Adiabatic Liquid Phase in A CSTR

   
Part B
Second Order Reaction Carried Out Adiabatically in a CSTR
 
       
   

(b) For part (b) we will again use the non isothermal reactor design algorithm discussed in Chapter 8. The first four steps of the algorithm we used in part (a) apply to our solution to part (b). It is at step number 5, where the algorithm changes.  

1. CSTR Design Equation:

 

2. Rate Law:

 

3. Stoichiometry:

liquid,

 

4. Combine:

 

NOTE: We will find it more convenient to work with this equation in terms of space time, rather than volume:

 

Given reactor volume (V), you must solve the energy balance and the mole balance simultaneously for conversion (X), since it is a function of temperature (T).  

5. Solve the Energy Balance for X EB as a function of T:

From the adiabatic energy balance (as applied to CSTRs):

 

6. Solve the Mole Balance for X MB as a function of T:

We'll rearrange our combined equation from step 4 to give us:

 

Solving for X gives us:

 

Let's simplify a little more, by introducing the Damköhler Number, Da:

 

We then have:

 

7. Plot X EB and X MB :

You want to plot X EB and X MB on the same graph (as functions of T) to see where they intersect. This will tell you where your steady-state point is. To accomplish this, we will use Polymath (but you could use a spreadsheet).  

Plot of X EB and X MB versus T  

We see that our conversion would be about 0.87, at a temperature of 387 K.

 

Continue with solution...