The reaction CH4 + C3H8 → 2C2H6 is very fast and reaches thermodynamic equilibrium in the reactor. The equilibrium constant for the reactor is 15.2. The feed to the reactor (not the fresh feed to the process) enters at 106 mol/hr and contains mole fractions of 0.332 CH4, 0.538 C3H8 and the balance Inerts (I). The reactor effluent is sent to a distillation column where pure C2H6 comes out the bottom and the remaining components leave the top of the column. Five percent of the stream leaving the top of the distillation column is purged and the rest is recycled. (a) Draw and label a process flow diagram. Clearly number each stream. (b) Calculate the molar flow rates (mol/hr) and mole fractions of both streams exiting the distillation column. (c) Calculate the molar flow rate (mol/hr) and mole fractions of the fresh feed stream. (d) The equilibrium constant drops by 25%. Will the extent of reaction increase, decrease or stay the same?

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
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Exercise 3.8.2: Ethane reaction with purge.

The reaction CH4 + C3H8 → 2C2H6 is very fast and reaches thermodynamic equilibrium in the reactor. The equilibrium constant for the reactor is 15.2. The feed to the reactor (not the fresh feed to the process) enters at 106 mol/hr and contains mole fractions of 0.332 CH4, 0.538 C3H8 and the balance Inerts (I). The reactor effluent is sent to a distillation column where pure C2H6 comes out the bottom and the remaining components leave the top of the column. Five percent of the stream leaving the top of the distillation column is purged and the rest is recycled.

(a)

Draw and label a process flow diagram. Clearly number each stream.

(b)

Calculate the molar flow rates (mol/hr) and mole fractions of both streams exiting the distillation column.

(c)

Calculate the molar flow rate (mol/hr) and mole fractions of the fresh feed stream.

(d)

The equilibrium constant drops by 25%. Will the extent of reaction increase, decrease or stay the same?

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