Lecture 3
The General Mole Balance Equation
To perform a mole balance on any system, the system boundaries must
first be specified. The volume enclosed by these boundaries will be
referred to as the system volume.
Gi
A mole balance on species j at any instant in time, t, yields the
following equation:
rate of flow rate of generation rate of flow rate of accumulation
of j into of j by chemical of j out of of j withen
the system reaction withen the the system the system
(moles/time) system (moles/time) (moles/time) (moles/time)
dN j
Fj 0 Gj Fj .....1
dt
Now express Gj in terms of reaction rate:
In a volume element ΔVj,, we have: G j 1 r j 1V 1
M M
Sum over all ΔVj,, we have: G j G ji r ji V i
i 1 i 1
As V i 0, we have V i dV i
V
G i r j dV
V
dN j
F j 0 F j r j dV .....2
dt
From this general mole balance equation we can develop the
design equations for the various types of industrial reactors
1
Lecture 3
1- Batch Reactor
Fj 0 Fj 0 Why ?
V
dN j
F j 0 F j r j dV .....2
dt
V
dN
r j dV
j
dt
If there is no spatial variation of reaction rate, we have
dN j
r jV ....3
dt
Example: Write the mole balance for dimethyl ether in terms of the
reactor volume, concentration, and rate of formation of dimethyl ether for
both a constant-pressure and a constant volume batch reactor.
2- CSTR
From Equation 2
V
dN j
F j 0 F j r j dV .....2
dt
dN j
For steady state 0 , then
dt
V
F j 0 F j r j dV 0
If there is no spatial variation of reaction rate, we have
Fj 0 Fj
Fj 0 Fj r jV 0, V
rj
v: Volumetric Flow Rate [dm3/s]
F j C j ....4
C j 0 C j
V
r j
2
Lecture 3
3- PFR
V
dN j
F j 0 F j r j dV .....2
dt
dN j
0
dt
Consider
V
V : Gj r dV j r j V
F j V F j V V r j V 0
F j V V F j V
rj ......V dV
V
dF j dC j
rj or 0 rj .......5
dV dV
Definition of Conversion
1- for Batch System
Moles of A Reacted
XA
Moles of A Fed
N A N A 0 N A 0X A N A 0 1 X A
Design equation using batch reactor
V
dN
F j 0 F j r j dV j
.....2
dt
1 dN A
rA
V dt
N A N A 0 N A 0X A N A 0 1 X A
dX
N A0 rAV
dt
The reaction time
dX
dt N A 0
rAV
For Non-constant Volume For Constant Volume
t X X
dX dX
V dt N A 0
0 0
rA
.....6 t N A0
0
rA (V )
.......7
3
Lecture 3
2- for Flow System
Moles of A Reacted
XA
Moles of A Fed
FA FA 0 FA 0 X A FA 0 1 X A
Design equation using CSTR reactor
V
dN
F j 0 F j r j dV j
dt
FA 0 FA
FA 0 FA rAV 0 V
rA
FA 0 X
from above V ......8
rA
Design equation using PFR reactor
V
F j 0 F j r j dV 0
dFA
rA FA FA 0 X
dV
dX
FA 0 rA
dV
X
dX
V FA 0 ......9
0
rA
Space Time and Space Velocity
The space time, τ, is the time necessary to process one reactor volume of
fluid based on entrance conditions.
V
....10
0
It is the time it takes for fluid of the volume of the reactor size to enter the
reactor completely.
The space velocity, SV, is the reciprocal of the space time.
SV
. 1 0 ....11
V