P4-5A _ The reaction in the liquid phase:

A+ B →C

It follows an elementary rate law and is carried out isothermally in a flow system. The
concentration of feed streams A and B is 2 M before mixing. The volumetric flow for
each stream is 5 dm 3 /min and the inlet temperature is 300 K. The currents mix
immediately before entering. Two reactors are available. One of them is a gray 200.0
dm 3 CSTR, which can be heated to 77°C or cooled to 0°C, the other is a white 800.0 dm
3
PFR that operates at 300 KY and cannot be heated or cooled, but Yes, paint yourself
red or black. Note that k = 0.07 dm 3 /mol. min at 300 KY E = 20 kcal/mol.
(a) Which reactor and what conditions do you recommend? Explain the reason for
your choice (i.e. color, cost, available space, environmental conditions). Support your
reasoning with appropriate calculations.
SOLUTION:
 Data:

2 mol T 1=300 K
C AO=C BO=2 M = 3
dm cal
E a=20000
dm
3
mol
k o=0.07 cal
mol . min R=1.9872
dm
3 mol . K
ν A =ν B =5
min

For a CSTR rector: V=200 dm 3

For a PFR: V=800 dm 3

 Calculations:

 For the gray CSTR reactor:

Using the Arrhenius equation for a temperature of 350 K, the new reaction rate
constant is:

−E a
RT
k =k 0 . e
cal
−20000
mol

( )
( )
cal 1 1
d m3 1.9872 −
mol. K 350 300
k = 0.07 e
mol . min

3
dm
k =8.45
mol . min
 Knowing that the design equation for a CSTR reactor:
(F )(X )
V = AO
−r A
Clearing:
(V )(−r A )
X= (1)
F AO

To find the flow rate entering the system F AO , we use the following:
F AO=C AO ν A

( )( )
3
mol dm
F AO= 2 3
5
dm min
mol
F AO=10
min
If the speed law is:
−r A =k C A C B

It's known that: C A=C AO ( 1−X ) C B=C BO ( 1− X )

Yeah:C AO=C BO , so C A=C B

Therefore:
2
−r A =k C A
2
−r A =k ( C AO ( 1−X )) (2)

Replacing (2) into (1):

(V ) ( k ( C AO ( 1−X ) ) )
2

X=
F AO

(( )(( ) ))
3 2
( 200 d m3 ) 8.45 d m 2
mol
( 1− X )
mol . min d m3
X=
mol
10
min

X =0.96227
 For the PFR reactor:

Knowing that the design equation for a PFR reactor is:

dx
F AO =−r A (3)
dV
Solving and replacing (2) into (3):
2
dx −r A k ( C AO (1−X ) )
= =
dV F AO F AO
 2
k ( C AO ( 1−X ) )
dx= dV
F AO
Integrating:
2
x k C AO V
2
=
( 1−X ) F AO
Replacing the data:

( )( )
3 2
dm mol (
800 d m )
3
0.07 2 3
x mol .min dm
2
=
( 1−X ) mol
10
min

x=0.809

Answer:

Considering the results obtained, where we see that we obtain a conversion of 0.96227
for the CSTR reactor and 0.809 for the PFR reactor, therefore, we recommend the use
of the gray CSTR reactor with a volume of 200.0 dm 3 , and a temperature that can be
heated to 77°C or cooled to 0°C.

(b) How long will it take to obtain a 90% conversion in a 200 dm 3 intermittent reactor with C
A0 = C B0 = 1M after mixing at a temperature of 77°C?

A+ B →C
−r A =K C A C B … … (1)

DATA

mol T 0=300 K T f =350 K

C A =1
0
l
L
K=0.07
mol mol . min
C B =1
0
l
kcal
E=20
l mol
v A =v B =5
min
SOLUTION

C A=C A ( 1−x ) … …(2)

0

C B=C A (❑B −x)

0

C B=C A ( 1−x ) … …(3)

0

Replacing (2) and (3) in (1)

−r A =K C A 2 (1−x )2 … …(4)
0

Differentiating (2) as a function of the conversion (x)

dC A =dC A dx … …(5)
0

Making molar balance for intermittent reactor (BATCH)

dN A
=r A V
dt
dC A
=r A … … ( 6 )
dt
Replacing (4) and (5) in (6)

−C A dx 0
=−K C A 2 (1−x )2
dt 0

0.9 t

∫ (1−dxx)2 =K C A ∫ dt 0
0 0
0.9
1
0 =K C A t … …(7)
(1−x ) 0

( c) What would be your answer to part (b) if the reactor was cooled to 0°C?

