Conversion and the Design Equations
Conversion, A Conversion expresses the progress of a chemical reaction in terms of the limiting reactant, “A”. If A = 0 then no “A” has reacted. If A = 1 then all “A” has reacted. A ≡ Moles “A” Reacted / Moles “A” Fed = (FA0 – FA)/FA0 Rearranging FA = FA0 (1 - A)
What is the Limiting Reactant? Consider the reaction CH3OH + 2 O2 → CO2 + 2 H2O “A” “B” FA = 10 mol/min FB = 10 mol/min Which is limiting?
Batch Reactor Constant Volume
CSTR Notice how this term /-rA keeps popping up?
PFR
Design Equations Batch Reactor CSTR PFR
Example 1-1 Revisited CSTR PFR
Exothermic Reaction: A B + C Example Exothermic Reaction: A B + C FA0 = 300 mol/min
CSTR V = FA0*/-rA V = 300*.4*.2 = 24 L
V = 300*[(1-.2)*.4/2 + .2*.4] = 72 L
CSTR V = FA0*/-rA V = 300*1.1*.9 = 297 L
V = 72 + 300*[.2*.5 + .9*.3/2] = 142.5 L