Agni College of Technology

Thalambur, Chennai 600 130

Office of Examcell

Unit-3
Part - A
1. Define fractional yield and selectivity for a multiple reaction [N/D17]
 Selectivity is defined as the ratio of moles of desired to moles of undesired product.
 Yield is defined as the ratio of moles of product formed to moles of reactant either fed
or consumed
2. AR  S is to be carried out in mixed flow reactors. For maximum rate of reformation
of R. what is the space time if k1 =0.3 min-1 and K2 = 0.2 min-1. [N/D17]
Refer Notes
3. Give the general representation of series – parallel reactions
Parallel reactions are also called ‘competing reactions’. The reactant is consumed by two different
reactions to give two different products. Product R may be the desired product whereas product S is
an undesired product:
A k1 −→ R
A k2 −→ S
Irreversible, series reactions are another example of multiple reactions:
A −→ R −→ S
There are many examples of this type of reaction chain such as: 1. Reaction of ethylene oxide (EO)
with ammonia to form mono-, di- and triethanolamine.
NH3 + (O)CH2−CH2 −→ HOCH2CH2NH2
NH3 + (O)CH2−CH2 −→ (HOCH2CH2 )2NH
NH3+ (O)CH2−CH2 −→ (HOCH2CH2 )3N
A chain reaction to produce
C6Cl6 . C6H6 + Cl2 −→ C6H5Cl + Cl2 −→ · · · −→ C6Cl6

4. Define “Selectivity”.
It is defined as the ratio of moles of desired product form to moles of undesired product
form.
5. What is desirable and undesirable product in multiple reactions?
Example: C2H4 could combine with O2 to produce CO2 and H2O can also occur. This reaction is side
reaction and the products of this reaction are undesired products. C2H4O is the desired product.

6. What is yield?

Number of moles of A reacted to form the desired product to number of moles initially taken.
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7. What is selectivity? [A/M19]
It is defined as the ratio of moles of desired product formed to moles of undesired
product formed.
8. How can you predict instantaneous and overall fractional yields with respect to multiple
reactions?[A/M17]
Refer Notes
9. How will you control the product distribution for reactions in parallel using K2/K1 (rate
constant ratio)?
Refer Notes
10. Define instantaneous fractional yield. [A/M19]

11. What is meant by recycle ratio?

The recycle ratio can be make to vary o to infinite. If R = 0. Then the reactor is
R = (Volume of fluid return to the reactor inlet) / ( Volume of fluid leaving the system)
12. What is meant by overall order of reaction?
The overall order of reaction gives an indication of how changing the concentration of
the reactants will change the speed of the reaction. For higher orders of reaction, changing the
concentration of the reactants results in large changes in the rate of reaction. For lower orders
of reaction, the rate of reaction is less sensitive to changes of the concentration

PART – B
1. Substance A in the liquid phase reacts to produce R &S as follows.
A gives R &S. with rR=k1CA2, rS= k2CA and the feed with CA0=1.0, CR0 =0 and Cso = 0.30
enters two mixed flow reactors in series (τ1=2.5 min, τ2=10 min). The composition leaving the
first reactor is CA1=0.40, CR1= 0.20 and CS1= 0.40. Find the composition leaving the second
reactor. [A/M19] [A/M18]
2. 100L/h of radioactive fluid having a half lifer of 20h is to be treated by passing it through 2
equal MFR in series. The volume of eacg MFR in series is 40000L. How much has the activity
decayed in passing through this reactor system? The reaction follows first order kinetics.
[A/M19]
3. In a reactive environment reactant A decomposes as follows. ARS
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where k1 = k2 = 0.1 min-1 . R is to be produced from 1000 l/h of feed (CAo =1 mol/l, CSo=CR0
=0). Find i) What size of PFR will maximize the concentration of R? ii) What size of MFR will
maximize the concentration of R? iii) What is Cmax in the effluent stream from each of these
reactors?[A/M18] [N/D17]

