 (Optional, worth trying It, 10pts Bonus)

(a) For the following set of parameters, compute the axial concentration profile as a function of
total length and compare it to the profile obtained for pure plug flow.

• Mean bulk velocity of 0.01 m/s


• Bed porosity of 0.4
• Axial Peclet number of 2 (based on the particle diameter)
• Pellet diameter of 4 mm
• Bulk density of the bed 1200 kg/m3
• First-order reaction rate constant k = 1 × 10−5 m3/kgcat ⋅ s

(b) Verify for this case whether or not a bed length of 50 pellet diameters is sufficient to eliminate
the effects of axial diffusion.

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