CCB3043 KINETICS AND REACTOR DESIGN (January 2015)

Assignment 1 (Submission date: 16th February 2015)

1. The initial reaction rate for the elementary reaction 2A +B 4C was measured as a
function of temperature when the concentration of A was 3M and B was 2M.
-rA
(mol/dm3.s)
T (K)

0.002

0.046

0.72

8.33

300

320

340

360

a. Calculate the activation energy

b. Calculate the frequency factor
c. Write the equation for rate constant as a function of temperature using T = 300 K as
the base case.
d. Evaluate the rate constant for the reaction if the reaction takes place isothermally at
400 K.
[P3-8, C3, C4 / 15 marks]
2. Identify what is wrong with the solution provided and suggest the right answer for
the problem.
The gas phase reaction
3A + 2B 3C + 5D

(rate constant = k1)

follows an elementary rate law as written and is carried out in a flow reactor operated
isothermally at 427oC and 28.7 atm. Pressure drop can be neglected. Express the rate
law and the concentration of each species solely as the function of conversion. The
specific reaction rate is 200 dm12/mol4s and the feed is equimolar in A and B.
Solution:
3A + 2B 3C + 5D
A is the limiting reactant, thus, divide through by its stoichiometry coefficient,
resulting in:

2
5
A B C D
3
3
So, the elementary rate law can be written as:
2

rA kCA C B 3
Feed is equimolar in A and B, thus

y A0 1
y A 0 3 5 2 3 3
C A 0 1 X C A 0 1 X

1 X
1 3X
P0
28.7
mol
y A0
0. 5
0.17 3
RT0
(1.987)( 427)
dm

CA
C A0

Thus:

CCB3043 KINETICS AND REACTOR DESIGN (January 2015)

(1 X )(1 X )
(1 3 X ) 5 / 3
(1 X )(1 X )
200 0.17 5 / 3
(1 3 X ) 5 / 3

rA k1C AC B2 / 3 k1C A5 0/ 3

[C5, C6 / 15 marks]
3. The gas phase reaction

1
3
N + H NH 3
2 2 2 2

is to be carried out isothermally. The molar feed is 50% H 2 and 50% N2, at a pressure of
16.4 atm and a temperature of 327oC.
a. Construct the stoichiometry table for the above reaction.
b. Calculate the value of CA0, , and .
c. Calculate the concentration of ammonia and hydrogen when the conversion of H 2 is
60%.
[P4-10, C3, C4 / 15 marks]

4. Isothermal, isobaric, catalytic gas-phase reaction carried out in a fluidized bed CSTR,
where the feed enters at 7 atm and 170oC, and is stoichiometric mixture.
C6H6 + 2H2 C6H10
a. Develop the stoichiometric table for the reaction above. Express the concentration
of each species as a function of conversion.
b. Next, assuming elementary rate law, write the reaction rate solely as a function of
conversion.
c. Calculate the catalyst weight required for 80% conversion in fluidized bed reactor at
170oC and 270oC. Entering volumetric flow rate is 50 dm3/min

[P4-6d, C3, C4 / 25 marks]