Sulfur dioxide is converted to sulfur trioxide over a V2O5 catalyst at a pressure of 1.5 atm. SO2 + O2 SO3 In the

Sulfur dioxide is converted to sulfur trioxide over a V2O5 catalyst at a pressure of 1.5 atm.

SO2 + ½ O2 → SO3

In the reactor configuration in figure below, 100 mol/min feed with composition of 11% SO2, 10% O2 and 79% N2 is preheated to 700 K and fed to stage-I of an adiabatic reactor. The product of reactor stage-I is cooled to 700 K in a heat exchanger-I. The cooled product is further reacted to SO3 in the reactor stage-II and stage-III. Assume no heat losses to the environment.

Sketch conversion vs. Temperature plot showing the equilibrium line and energy balance for each stage of the reactor.  

Stage - I Outlet Temperature Conversion of SO2 -40- Stage -II 2-40- Stage-III Stage-I Stage-II Stage-III