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EH/JAN 2012/CPE624

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

FINAL EXAMINATION

COURSE

ADVANCED CHEMICAL REACTION ENGINEERING

COURSE CODE

CPE624

EXAMINATION

JANUARY 2012

TIME

2 HOURS

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES
1.

This question paper consists of three (3) questions.

2.

Answer ALL the questions only in the Answer Booklet. Start each answer on a new page.

3.

Do not bring any material into the examination room unless permission is given by the
invigilator.

4.

Please check to make sure that this examination pack consists of:
i)
ii)

the Question Paper

an Answer Booklet - provided by the Faculty

DO NOT TURN THIS PAGE UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO DO SO

This examination paper consists of 3 printed pages
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EH/JAN 2012/CPE624

QUESTION 1
(P06, C04, C2, C5)
Catalytic reactions can be divided into two main types heterogeneous and homogeneous. In
a heterogeneous reaction, the catalyst is in a different phase from the reactants. In a
homogeneous reaction, the catalyst is in the same phase as the reactants.
a) Briefly discuss the seven steps involved in the heterogeneous catalytic reaction.
(7 marks)
b) A catalytic gaseous reaction A->B proceeds by the following elementary steps:
A+S < = > A . S
A.S->B.S
B.S < = > B + S
I + S < = > I. S

(Where I is an inert)

Determine the rate expression for above mechanism given that the second step is much
slower than the other steps. I is an inert that competes for adsorption on the active sites.
(13 marks)

QUESTION 2
(P06, C01.C2, C4)
The Plug Flow Tube Reactor (PFTR) is an ideal reactor characterized by the input of a
premixed reaction mixture of reactants and solvents on one side and a removal of the
product on the other side. In a trial the non-porous catalyst is embedded on the inside wall of
plug flow tubular reactor (PFTR) with radius of 5 cm. The flow rate through the tube is 0.5
litre/s and the reaction rate, f, moles/cm2.s) = 0.01 CA with CA in moles/L.

a) Determine the length of the tube required for 99% conversion assuming that the
flow is fully developed turbulent.
(14 marks)
b) State your main assumptions.
(6 marks)

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EH/JAN 2012/CPE624

QUESTION 3
(P06, C04, C2, C3, C4)
The problem of heterogeneous solid-fluid chemical reactions with a moving boundary is
commonly treated by means of the pseudo steady state approximation. A better
approximation to the exact solution has been derived in order to estimate the accuracy of the
pseudo steady state method.
a) Interpret briefly the concept of pseudo-steady-state approximation in the
determination of kinetic expressions for chain reactions when applied to the free
radicals.
(4 marks)
b) Interpret the physical meanings of the pseudo-steady-state approximation when
applied to constant stirred tank reactor (CSTR) and plug flow reactor (PFR).
(4 marks)
c) The elementary steps of a chain reaction with branching in a constant stirred tank
reactor (CSTR) is as shown below:
A^R,
A + R->B + C + aR
R-+X,
i)

Estimate the concentration of the free radical (CR) using pseudo-steady-state

approximation.

(6 mark)
ii) Calculate the space-time (T) for 95% conversion of A given that a = 2. The initial
concentration of A, CAo = 0.2 moles/liter, rate constant for initiation step, kj = 0.001
sec"1, rate constant for propagation step, kp=0.5 liter/mole.sec and rate constant for
termination step, kt =0.15 sec"1. Assume constant density throughout.
(6 marks)

END OF QUESTION PAPER

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