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Phase Change Problems

This document describes a gas-phase reaction that produces a component that can condense under the operating conditions. The reaction occurs in a plug flow reactor (PFR) at isothermal conditions with negligible pressure drop. The problem asks to (1) find the conversion when condensation begins, (2) write species concentrations in terms of conversion before and after condensation, and (3) determine the reactor volume needed for 80% conversion. To solve this, the document sets up component balances before and after condensation, determines the conversion at which condensation begins, and integrates the design equation to find the required reactor volume is approximately 12.28 m3.

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aravind1997murali
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53 views3 pages

Phase Change Problems

This document describes a gas-phase reaction that produces a component that can condense under the operating conditions. The reaction occurs in a plug flow reactor (PFR) at isothermal conditions with negligible pressure drop. The problem asks to (1) find the conversion when condensation begins, (2) write species concentrations in terms of conversion before and after condensation, and (3) determine the reactor volume needed for 80% conversion. To solve this, the document sets up component balances before and after condensation, determines the conversion at which condensation begins, and integrates the design equation to find the required reactor volume is approximately 12.28 m3.

Uploaded by

aravind1997murali
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Reaction with phase change, conducted in a PFR

e.g. 3.10 (slightly modified)


Consider a gas phase reaction, where one of the products can also condense at the operating
conditions. This is done in a PFR, with negligible pressure drop and at isothermal conditions.
A g 2B g C g D g ,l

The vapor pressure of D is given by PV= 16 kPa. The operating pressure is 101.3 kPa.
Let us say the reaction is a first order reaction with k = 0.1 s -1. The inlet conditions are FA0 = 10
mol/s, FB0 = 20 mol/s, Q = 1 m3/s.
(i)
(ii)
(iii)

Find the conversion (x) when condensation begins


Write CA, CB, etc in terms of conversion.
What is the volume of reactor needed to get 80% conversion?

Ans:
Let us first write the stoichiometric table. Here X c denotes the conversion at the point of
condensation.
Species
A
B
C
D (gas)
D (liquid)
D (Total)
Total (gas)
Total (liquid)
Total

Initial
FA0
2 FA0
0
0
0
0
3 FA0
0
3 FA0

At any x Xc
FA0 (1-x)
2 FA0 (1-x)
FA0 x
FA0 x
0
FA0 x
FA0 (3-x)
0
FA0 (3-x)

At any x Xc
FA0 (1-x)
2 FA0 (1-x)
FA0 x
YD FT,g
FA0 x- YD FT,g
FA0 x
YD FT,g + 3 FA0 -2 FA0 x
FT FT,g
FA0 (3-x)

Note that the mole fraction of D in the gas phase is given by


FD , g
yD
FT , g
Before condensation, all the species are in the gas phase. After condensation, part of D is in the
liquid phase.
At condensation, the partial pressure of D PD PV 16 kPa
FA0 x yD FT , g
FA0 x
16

101.3 FA0 3 x yD FT , g 3FA0 2FA0 x


Implying Xc = 0.41
yD

At that point, FD,l = FT,l =0. After that, it will increase.


F 3 2 xc
i.e. At the point of condensation FA0 3 xc A0
0 . We can re-arrange this also and
1 yD
get Xc.
Before condensation
F 1 x C A0 1 x
F
C A A A0

Q Q0 1 x 1 0.33x
Here, Q

FT RT FT Q0

Q0 1 x Please note that this is before condensation. Here


P
FT 0

23
0.33
3

After condensation:
FT , g RT
. Note that the liquid phase flow rate will be negligible because the liquid density is
Q
P
typically much more than the gas density.
We have to calculate the total molar flow rate in gas phase. This is obtained by rearranging the
equation
FT , g yD FT , g 3FA0 2FA0 x

FT , g

FA0 3 2 x
1 yD

Therefore,

FT , g RT
P

FA0 3 2 x RT
1 yD
P

We can use the initial conditions to get

Q0 RT

FT 0
P

Therefore,
Q

FA0 3 2 x Q0 FA0 3 2 x Q0
Q 3 2x

0
1 yD
FT 0
1 yD
3FA0
3 1 yD

The concentration can be written as CA

FA FA0 1 x 3 1 yD 3C A0 1 x 1 yD

Q
1
Q0 3 2 x
3 2x

dFA
rA . Since the expression for
dV
C A and hence rA change during condensation, we need to write this in two parts.
F dx
dFA
rA becomes A0 A kCA
dV
dV

To find the PFR volume, we need to use the design equation

Re arranging
FA0 dxA
dV
kC A
0.8

FA0 dxA

kC A

0.41

dV V

First part:
0.41
FA0 dxA
F
A0
0 kC
kC A0
A
0.41

10
0

0.8

FA0 dxA
F dx
A0 A
kC A
kC A
0.41

1 0.33x dxA
0 1 x

0.41

0.67 dxA 3.3


0
1 x

0.41

10
0.110

0.41

0.67 0.33 0.33x dxA


1 x

dxA 6.7 ln 1 x 0 3.3 0.41 4.88 m3


0.41

Second part

3 2 x dxA
3 2 x dx
FA0 dxA
FA0
10

0.41 kC

3kC A0 1 yD 0.41 1 x
3 0.110 1 0.16 0.41 1 x
A
0.8

0.8

0.8
1

2
dx

3.97

ln
1

2
x
3.97 3.21 1.35

1 x
0.41
0.41
0.8

3.97

0.8

7.4 m3

Total volume needed is roughly 12.28 m3.

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