Solutions.

Problem 1.
a) For first-order reaction kinetics

10000 L
Da
k
0.3L / sec =0.58
XA =
=
=
1 + Da 1 + k 1 + 2.5 10-3 min 1 10000 L
0.3L / sec
2.5 10-3 min 1

b) Consider the non-steady state design equation for CSTR, where we can have

FA0 FA + rAV =

dN A
dt

Since in liquid phase with constant density, we have

C A0 C A - kC A =

dC A
dt

or equivalently

dCA 1 + k
C
CA = A0
+
dt

with the initial conditions CA,t=0=(1-0.58)0.12 mol/L=0.05 mol/L, new =10000L/(0.70.3*60

L/min)=793.7 min
Therefore, integrate this equation we can have

C A (t ) =

C A0
1 + k
1 + k
{1 exp[
t ]} + C A, t = 0 exp(
t)
1 + k

Therefore the conversion at time t is

X A (t ) = 1

C
1 + k
1
1 + k
t ]} A, t = 0 exp[
t]
{1 exp[

C A0
1 + k

After 60 min of changing flow rate,

X A (60 min) = 1

C
1 + k
1
1 + k
t ]} A, t = 0 exp[
t ] = 0.598
{1 exp[

C A0
1 + k

The new steady state fractional conversion is

10000 L
2.5 10-3 min 1
Da
k
0.3L / sec 0.7 =0.665
XA =
=
=
1 + Da 1 + k 1 + 2.5 10-3 min 1 10000 L
0.3L / sec 0.7
c) The steady state productivity (moles/time) of B is FB, and the ratio of that in b) vs. that in a) is
B

FB, b 0.3L/sec 0.7 0.665

=
= 0.803
FB, a
0.3L/sec 0.58
Therefore, the productivity will be decreased by lowering the flow rate even though a higher
conversion is to be achieved.

Cite as: William Green, Jr., and K. Dane Wittrup, course materials for 10.37 Chemical and Biological Reaction Engineering, Spring
2007. MIT OpenCourseWare (http://ocw.mit.edu), Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Downloaded on [DD Month YYYY].

Problem 2.
We know for first order reaction, conversion XA has the following relation with rate constant k,
CSTR reactor volume V and volumetric flow rate v

V
v
XA =
V
1+ k
v
k

When we have a dead volume (denoted as subscript 1) which does not interact with the input and
output streams, we can deduce this amount of volume from the overall reactor volume.

V1
v
X A1 =
V
1+ k 1
v
k

We

are

told

V1=600L-400L=200L,

XA1=0.75,

therefore

we

can

calculate

X A1
k
==
=0.015.
v
V1 (1 - X A1 )
Then for the well-stirred reactor, V=600L

V
v =0.9
XA =
V
1+ k
v
k

Cite as: William Green, Jr., and K. Dane Wittrup, course materials for 10.37 Chemical and Biological Reaction Engineering, Spring
2007. MIT OpenCourseWare (http://ocw.mit.edu), Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Downloaded on [DD Month YYYY].

Problem 3.
For a PFR reactor, the design equation is

dX celluose
-r
= S celluose
dz
Fcelluose, in
Now S=10cm2, length=2m, Fcelluose, in=vin[cellulose]in, in order to know v, we have to convert 60
grams of slurry into total moles of cellulose and water per second, that is

n total, in =

60 gram/sec 20% 60 gram/sec (1 20%)

+
=
MWcellulose
MWwater

60 gram/sec 20% 60 gram/sec (1 20%)

= 2.683 mol/sec
+
720 gram/mol
18 gram/mol

Using ideal gas law to get the volumetric flow rate:

v in =

n total, in RT 2.683 mol/sec 8.314 J/mol/K 600K

=
= 6.61 liter/sec
20 atm
P

Also

20%
y
P
20 atm
720 gram/mol
[cellulose]in = cellulose,0 =
= 2.52 mol/m3
20
%
1

20
%
RT
(
+
) 8.314J/(mol K) 600K
720gram/mol 18gram/mol
where ycellulose,0 is the molar fraction of cellulose in the inlet.
In this problem, since the gas phase reaction creates more molecules, the volumetric flow rate is
not a constant.

- rcelluose = k

[cellulose]
1 + a[CO]

where the concentrations should be expressed (constant pressure and temperature are assumed)

[cellulose] = [cellulose]in

(1 - X)
(1 + X)

[CO] = [H 2 ] = [cellulose]in

24X
(1 + X)

and

Here =(24+24-1)ycellulose,0=47*0.0062=0.292.
Now the final molar flow rate of H2 is
vfinal[H2]=24vin[cellulose]inXf

Cite as: William Green, Jr., and K. Dane Wittrup, course materials for 10.37 Chemical and Biological Reaction Engineering, Spring
2007. MIT OpenCourseWare (http://ocw.mit.edu), Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Downloaded on [DD Month YYYY].