Carbon monoxide and hydrogen are led to a reactor in a 1:2 molar ratio to produc
ID: 1018333 • Letter: C
Question
Carbon monoxide and hydrogen are led to a reactor in a 1:2 molar ratio to produce methanol by the following reaction: CO + 2 H_2 rightarrow CH_3OH A single pass conversion of 25% is achieved. The methanol produced is completely separated and the unreacted gases are recycled back to the process, where they are mixed with a fresh feed of carbon monoxide and hydrogen before entering the reactor. If 200 kmol of methanol are produced per hour, find: The total molar flow rate of the fresh feed (kmol/h). The total molar flow rate of the recycle stream (kmol/h).Explanation / Answer
Quantity of methanol to be produced = 200 kmol/hr
As per the reaction , moles of CO = 200 mol/hr and Hydrogen = 2*200 =400 Kmol/hr
Total molar flow rate of fresh feed= 200 K mol/hr (CO) + 400 K mol/hr ( Hydrogen)= 600 Kmol/hr
ler R= Recycle
Feed entering the reactor = Fresh Feed + Recycle = 600 +R
25% conversion is achieved, moles of Feed converted= 0.25*(600+R)
Unconverted product = 0.75*(600+R)
The unconverted mixture of CO and H2 are recycled and hence unconverted = R
0.75*(600+R)= R
600+R= R/0.75= 1.33 R
600 =0.33R
R= 600/0.33 =1818 Kmol/hr