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Lecture 6 - Isothermal Reactor Design
Lecture 6 - Isothermal Reactor Design
Tubular reactors
Topic Outcomes
Size of reactor
Cont.
No information of rate of
law –rA=f(X) Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Obtain the rate law
–rA=f(X) from the
stoichiometry
Size of reactor
Algorithm for Isothermal Reactor
Rate laws
rate vs. concentration
Stoichiometry
(to find concentration vs X)
Rate laws : rA kC A rA kC 2A
NA
Stoichiometry : CA C A0 1 X
V0
dX dX
k 1 X kC A0 1 X
2
Combine : dt dt
1 1 1 X
t ln t
Integrate : k 1 X kC A0 1 X
Typical Cycle Time in a Batch Reactor
However, before the design can be carried out, it is necessary to perform and analyze
a batch reactor experiment to determine the specific reaction rate constant.
Since the reaction will' be carried out isothermally, the specific reaction rate will need to
be determined only at the reaction temperature of the CSTR.
Since the water is usually present in excess, its concentration may be considered
constant during the course of the reaction. The reaction is first-order in ethylene oxide.
O H2S O4 CH2 OH
+ H2O
H2C CH2 CH2 OH
A + B C
Solution: Batch Data
1 dNA
Mole balance : rA
V dt
Rate laws : rA kC A
Stoichiometry :
C A C A0 1 X
CH2 OH
NA NA0 1 X
O
H2C CH2
+ HA
2O NA0 X
NA0CH OH
2
C B C A0 ΘB C B0
Example: Batch Data (Cont.)
In the laboratory experiment, 500 mL of a 2 M solution (2 kmol/m3) of ethylene oxide in
water was mixed with 500 mL of water containing 0.9 wt % sulfuric acid, which is a
catalyst. The temperature was maintained at 55°C. The concentration of ethylene
glycol was recorded as a function of time (Table). From these data, determine the
specific reaction rate at 55°C.
Solution: Batch Data (Cont.)
NA NA t= 0, CA = CA0
CA
V V0
C A0
ln kt
1 dNA dNA /V0 dC A CA
V dt dt dt
Conc. of ethylene oxide at any time t
dC A C A C A0 e kt
Combine : kC A
dt
From reaction stoichiometry
Isothermal operation
NC NA0 X NA0 NA
CA dC A t
kdt
C A0 C 0
A
Solution: Batch Data (Cont.)
Liquid-phase, V = V0
NC NC
CC C A0 C A
V V0
C C C A0 1 e kt
–k
C A0 C C
ln kt
C A0
ln10 2.3
k 0.311min1
t2 t1 8.95 1.55
rA 0.311min1 C A
This rate law can be used in the
design of an industrial CSTR