4. What are the factors affecting choice of reactors? Write its important are significance of each
reactors.
5. Explain selectivity and reactivity in detail.
6. The kinetics of the aqueous phase decomposition of A is investigated in two mixed flow reactors in
series the second unit having twice the volume of the first one. At steady state with a feed composition
of 1 mol A/litreand in the second is 0.25 mol A/liter. Find the kinetic equation that represents this
decomposition.
7. The elementary reaction A+ B  R+S is effected in a setup consisting of a mixed reactor into which
two reactant solutions are introduced followed by a plug flow reactor. The component B is used in a
large excess so that the reaction is first order with respect to A. Various ways to increase the production
are suggested, one of which is to reverse the order of units. How would this change effect conversion?
8. The elementary irreversible aqueous phase reaction A + B  R+S is carried out isothermally as
follows. Equal volumetric follow rate of two liquid systems are introduce into a 4 liter mixing tank. One
steam contains A with CAo = 0.02 moles/lit & the other contains B with CBo 1400 mol/l. The mixed
stream is then passed through a 16 liter plug flow reactor. It is found that same R is formed in a mixed
tank, its concentration being 0.002 mol/l. Assume that the mixing tank acts as a mixed reactor. Find the
concentration of R at the exit of the plug flow reactor and the fraction of initial A that has been
converted in the system.
9. At present the elementary liquid phase reaction A+B R+S takes place in a PFR using equimolar
quantities of A&B . Conversion is 90%. CAO =CBO = 1 MOL/L. If a mixed reactor ten times as large as
plug flow reactor were hooked up series with the existing unit, which unit should come first and by
what fraction could the production be increased for that set-up?

10.Liquid reactant A decomposes as per the following reactions in parallel [ A/M 17]

R
A S ---------- desired

T
With rR = 1, rR =2CA and rT = C2A
Determine the maximum concentration of desired product (Cs) that can be obtained. (i) in a mixed flow
reactor (ii) in a plug flow reactor (iii) in any reactor of your choice if unreacted A can be separated from
the product stream and returned to feed,. Take CAo = 2 in a feed.
11) The gas phase decomposition of A is carried out in an experimental PFR of volume 2.5 liters. At a
flow rate of 2.65 m3/h of pure A at 22 atm and 320oC, 70% of A decomposes to product. The
decomposition follows second order kinetics and the stiochiometry of decomposition is AR. The data
obtained in the experimental reactor is used to design a 60 mole % A and the balance inert at a pressure
of 36 atm and temperature of 320oC. Calculate the volume of the reactor required to achieve 90%
conversion in the large scale reactor. [A/M17]
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UNIT - 4
1. What is autocatalytic reaction? Explain.
A reaction in which one of the products of reaction acts as a catalyst is called
autocatalytic reaction. Example: A+ R  R+R.
2. With increase in temperature what happened?
Increase the temperature the rate of reaction increases As a rough approximation, for
many reactions happening at around room temperature, the rate of reaction doubles for every
10°C rise in temperature
3. What is an adiabatic reactor and a non isothermal reactor?
An adiabatic process occurs without transfer of heat or mass of substances between
a thermodynamic system and its surroundings. In an adiabatic process, energy is transferred to
the surroundings only as work. The adiabatic process provides a rigorous conceptual basis for
the theory used to expound the first law of thermodynamics, and as such it is a key concept
in thermodynamics.
4. What is the effect of temperatures conversion?
Increase the temperature the rate of reaction increases As a rough approximation, for
many reactions happening at around room temperature, the rate of reaction doubles for every
10°C rise in temperature
5. What is standard free energy?
Gibbs free energy is a thermodynamic potential that can be used to calculate
the maximum of reversible work that may be performed by a thermodynamic system at a
constant temperature and pressure (isothermal, isobaric). The Gibbs free energy (ΔGº = ΔHº-
TΔSº) (Jin SI units) is the maximum amount of non-expansion work that can be extracted from
a thermodynamically closed system (one that can exchange heat and work with its
surroundings, but not matter); this maximum can be attained only in a completely reversible
process. When a system transforms reversibly from an initial state to a final state, the decrease
in Gibbs free energy equals the work done by the system to its surroundings, minus the work of
the pressure forces.
6. What is exothermic reaction?
An exothermic reaction is a chemical reaction that releases heat. It gives net energy to
its surroundings. That is, the energy needed to initiate the reaction is less than the energy
released
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7. What is optimum temperature progression? [A/M19]
We define the optimum temperature progression to be that progression which
minimizes VIF,, for a given conversion of reactant. This optimum may be an isothermal or it
may be a changing temperature: in time for a batch reactor, along the length of a plug flow
reactor, or from stage to stage for a series of mixed flow reactors. It is important to know this
progression because it is the ideal which we try to approach with a real system. It also allows
us to estimate how far any real system departs from this ideal. The optimum temperature
progression in any type of reactor is as follows: At any composition, it will always be at the
temperature where the rate is a maximum

