Question

The design equation for a plug flow reactor is ___________

(a) V = \(\int_0^X\frac{dX}{-rA} \)

(b) V = FA0 \(\int_0^X\frac{dX}{-rA} \)

(c) \(\frac{V}{-rA} = \int_0^X\frac{dX}{FA0} \)

(d) FA0 = -rA\(\int_0^X\frac{dX}{V} \)

I had been asked this question at a job interview.

Question is from Design Equations for Flow Reactors topic in portion Ideal Reactors for a Single Reaction, Conversion and Reactor Sizing of Chemical Reaction Engineering

Answer 1

The correct option is (b) V = FA0 \(\int_0^X\frac{dX}{-rA} \)

Explanation: To determine the volume of PFR required to obtain a certain conversion, the mole balance equation in terms of molar flowrate and conversion is written and integrated to get the above equation.