Scoundrels, Inc., a small R&D; company has developed a laboratory scale process

Question

Scoundrels, Inc., a small R&D; company has developed a laboratory scale process for elementary, solid catalyzed, gas phase reaction A + B ? C + D (chemical names coded for proprietary reasons). The feed is equimolar with an entering molar flow rate of 50 mol/min and volumetric rate of 50 dm'/min. Engineers at Scoundrels calculated that an industrial scale packed bed reactor with 500 kg of a very rare and expensive metal catalyst will yield a 66% conversion when run at 32°C and a feed pressure of 25 atm. At these conditions, the reaction rate is 0.4 dm'/mol-min kg catalyst. Scoundrels sells this process and catalyst to Clueless Chemicals who then manufactured the packed bed. When Clueless put the process onstream at the specifications provided by Scoundrels, they could only achieve 60% conversion with 500 kg catalyst. Unfortunately, the reaction was carried out at 31.5°C rather than 32°C. The corresponding 2160 mol/day of lost product made the process unecononmical. Scourndrels, Inc. say that they can guarantee 66% conversion if Clueless will purchase 500 more kg of catalyst at 1.5 times the original cost. As a result, Clueless contacted Sgt. Ambercromby from Scotland Yard (as a loan to the LAPD) about possible industrial fraud. What three questions concerning this scenario should Sgt. Ambercromby ask? Supported by essential calculations, what are the potential causes for this lost in conversion? What do you think Sargent Ambercromby will suggest to rectify the situation?

Explanation / Answer

Here the problem is between the process licencer and the user. Also partial information is provided due to process licence issues, so seeker can expect the possible recommendations by which issue may be resolved with process licencer. Following are the observations.

1. It is understood that user purchased catalyst and process technology from process licencer ( M/s Scoundrel)and packed bed was designed by user ( M/s Clueless). Therefore the design of packed bed to be certified by process licencer.

2. The operating conditions are not as per process licencer as half a degree difference in temperature can lead to vary the rate of reaction ( here we can't comment as A, B , C and D are not specified)

3. The user claimed that 2160 mol per day rate of lost product, which is not matching with the process licencer stated flow rate which is 50 mol/ min.

Now user may raise the following concern once above highlighted issues are solved.

As per the initial agreement between process licencer and user, the required quantity of the catalyst is fixed. Now licencer has to solve the issue why the desired conversion not achieved. Is this due to temperature difference or due to fault in packed bed reactor design.

Regarding cost issues of catalyst, the user has to handle based on the initial agreement with process licencer.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse S
• Subjects

---

---

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.