We will proceed to carry out the same procedure carried out in part (b) until we obtain
equation (7)
0.9
0
 1
=K C A t … …(7)
(1−x ) 0

SOLUTION

Now we calculate “K” for T=0°C

−E
K= A e RT
K 300
A= −E
e RT
For T=300K
13
A=2.6 x 10

Area T = 0°C = 273 K

−2000
K=(2.6 x 10 ¿¿ 13)e (1.987)(273) ¿

−3 L
K=2.53 x 10
mol . min
We replace (8) in (7)

( 1−0.9
1
)−( 1−0
1
)=(2.57 x 10 −3 L
)1 mol
mol . min L
(t)

−3
2.53 x 10 t
9=
min
1h 1 día
t=3557.31 min x x
60 min 24 h

t=2.47 dias 2.5 días

(d) What conversion would be achieved if the CSTR and PFR are operated at 300 K and
connected in series? What if they are connected in parallel, feeding 5 mol/min to each one?
SOLUTION

If the CSTR and PFR are connected in series:

3 3 3 2
(200 dm )(0.07 dm /mol .min)(1 mol /dm )(1− X)
X CSTR =
10 mol/min

Solving the quadratic equation:

X CSTR =0.44

For the PFR:

dX
F A0 =−r A
dV

dX =(0.07 dm ¿ ¿ mol . min)C A 0 (1− X) ¿ ¿ ¿

3

X 2
(0.07 dm ¿ ¿ mol . min) ( 1mol /dm ) (800 dm )
3 3 3
dX
∫ 3
=
10 moles /min
¿
0.44 (1−X )

X PFR=0.736

When the CSTR and PFR are connected in parallel:

3 3 3 2
(200 dm )(0.07 dm /mol .min)(1 mol /dm )(1− X)
X CSTR =
5 mol/min

X CSTR =0.56

For the PFR:

X 2
(0.07 dm ¿ ¿ mol . min) ( 1 mol /dm ) (800 dm )
3 3 3
dX
∫ (1−X )2 =
5 moles /min
¿
0

X PFR=0. 92
Therefore, the final conversion will be:

0.56+0.92
X= =0.74
2

X =0.74
(e) Keeping in mind Table 4-1, what volume of intermittent reactor would be necessary to
process the same amount of species A per day as in the flow reactors, achieving a conversion
of 90%? Referring to Table 1-1, estimate the cost of the intermittent reactor.

SOLUTION

To process the same amount of species A, the batch reactor must handle.

( )( 601min )( )
3
5d m 24 h mol
2M =14400
min h 1 dia dia
If the reactants are at the same concentrations as in the flow reactors, then

( )( )
3 3
mol 1d m dm
V = 14400 =14400
dia mol dia

Therefore, the batch reactor must be able to process14400 d m 3 every 24 hours.

Now we have the time required to reach 90% conversion. Let's assume the reaction
temperature is 300K
2
dX −rV k C A 0 ( 1−X ) V
= =
dt N A 0 N A0
N A0 X N A0
t R= 2 , and from , =C A 0
kC A0
1− X V
1 X 1 0.9
t R= = =2.14 h
( )
k C A 0 1− X dm
3
mol 0.1
4.2 ∗1 3
mol .h dm
Assume that it takes three hours to fill, empty, and heat to the reaction temperature.

t f =3 h

t total=t R +T f

t total=2.14 h+ 3 h=5.14 h

Therefore, we can run 4 batches in one day and the required reactor volume is
 3
14400 d m 3
=3600 d m
4
Referring to Table 1-1 and noting that 3600 d m3 It is approximately 1000 gallons, we see that
the price would be approximately $85,000 for the reactor.

(f) Describe in a couple of sentences what you learned and what you think the goal of this
problem is.

The key points of the problem posed are:

1. Observe the significant differences in processing times at the different temperatures in

parts (b) and (c).
2. That the reaction is very fast at a temperature of 77°C and that a batch reactor is not
appropriate for that.
3. Do not confuse with irrelevant information, that is, the color of the reactor does not
matter; if it is red or black.

ANNEXES