6. Methanol is produced by reacting carbon monoxide and hydrogen. A fresh feed stream containing CO and H2 joins a recycle stream and the combined stream is fed to a reactor. The reactor outlet stream flows at a rte of 350 mol/min and contains 10.6 wt% H2, 64.0 wt% CO, and 25.4 wt% CHOH. (Notice that those are percentages by mass, not mole percents.) This stream enters a cooler in which most of the methanol is condensed. The liquid methanol condensate is withdrawn as a product, and the gas stream leaving the condenser一一which contains CO, H2, and 0.40 mole% uncondensed CH3OH vapor--is the recycle stream that combines with the fresh feed. (a) Without doing any calculations, prove that you have enough information to determine (i) the molar flow rates of CO and H2 in the fresh feed, (ii) the production rate of liquid methanol, and (iii) the single-pass and overall conversions of carbon monoxide. Then perform the calculations. (b) After several months of operation, the flow rate of liquid methanol leaving the condenser begins to decrease. List at least three possible explanations of this behavior and state how you might check the validity of each one. (What would you measure and what would you expect to find if the explanation is valid?)
6. Methanol is produced by reacting carbon monoxide and hydrogen. A fresh feed stream containing CO and H2 joins a recycle stream and the combined stream is fed to a reactor. The reactor outlet stream flows at a rte of 350 mol/min and contains 10.6 wt% H2, 64.0 wt% CO, and 25.4 wt% CHOH. (Notice that those are percentages by mass, not mole percents.) This stream enters a cooler in which most of the methanol is condensed. The liquid methanol condensate is withdrawn as a product, and the gas stream leaving the condenser一一which contains CO, H2, and 0.40 mole% uncondensed CH3OH vapor--is the recycle stream that combines with the fresh feed. (a) Without doing any calculations, prove that you have enough information to determine (i) the molar flow rates of CO and H2 in the fresh feed, (ii) the production rate of liquid methanol, and (iii) the single-pass and overall conversions of carbon monoxide. Then perform the calculations. (b) After several months of operation, the flow rate of liquid methanol leaving the condenser begins to decrease. List at least three possible explanations of this behavior and state how you might check the validity of each one. (What would you measure and what would you expect to find if the explanation is valid?)
Introduction to Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics
8th Edition
ISBN:9781259696527
Author:J.M. Smith Termodinamica en ingenieria quimica, Hendrick C Van Ness, Michael Abbott, Mark Swihart
Publisher:J.M. Smith Termodinamica en ingenieria quimica, Hendrick C Van Ness, Michael Abbott, Mark Swihart
Chapter1: Introduction
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1.1P
Related questions
Question
Transcribed Image Text:6. Methanol is produced by reacting carbon monoxide and hydrogen. A fresh feed stream containing CO
and H2 joins a recycle stream and the combined stream is fed to a reactor. The reactor outlet stream
flows at a rte of 350 mol/min and contains 10.6 wt% H2, 64.0 wt% CO, and 25.4 wt% CHOH. (Notice
that those are percentages by mass, not mole percents.) This stream enters a cooler in which most of the
methanol is condensed. The liquid methanol condensate is withdrawn as a product, and the gas stream
leaving the condenser一一which contains CO, H2, and 0.40 mole% uncondensed CH3OH vapor--is the
recycle stream that combines with the fresh feed.
(a) Without doing any calculations, prove that you have enough information to determine (i) the molar
flow rates of CO and H2 in the fresh feed, (ii) the production rate of liquid methanol, and (iii) the
single-pass and overall conversions of carbon monoxide. Then perform the calculations.
(b) After several months of operation, the flow rate of liquid methanol leaving the condenser begins to
decrease. List at least three possible explanations of this behavior and state how you might check
the validity of each one. (What would you measure and what would you expect to find if the
explanation is valid?)
Expert Solution
Trending now
This is a popular solution!
Step by step
Solved in 10 steps with 8 images
Recommended textbooks for you
Introduction to Chemical Engineering Thermodynami…
Chemical Engineering
ISBN:
9781259696527
Author:
J.M. Smith Termodinamica en ingenieria quimica, Hendrick C Van Ness, Michael Abbott, Mark Swihart
Publisher:
McGraw-Hill Education
Elementary Principles of Chemical Processes, Bind…
Chemical Engineering
ISBN:
9781118431221
Author:
Richard M. Felder, Ronald W. Rousseau, Lisa G. Bullard
Publisher:
WILEY
Elements of Chemical Reaction Engineering (5th Ed…
Chemical Engineering
ISBN:
9780133887518
Author:
H. Scott Fogler
Publisher:
Prentice Hall
Introduction to Chemical Engineering Thermodynami…
Chemical Engineering
ISBN:
9781259696527
Author:
J.M. Smith Termodinamica en ingenieria quimica, Hendrick C Van Ness, Michael Abbott, Mark Swihart
Publisher:
McGraw-Hill Education
Elementary Principles of Chemical Processes, Bind…
Chemical Engineering
ISBN:
9781118431221
Author:
Richard M. Felder, Ronald W. Rousseau, Lisa G. Bullard
Publisher:
WILEY
Elements of Chemical Reaction Engineering (5th Ed…
Chemical Engineering
ISBN:
9780133887518
Author:
H. Scott Fogler
Publisher:
Prentice Hall
Industrial Plastics: Theory and Applications
Chemical Engineering
ISBN:
9781285061238
Author:
Lokensgard, Erik
Publisher:
Delmar Cengage Learning
Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering
Chemical Engineering
ISBN:
9780072848236
Author:
Warren McCabe, Julian C. Smith, Peter Harriott
Publisher:
McGraw-Hill Companies, The