Methane and oxygen react in the presence of a catalyst to form formaldehyde. In a parallel reaction, methane is oxidized to carbon dioxide and water. The reactions are as follow: CH4 + O2→HCHO + H2O CH4+ 202→ C02 + 2H20 A stream containing methane and oxygen with a molar ratio of 1:2 is joined by a recycle stream containing pure methane, and the combined stream is fed to the reactor. The reactor effluent goes through a separation process that has three outlet streams. The first stream, which is sold, is pure formaldehyde; the second, which is discarded, contains all the carbon dioxide, oxygen, water, and 5% of the unreacted methane leaving the reactor; and the third stream, which is the recycle stream, contains the remaining unreacted methane. With a complete drawing of the process: a) By using a relevant reference with regards to the above reaction and process, assume the inlet and outlet temperature of the reactor. b) Using the information from (a), determine the heat released/absorbed by the reactor. T
Methane and oxygen react in the presence of a catalyst to form formaldehyde. In a parallel reaction, methane is oxidized to carbon dioxide and water. The reactions are as follow:
CH4 + O2→HCHO + H2O
CH4+ 202→ C02 + 2H20
A stream containing methane and oxygen with a molar ratio of 1:2 is joined by a recycle stream containing pure methane, and the combined stream is fed to the reactor. The reactor effluent goes through a separation process that has three outlet streams. The first stream, which is sold, is pure formaldehyde; the second, which is discarded, contains all the carbon dioxide, oxygen, water, and 5% of the unreacted methane leaving the reactor; and the third stream, which is the recycle stream, contains the remaining unreacted methane. With a complete drawing of the process:
a) By using a relevant reference with regards to the above reaction and process, assume the inlet and outlet temperature of the reactor.
b) Using the information from (a), determine the heat released/absorbed by the reactor. Taking 50 mol/s of methane in the fresh feed as a basis of calculation. Please state other assumption/s to solve the calculation. Your assumption/s must only refer to conversion or/and selectivity of the process.
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