In Example 22.9, the temperature and conversion profiles along the length of a plug flow reactor were generated for the production of phthalic anhydride from o-xylene assuming a particle size of 3 mm. Repeat this problem for an inlet partial pressure of o-xylene of 0.0165 bar using the following catalyst particle sizes, and determine the pressure drop across the bed. You may assume the same average gas properties as given in the example.

1. 5 mm 

2. 2 mm

Problem 22.9

Consider the production of cumene (c) from the catalytic alkylation reaction of benzene (b) using propylene (p)— Reaction 1. A second undesirable reaction (Reaction 2) between propylene and cumene occurs to produce pdiisopropyl benzene (DIPB):

where r₁ = k₁ c_p c_b and r₂ = k₂ c_p c_b and the rates of reaction are given in mol/L/s and the rate constants are

exothermic, and typical reactor temperatures are in the range 350°C to 410°C. The heats of reaction per mol of product in this temperature range are −100.6 kJ/mol and 121.3 kJ/mol for Reactions 1 and 2, respectively. The heat capacities for the reactant and product streams may be taken to be the same and equal to 2.44 kJ/kg/K in this range. For this system, do the following:

1. Determine the conversion of an equimolar feed of propylene and benzene (feed conditions are 350°C, 3 MPa, and 100 mol/s) if the reactor is run as an adiabatic packed bed with a maximum outlet temperature of 425°C.

2. Based on the results from Part (a), is it feasible to obtain an overall conversion of 80% of the benzene using a series of staged packed beds with cooling between stages to bring the temperature back to 350°C at the inlet of the next reactor stage? In practice, no more than four stages would be used.

Transcribed Image Text:

k₁ C3H6+ C6H6 → C9 H12 Р b с k₂ C3H6+ C9 H12C12 H18 DIPB P с с