Scribd
Upload
80 views

Chapter 4 Isothermal Reactor Design (Class Discussion)

This document discusses reaction engineering concepts for first order reactions occurring in continuous stirred tank reactors (CSTR) arranged in series, including: - The dimensionless Damkohler number (Da) relates the rate of reaction to the rate of convection - For a first order reaction, the degree of conversion (X) in n CSTRs in series can be calculated from the Da and number of reactors - Having a Da > 10 can achieve over 90% conversion with only 2-3 reactors, while a Da < 0.1 requires more reactors for high conversion - An example problem is given to design a CSTR process and calculate conversions based on specifications.

Uploaded by

FakhrulShahrilEzanie
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
80 views

Chapter 4 Isothermal Reactor Design (Class Discussion)

This document discusses reaction engineering concepts for first order reactions occurring in continuous stirred tank reactors (CSTR) arranged in series, including: - The dimensionless Damkohler number (Da) relates the rate of reaction to the rate of convection - For a first order reaction, the degree of conversion (X) in n CSTRs in series can be calculated from the Da and number of reactors - Having a Da > 10 can achieve over 90% conversion with only 2-3 reactors, while a Da < 0.1 requires more reactors for high conversion - An example problem is given to design a CSTR process and calculate conversions based on specifications.

Uploaded by

FakhrulShahrilEzanie
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 6

CEB2043 REACTION ENGINEERING I

For n reactors in series:


𝐶𝐴0 1
𝐶𝐴𝑛 = 𝑛
, 𝑋 =1− 𝑛
1 + 𝜏𝑘 1 + 𝜏𝑘

Information:
1. First order reaction with no volume change Damkohler Number, Da
2. Identical reactors (temperature, concentration etc)

1st order reaction: 𝐷𝑎 = 𝜏𝑘

𝐶𝐴0 1
𝐶𝐴𝑛 = 𝑛
, 𝑋 =1− 𝑛
1 + 𝐷𝑎 1 + 𝐷𝑎
VALID FOR
1ST ORDER
RXN ONLY!!
▪ Dimensionless unit
▪ A quick estimation on degree of conversion in a flow reactor for irreversible reaction
▪ Defined as:
−𝑟𝐴0 𝑉 Rate of reaction at entrance "A reaction rate"
𝐷𝑎 = = =
𝐹𝐴0 Entering flow rate of A "A convection rate"

1st order reaction: 𝐷𝑎 = 𝜏𝑘


Da < 0.1, then X < 0.1
2nd order reaction: 𝐷𝑎 = 𝜏𝑘𝐶𝐴0 Da > 10, then X > 0.9

4
Da < 0.1, then X < 0.1

Da > 10, then X > 0.9

• When the Da is large (Da >1), 90%


conversion can be achieve using 2-3
CSTR in series. Hence adding more
reactors would be unjustified

• If Da is small, more reactors in series is


required to achieve high conversion
Conversion as a function of the number of tanks in series for
first order reaction
It is desired to design a CSTR to produce 100 million kg of ethylene glycol per year by hydrolysing ethylene
oxide. A 16 mol/dm3 solution of ethylene oxide is mixed with equal volumetric of water. The specific reaction
constant is 0.311 min-1 at 55°C. the reaction is first order in ethylene oxide as follows:

Determine the following:


a) If 80% conversion is to be achieve, determine the necessary CSTR volume. [Ans: 3083.5 dm3]

b) If 80% conversion is to be achieve, determine the number of 1030 dm3 CSTR required. [Ans: 3]
c) If two 800 dm3 CSTR are arranged in parallel, determine the conversion that can be obtain. [Ans: 0.675 dm3]
d) If two 800 dm3 CSTR are arranged in series, determine the conversion exiting both reactors. [Ans: X1 = 0.51, X2 = 0.76]

You might also like