Question

Methanol (CH3OH) is produced by reacting carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2). A fresh feed stream containing CO and H2 joins a recycle stream and the combined stream is fed into a reactor. The reactor outlet stream flows at a rate of 350 mol/min and contains 10.6 wt% H2, 64.0 wt% CO, and 25.4 wt% CH3OH. The stream enters a cooler in which most of the methanol is condense. The liquid methanol is withdrawn as a product, and the gas stream leaving the condenser--which contains CO, H2, and 0.40 mole% uncondense CH3OH vapor is the recycle stream that combines with the fresh feed stream.

a. Draw the process flow diagram. Calculate the mole fraction of CH3OH, CO, and H2 present in the stream leaving the reactor.

b. Calculate the molar flowrate (moles/min) of condensed methanol stream and recycle stream.

c. Calculate the molar flowrate (moles/min) of CO and H2 present in the fresh feed.

d. What is the single-pass and overall conversion of CO?

Answer 1

DEAR STUDENT, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUERY FEEL FREE TO ASK. I SHALL TRY MY BEST TO REOLVE YOUR QUERY. THANK YOU.

DEAR STUDENT, OVERALL CONVERSION IS 100% FROM OTHER DEFINITION OF OVERALL CONVERSION WHICH IS :"MOLE OF CO FED TO PROCESS (=31.8725)-MOLES OF CO LEAVING PROCESS(=0)/MOLE OF CO FED TO PROCESS (=31.8725)= 100%.