Question

Rate at the surface will be higher due to heat transfer limitations.

(a) True

(b) False

The question was asked by my college professor while I was bunking the class.

I need to ask this question from External Mass Transfer in chapter Heterogenous Reactions of Bioprocess Engineering

Answer 1

Correct choice is (a) True

Easy explanation: If the reaction is endothermic, the temperature at the catalyst surface will be less than the bulk fluid temperature and the observed rate will be less than that determined at the bulk fluid temperature. If the reaction is exothermic, the temperature of catalyst surface will be more than the bulk fluid temperature. Therefore, the observed rate will be higher or lower than corresponding bulk fluid conditions, depending on both heat transfer and mass transfer effects. Rate at the surface will be higher due to heat transfer limitations and lower due to mass transfer limitations. Depending on the relative magnitude, the overall rate will be increased or decreased.