CHE 321

MIDTERM #2

April 16, 2012

Problem 1 (20 points)

A) An adiabatic CSTR is used for a 1st-order, exothermic

reaction. Because of a process upset, the inlet

temperature is nearing that where one would expect
thermal runaway. What would be a good idea?
A. Open a valve that allows inert of the same inlet
temperature to flow into the reactor
B. If you have a way of cooling the reactor, turn on the
coolant
C. Close the valves into/out of the reactor
D. A and B
E. A and B and close just the outlet valve
B) In an adiabatic reactor, the exit temperature is 50K
higher than the inlet. If an inert is added to the feed and
the flow rate adjusted so conversion is the same, how
much higher will the outlet temperature be from the
inlet temperature?
A. Zero
B. < 50K
C. 50K
D. > 50K

Problem 1
C) Consider a porous catalyst sphere. Plots for C in the
A
catalyst pellet vs. distance into the pellet are shown.
Which plot is most likely corresponding to a very very
fast reaction?

A
B
CA

C
D

r=R

r=0

D) Which of the following statements is not a true statement of

the disadvantages of the PEM fuel cell:
A The kinetics are very slow at the cathode
B Hydrogen is difficult to transport and store
C Hydrogen has poor energy density
D Despite advances, PEM fuel cells have poor efficiency
compared to internal combustion engines
E CO produced from hydrocarbon reforming is a poison to the
anode.

CHE 321

MIDTERM #2

April 16, 2012

Problem 1
E) In the following mechanism, circle all the species that should
be quasi-steady state species in the decomposition of
acetaldehyde to methane and carbon monoxide?
1

CH 3CHO CH 3 + CHO
2

CH 3 + CH 3CHO CH 4 + CH 3CO
3

CH 3CO CH 3 + CO
4

CH 3 + CH 3 C2 H 6
5

CH 3CHO + CHO CH 3CO + CH 2O

CHE 321

MIDTERM #2

April 16, 2012

Problem 2 (20 points)

The rate of isomerization of n-butane with a silica-alumina
catalyst is measured at 507 kPa and 323 K in a laboratory
reactor. Kinetic studies indicate that the rate is first order.
The effective diffusivity is 0.08 [cm2 s-1] at reaction conditions
and the density of the spherical catalyst pellets is 1.0 [g cm-3]
regardless of size. The measured rate of reaction for pure nbutane reactants is as follows.
Diameter of
pellet [in]
rP [gmol s-1
g.cat -1]

1/8
2.08 x 10-4

To reduce pressure drop in the proposed fixed-bed reactor

it is desirable to use the maximum pellet size for which
there is little or no reduction in the global rate due to
intrapellet resistances. The heat of isomerization is low
enough that the whole pellet is at 323 K. What is the largest
pellet size you would choose if pellets are available in the
following diameters (in inches): 3/16, 3/8, 3/4. Explain,
using your knowledge of reaction engineering and
mathematics, why you made your choice.

CHE 321

MIDTERM #2

April 16, 2012

kR 2
9D

RAp = kC As

9D 2
k=
R2

1
1
1
=

tanh ( 3 ) 3

R Ap
kC As

C As =

R 2 R Ap
9 D 2C As

1
1
1
=

tanh ( 3 ) 3

P
5atm
4
3
1.9x10
mol
/
cm
=
=
3
atm
RT 82.06 cmmolK
323K

mol
g
4 mol
RAp = 2.08x104
1.00
=

2.08x10

g s
cm3
cm3 s

1
1

=
tanh 3 3

( 0.16 ) 2.08x104
2

9 1.9x104 ( 0.08 )

) = 0.039

Guess a value for , for example = 1. Solve:

=0.2

CHE 321

MIDTERM #2

April 16, 2012

1
1
1
=

= .975
tanh ( 3 ) 3
9 D 2
k=
= 1.13s 1
2
R

3/16 =

3/16

kR 2
= 0.3
9D

1
1
1
=

= 0.95
tanh ( 3 ) 3

I would certainly not go further than a 50% increase (i.e 3/16

is the best size).

CHE 321

MIDTERM #2

April 16, 2012

Problem 3 (45 points)

Lets examine an exothermic first order liquid phase
reaction in an adiabatic plug flow reactor
AB

r = kC A

where k = 100 + 0.8(T100)

with T in K, and k having units of ksec-1. Pure A is
charged to the reactor at 100 C at a flowrate of 500
moles/s. The heat of reaction at 100 C is -15
kJ/mole and the specific heats of A and B are 70
J/mol-K. It should be noted that A has a specific
volume of 0.05 liter/mole.
a) (15) If the reactor is run adiabatically, what is the
temperature when 50% conversion is achieved?
b) (15) Calculate the volume required to achieve this
conversion.
c) (15) Recalculate the conversion assuming we are
running a CSTR instead (use the same volume you
found in part b).

