CHE 309: Chemical Reaction Engineering

Lecture-3

Module 1: Mole Balances, Conversion & Reactor Sizing

(Chapters 1 and 2, Fogler)
 Topics to be covered in today’s lecture

• GMBE for a Continuously Stirred Tank Reactor

(CSTR) [Fogler Section 1.4.1]
• GMBE for a Plug Flow Reactor (PFR) [Fogler Section 1.4.2]
• GMBE for a Packed Bed Reactor (PBR) [Fogler Section
1.4.3]

• Summary of Design Equations for Various Reactors

• Class Problem #1 (Reaction Rate in a CSTR)
 General Mole Balance for CSTR
CA0
Reaction: A  Products

CA = CA, exit
: remain constant
: independent of
CA CA, exit time and position

Steady state

General Mole Balance Equation (GMBE) for a CSTR

Steady state operation: dNA/dt = 0, Perfect mixing: GA = (rA)·V

FAo  FA 0C Ao  C A
V  Note: GMBE is algebraic in form
 (rA )  (rA )
For liquid phase, υ0 = υ (volumetric flow rate)
Picture Source: http://www-micrbiol.sci.kun.nl/galleries/two.html
 General Mole Balance for PFR

CA = (position)
CA0 CA,exit

CA varies along the axial position,

but remain constant with time.

Reaction: A  Products
V

A
Steady state operation: dNA/dt = 0, Dependence of CA on axial position: G  r dV
A

Two approaches: (1) use GMBE directly, (2) shell-volume analysis

Differential Form Integral Form

FA CA CA
dFA dFA dC A dC A
dV
 (rA ) V 
FAO
(rA )
 0 
C AO
(rA )
 0 
C AO
f (C A )
Incompressible fluid (const )
 General Mole Balance for PBR

CA = (position)
CA0 CA,exit Key information: total
w catalyst weight (W)
Packed with catalyst
instead of reactor
CA varies along the axial position, volume (V)
but remain constant with time.

Reaction: A  Products
V

A
Steady state operation: dNA/dt = 0, Dependence of CA on axial position: G  r ' dW
A

Two approaches: (1) use GMBE directly, (2) shell-volume analysis

Differential Form Integral Form

FA CA CA
dFA dFA dC A dC A
dW
 (rA' ) W 
FAO
'
(rA )
 0  '  0 
C AO
(rA ) C AO
f (C A )
Incompressible fluid (const )
 Summary - Design Equations of Ideal Reactors

Differential Algebraic Integral

Remarks
Equation Equation Equation
dN j Nj Conc. changes with time
 (rj )V dN j
Batch dt t  (rj )V
but is uniform within the
N jO reactor. Reaction rate
Unsteady state
varies with time.

Conc. inside reactor is

F jo  F j uniform. (rj) is constant.
CSTR V Exit conc = conc inside
 (rj ) reactor.
Steady state

Fj
dF j Concentration and hence
PFR dF j
 rj
V 
F jO
(rj )
reaction rates vary
spatially.
Steady state dV
 Class Problem #1

• Calculating Reaction rate in a CSTR

1.0 L/min of liquid containing A and B (CAO=0.10 mol/L, CBO=0.01 mol/L)
flow into a mixed flow reactor of volume VR=1.0 L. The materials in the
reactor interact (react) in a complex manner for which the stoichiometery is
unknown. The outlet stream from the reactor contains A, B and C at
concentrations of CAf = 0.02 mol/L, CBf=0.03 mol/L and CCf=0.04 mol/L.

Find the rate of reactions of A, B and C at conditions of

the reactor.
 Solution to Class Problem# 1

F jo  F j
V
 (rj )

FAo  FA C Ao  CA 0.10  0.02

 rA    = 0.08 mol/liter.min
V V / 1/1
CBo  CB 0.01  0.03 = - 0.02 mol/liter.min
 rB  
V /v 1/1

CCo  CC 0.00  0.04

 rC   = - 0.04 mol/liter.min
V /v 1/1

Thus A is disappearing while B and C are being formed