8. What is the difference between isothermal and non- isothermal operations?

Isothermal operation to have a constant temperature. we can assume that a fluid's
temperature will remain constant because variations are either very small or inconsequential in
magnitude compared to other physical variations in the application.
Nonisothermal flow refers to fluid flows with temperatures that are not constant. When
a fluid is subjected to a temperature change, its material properties, such as density and
viscosity, change accordingly.
9. Define adiabatic process?
An adiabatic process occurs without transfer of heat or mass of substances between
a thermodynamic system and its surroundings. In an adiabatic process, energy is transferred to
the surroundings only as work.
10. Compute Ky at 10 atm if Kp at this pressure is 0.00381 atm-1 for the ammonia synthesis
reaction from hydrogen and nitrogen at 500oC. Assume that ideal gas law is applicable). [A/M19]
Refer class notes
Part-B (Questions)
1. Explain the concept of optimum temperature progression
2. Derive the fractional conversion XA for adiabatic flow reactor. [N/D 17] [A/M16]
3. For the competitive liquid phase reaction, [N/D 17]
A+ B  R (with k1)
A + B  S ( with k2)
dCR / dt = 1, CA1.5CB0.3
dCS/dt = 1, CA0.5 CB1.8
i)Find the fraction of impurity in product stream for 90% conversion of pure A, pure B each
has density of 20 mol/L for (i) PFR (ii) MFR.
ii)Find the fraction of impurity in product stream for 90% conversion of pure A, pure B each
has density of 20 mol/L for (i) PFR (ii) MFR.
4. Under appropriate conditions A decomposes as follows: [A/M16]
A R S k1 = 0.1/min
R is to be produced from 1000 liter/hr of feed in which CAo=1 mol/liter, CRo = CSo
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i) What size of plug flow reactor will maximize the concentration of R, and what is that
concentration in the effluent stream from this reactor?
ii) What size of mixed flow reactor will maximize the concentration of R and what is CRmax in the
effluent stream from this reactor?

5. A homogenous liquid phase reaction A  S, -rA = KCA2

Takes place with 50% conversion in a mixed flow reactor.
i) What will be the conversion if this reactor is replaced by another mixed floe reactor having volume
6 times that of original reactor – all else remain unchanged?
ii) What will be the conversion if the original reactor is replaced by a plug flow reactor of same size –
all else remain unchanged?

6. For the reaction data given in the following table, consider the series arrangement of a mixed flow
reactor and plug flow reactor. If the intermediate conversion is 0.7 and final fractional conversion 0.8,
which reactor should be placed first to obtain the smaller reactor volume? FAo = 0.083 mol/s
Data:
XA 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.85

-rA, 0.0053 0.0052 0.0050 0.0045 0.0040 0.0033 0.0025 0.0018 0.00125 0.001
mol/l.s

7. N2O4 gas dissociates according to the following reaction [A/M17]

N2O4 2NO2

At 27oC and 1 atm, 20% of N2O4 at 27oC is dissociated. Calculate i) Equilibrium constant Kp ii) %
dissociation of N2O4 at 27oCwhen total pressure becomes 0.2 atm. iii) What will be the degree of
dissociation when we start with 73.6 g of N2O4 in 10 litters vessel at 27oC?
8. An irreversible isomerisation reaction is carried out in the liquid phase in a MFR. [A/M19] [A/M17]
Rate constant at 165oC =0.7(h)-1
Activated Energy = 120000j/mol
Heat of reaction = -350 kJ/kg
Heat capacity of reactants and products 1.96 kJ/kg K
Volumetric flowrate 0.33 m3/h
Feed Temperature = 20oC
Conversion expected = 95%
Calculate the reactor size and temperature of the reaction mixture if the reactor is operated
adiabatically.

9. The first order gas phase reversible reaction AR with rate –rA =K1CA – K2CR mol/m3.s [A/M19]
K1 = 0.02 exp (-29300/RT) s-1,
K2 = 0.33 exp (-46000/RT),s-1
E is in J/mol is to be carried out in a PFR.
For a maximum permissible feed temperature of 6000C(873K) and feed rate of FA0 = 1000 mol/ min of
reactant A, what is the optimum temp progession in A PFR? A conversion of 60% is required and the
feed concentration of A is CAo = 4 mol/liter.