A useful integral:

dx
1 a + bx
x ( a + bx ) = a ln x

CHE 321

MIDTERM #2

April 16, 2012

Problem 3

First find conversion in adiabatic zone

dN A
= RA = kC A
dV
dT kC A H Ri kC A H Ri
=
=
dV Q C j CPj
QC A0 CPA

dN A N A0 CPA
=
dT
H Ri
T T0 =

H Ri
N A N A0
N A0 CPA

T = T0 +

H Ri
15000
N A N A0 = 373 +
( 0.5) = 480 K
70
N A0 CPA

Now we must solve our mass balance to determine the

reactor size:

dN A
N
= k A
dV
Q

CHE 321

MIDTERM #2

April 16, 2012

Problem 2

Express k in terms of NA

k=

100 + 0.8 (T T0 )
1000

N A H Ri N A0 H Ri N A H Ri H Ri

(T T0 ) =
N A0 CPA
N A0 CPA
N A0 CPA
CPA
dN A kN A N A 0.8 N A N A H Ri H Ri
=
=
+

dV
Q
CPA
10Q 1000Q N A0 C PA

V =

V=

dN A

0.8 H Ri
0.8 H Ri
1
N A N A 1000
+

1000 QCP
10 Q
QN A CP
0

1
1
10 Q

0.8 H Ri
1000
QCP

Evaluate:

ln

0.8 H Ri
0.8 H Ri
1
N A 1000
+

QN A CP
1000 QCP
10 Q
0

NA

(
(

|NN AA

500 250 0.8( 15000) 1 + 0.8( 15000)

10005000.0570500
105000.05
10005000.0570
1

V=
ln
0.8( 15000 )
1
250 500 0.8( 15000) 1 + 0.8( 15000)
105000.05 10005000.0570
10005000.0570500
105000.05
10005000.0570

V = 120.8l

)
)

CHE 321

MIDTERM #2

April 16, 2012

Problem 2

c) Q loss = Q

C jin CPj (Tin T )

V
120.8
=
= 4.83s
Q 0.05 500

Q rxn = r H RiVR = kC AVR H R = Q loss

H RVR C A0 (100 + 0.8 (T T0 ) )

Q rxn =

V
1 + R (100 + 0.8 (T T0 ) )
Q

N A0 CPA (T Tin ) 1 + (100 + 0.8 (T T0 ) ) = H RVR C A0 (100 + 0.8 (T T0 ) )

0.8
1000

100
0.8
0.8
N A CP T 2 + ( N A CP + N A CP 1000
N A CP 1000
T0 ) T + ( 1000
N A CP Tin ) T + ( H RVR C A
0

+ H RVR C A0

0.8
1000

T0 + H RVR C A0

100
1000

)+(N

A0

CPA TinT0

0.8
1000

N A0 CPA Tin N A0 CPA Tin

Quadratic:

a = 135
b = 1460 + 50444 28992 = 77976
c = 7190000 544759 = 6645000

100
1000

)=0

0.8
1000

)T

CHE 321

MIDTERM #2

April 16, 2012

Problem 2

77976 779762 4 6645000 135

T=
= 474 K
2 135
k = 100 + 0.8 (T T0 ) = 0.181s 1

CA
1
=
= 0.534
C A0 1 + k

46.6% conversion

Problem 4 (10 pts)

Consider the reaction A + B C. The reaction is
performed over a heterogeneous catalyst in a fixed bed
reactor. C only adsorbs very weakly on the catalyst so that
the surface coverage of C is negligible. The following data
were obtained.

pA / bar

pB / bar

-rA / mol.L1.min-1

0.2

2.0

5.0

0.5

2.0

8.8

1.0

2.0

11.7

2.0

2.0

14.1

5.0

0.1

6.2

5.0

0.5

12.8

5.0

1.0

14.8

5.0

2.0

16.0

5.0

5.0

16.8

5.0

10.0

17.1

5.0

20.0

17.3

10.0

2.0

16.8

20.0

2.0

17.2

Determine whether A and B adsorb on the same or

on different adsorption sites.

CHE 321

MIDTERM

April 16, 2012

Reorganize our data:

pA / bar

pB / bar

-rA / mol.L1.min-1

0.2

2.0

5.0

0.5

2.0

8.8

1.0

2.0

11.7

2.0

2.0

14.1

5.0

2.0

16.0

10.0

2.0

16.8

20.0

2.0

17.2

pA / bar

pB / bar

-rA / mol.L1.min-1

5.0

0.1

6.2

5.0

0.5

12.8

5.0

1.0

14.8

5.0

2.0

16.0

5.0

5.0

16.8

5.0

10.0

17.1

5.0

20.0

17.3

In both cases, the rate never turns over. This indicates that
we do not have competitive adsorption. This implies that the
species must adsorb on different sites.