BTE3720 Reaction Engineering

Assignment 5 - Chapters: 19-30

Read the following instructions carefully. To score maximum marks, all the
instructions must be followed.
Make sure you have written the course name, semester, you name and matric
number and submission date clearly in the first page itself.
For all the problems taken from the text book, first write down the problem and
then start giving the answers.
Your answers should have the following
components:
a) question/problem
b) list of data given in the problem with the units
c) symbols, formula used for solving the problem along with eq. number
given in the book
d) details of any simplifications/assumptions made
e) substitution steps
f) calculation
g) final result
You will learn how to solve to the problems, only if you try it without looking at
the solutions. To encourage you answer these questions yourself, I have given
the final answers and the reference number of the required equations in the text
book as hints. However in the exams these hints will not be given.
Answer the following problems selected from the text book.
Q1. Gives the names and sketch the various types (7) of the packed bed catalytic
reactors. Clearly indicate all the parts. (Refer Ch19, p427-429)
Q2. a) Sketch the behaviour of extent of conversion (X A) versus temperature (T)
for an optimum two-stage packed bed (plugflow) reactor with intercooling. Label
each component and changes clearly. Using this figure, describe in your own
words the heat changes happening as the reaction is progressing in this reactor.
(Refer Fig. 19.4, p431)
b) Repeat the same operation as in Q2(a) for an optimum two-stage mixed flow
reactor with intercooling.
Q3. What is cold shot cooling and how does it eliminates interstage heat
exchanges. Explain the choice of the contacting systems using cold shot cooling,
using graphs and three stage packed bed reactor. (Refer p:434-436, fig, 19.8&9).
Q4-Q6. Sketch the flow sheet for the two reactor system represented by the XA
versus T diagrams Figs. P.19.1, P.19.5 and P19.7, and on the sketch show
the flow rate of all streams for each 100 mol of entering fluid, and where
pertinent give the recycle ratios (assume R=1).
the location of the heat exchangers and indicate whether they cool or
heat.

Fig. P19.1

Fig. P19.5

Fig. P19.7
Q7-Q8. Sketch the XA versus T diagram for the two packed bed reactor system
shown in Figs. P19.9 and P19.11 for an exothermic reaction where:
conversion: XAl = 0.6, XA2 = 0.9.
recycle ratio: R1 = 2, R2 = 1.
heat exchangers all cool the reacting fluid.

Fig. P19.9

Fig. P19.11
Q10. Give at least two examples of reactions of industrial importance under
each of the following categories: (Refer Ch25, p567-568)
a) gas-solid reaction in which the solid does not appreciably change in size
during reaction.
b) gas-solid reactions in which the size of solid changes
c) liquid-solid reactions in which the size of solid changes
Q11. Sketch the size and concentration of the reactant as a function of radial
position of the solid particles for the following categories of first order reactions
and indicate all the regions clearly: (Refer Ch25, Fig. 25, p4-8)
a) shrinking-core model for spherical particles of unchanging size when:
i)
gas-film diffusion, ash diffusion and surface reaction are
important.
ii) diffusion through the gas film is the controlling resistance
iii) diffusion through the ash layer is the controlling resistance.
iv) chemical reaction is the controlling resistance
b) shrinking spherical particles with changing size when:
i) diffusion through the gas film is the controlling resistance
ii) chemical reaction is the controlling resistance
Q12. Problem 25.1 (Hint: use Eq. 25. 11, 25.18 and 25.23. You will find Eq.
25.18 and 25.23 give the same answer. Why? See Fig. 25.9 or 25.10)
Q13. Problem 25.3 (Hint: Use Eq. 25.22 and 25.23. Why? Use molar density.
Ans: 1.53 hr)
Q14. Problem 27.9 (Hint: MM kinetics predominantly first order w.r.to enzyme and
zero or first order w.r.to A. Hence rate dependence is dominated by high enzyme
concentrations. Contacting patterns (b) and (f) are better.
Q15. Problem 29.3 (Hint: Use Eq. for C A in Eq. 29.7 and calculate CA. You will
find CA > CA0. Not possible. Hence wash out has occurred.)
Q16. Problem 29.7
Q17. Problem 29.17 (Ans. (b), (c) and (e) better (why?).)
Due date for submission is 16-05-2016, Monday, 10am. Late submission
will incur 20% penalty.