Department of Chemical Engineering Spring, 2009

University of California, Santa Barbara

CHE 140A Problem Set No. 1

Due Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Problem 1: Fogler, 1-6, p. 30

Calculate the volume of a CSTR for the conditions used to figure the plug-flow reactor
volume in Example 1-1. Which volume is larger, the PFR or the CSTR? Explain why.

Problem 2: Fogler, 1-7, p. 30

Calculate the time to reduce the number of moles of A to 1% of its initial value in a
constant-volume batch reactor for the reaction and data in Example 1-1.

Problem 3: Fogler, 1-8, p. 30

What assumptions were made in the derivation of the design equations for:
(a) a batch reactor?
(b) a CSTR?
(c) a plug-flow reactor (PFR)?
(d) a packed-bed reactor (PBR)?
(e) State in words (using complete sentences) the meanings of rA , rA , and rA .
Is the reaction rate rA an extensive quantity? Explain.

Problem 4: Fogler, 1-12, p. 31

The United States produced 32.5% of the world's chemical products in 2002,
according to Global Top 50, Chemical and Engineering News, July 28, 2003. Table
P1-12.1 below lists the 10 most produced chemicals in 2002. Consult C&E News or
other sources to answer the questions below. Provide complete reference details for
the sources(s) that you use.

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(a) What were the 10 most produced chemicals for 2008? Were there any significant
changes from the 1995 statistics?
(b) What 10 chemical companies were tops in sales for 2008? Did any significant
changes occur compared to the 2002 statistics?
(c) Why do you think H2SO4 is the most produced chemical? What are some of its
uses?
(d) What is the current annual production rate (lb/yr) of ethylene, ethylene oxide, and
benzene?
(e) Why do you suspect there are so few organic chemicals in the top 10?

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Problem 5: Fogler, 1-15(a-c), p. 33
The reaction
A B
is to be carried out isothermally in a continuous-flow reactor. Calculate both the CSTR
and PFR reactor volumes necessary to consume 99% of reactant A (i.e.,
C A = 0.01 C A0 ) when the entering molar flow rate is 5 mol/h, assuming the reaction
rate rA is:

(a) rA = k with k = 0.05 mol

h dm3
(b) rA = kC A with k = 0.0001 s-1
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(c) rA = kC A2 with k = 3 dm
mol h

The entering volumetric flow rate is 10 dm3/h. (Note: FA = C Av. For a constant
volumetric flow rate v = v0 , then FA = C Av0 . Also, C A0 = FA0 / v0 = [5 mol/h]/[10
dm3/h] = 0.5 mol/ dm3.)