What is the primary heat removal mechanism in the ExxonMobil sulfuric acid alkylation reactor design shown in Figure 15.38?

Correct answer: Auto-refrigeration by boiling off part of the isobutane.

Explanation

This question differentiates between the cooling strategies of two different proprietary reactor designs for the same process (alkylation), as illustrated in the text.

Other questions

Question 1

According to the Fuller et al. (1966) equation for gas diffusivity, what is the special diffusion volume increment for an aromatic or hetrocyclic ring, as listed in Table 15.2?

Question 2

What is the recommended association factor (phi) for water when using the Wilke and Chang (1955) equation to predict liquid diffusivity?

Question 3

In Example 15.2, what is the calculated diffusion volume for methanol (CH3OH) using the atomic and structural diffusion volume increments from Table 15.2?

Question 4

According to Section 15.4.3, what is a typical operating temperature range for most biological processes?

Question 5

What is the primary effect of increasing pressure on gas-phase reactions, as described in Section 15.4.4?

Question 6

Which of the following is listed as a primary purpose of using a solvent in a liquid-phase reaction according to Section 15.4.6?

Question 7

According to Table 15.4, what is a listed disadvantage of using light alcohols (e.g., methanol, ethanol) as a process solvent?

Question 8

In the context of inline mixing for low-viscosity fluids (less than 50 mNs/m2), what is the recommended length of pipe following a simple mixing tee to ensure adequate mixing, as per Section 15.5.2?

Question 9

What type of impeller, as classified by its flow pattern in Section 15.5.2, is a flat-bladed (Rushton) turbine primarily suited for?

Question 10

According to Table 15.5, what is the typical power requirement (in kW/m3) for a 'Severe' agitation application like slurry suspension in a baffled agitated tank?

Question 11

When designing a reactor for an exothermic process, which basic principle should the designer consider first regarding heat management?

Question 12

What is a major trade-off when using live steam for direct heating in a reactor, as described in Section 15.6.2?

Question 13

In a vapor-liquid reaction where the reaction rate constant (k1) is much greater than the mass transfer parameter (kLa), which regime controls the overall reaction rate?

Question 14

What is the typical aspect ratio (length to diameter) for a cylindrical fixed-bed reactor vessel, as mentioned in the sizing procedure in Section 15.7.3?

Question 15

In a fluidized-bed reactor, when the gas flow increases and bubbles begin to form, what is the mixing state of the solids and the gas phase?

Question 16

What is a primary benefit of finding a selective catalyst for a desired reaction, as stated in Section 15.8?

Question 17

What type of catalyst deactivation mechanism is caused by the accumulation of carbon-rich deposits on the catalyst?

Question 18

What is a design approach mentioned in Table 15.7 to mitigate irreversible poisoning of a catalyst?

Question 19

In the design of enzyme-catalyzed bioreactors, what is required if some enzymes are inhibited by high concentrations of product?

Question 20

What is the primary reason that most biological processes are designed for aseptic operation, according to Section 15.9.3?

Question 21

In a batch fermentation cycle illustrated in Figure 15.50, what phase is characterized by the rates of cell growth and cell death being in balance?

Question 22

According to the principle of inherently safer design, what is a potential trade-off when choosing to use continuous processing instead of batch processing to minimize inventory?

Question 23

What is the purpose of using a diluent like steam in ethylene cracking furnaces, as mentioned in Section 15.5?

Question 24

For a 'Medium' level of agitation in a baffled tank, what is the power requirement range for liquid-liquid mixing according to Table 15.5?

Question 25

Which method is generally preferred for heating or cooling a fixed-bed reactor when indirect heat transfer is difficult?

Question 26

What is the Hatta number (Ha) used to determine in the context of gas-liquid reactions?

Question 27

Why are reactors greater than 14 ft (4.27 m) in diameter generally avoided for fixed-bed processes?

Question 28

What is the primary role of a binder in the formulation of a solid catalyst?

Question 29

Which physical property of a catalyst is most affected by sintering at high temperatures?

Question 30

What is the typical fill level for a stirred tank reactor to allow for droplet disengagement or if it is prone to foaming?

Question 31

In Example 15.3, what is the molar volume of phenol (C6H5OH) calculated from the atomic volumes in Table 15.3?

Question 32

What type of agitator would be selected from the guide in Figure 15.14 for a tank volume of 10 m3 and a liquid viscosity of 10 Ns/m2?

Question 33

Why must batch-to-batch contamination be prevented in biological processing?

Question 34

What is an advantage of a temperature-ramping strategy for managing slow catalyst deactivation?

Question 35

For a gas-liquid reaction, increasing pressure will increase the solubility of gas-phase components in the liquid. According to Section 15.4.4, how does this cost saving often compare to the cost of compressing the gas?

Question 36

What is the primary factor that usually dictates the reaction phase (liquid or vapor) for a reaction?

Question 37

What is a major disadvantage of using acetic acid as a process solvent, as listed in Table 15.4?

Question 38

What is the function of the Froude number (Fr) in the generalized dimensionless equation for agitator power consumption?

Question 39

In a trickle-bed reactor, what is a key difference in flow pattern compared to a slurry reactor?

Question 40

What is an important consideration for the material used as a binder in a solid catalyst formulation?

Question 41

Why are plate heat exchangers often used in reactor pump-around circuits for indirect heat transfer?

Question 42

Which factor is primarily responsible for the pressure vessel design codes limiting the maximum temperature at which alloys can be used, as mentioned in Section 15.4.3?

Question 43

In the context of gas-liquid reactions, how is the slow kinetics-controlled regime defined?

Question 44

What is the primary reason for using a radial-flow design in packed-bed reactors when a very low-pressure drop is required?

Question 45

According to the description of the UOP CCR Platforming process, how is catalyst regenerated?

Question 46

What is an autocatalytic reaction, from a safety perspective?

Question 47

Why is it important to test reactor performance with representative feed contaminants and by-products, especially when recycle streams are present?

Question 49

In a fed-batch fermentation process, why might the reactor start out only 20 to 40 percent filled?

Question 50

According to Table 15.15, what is the approximate size in U.S. gallons of a standard 25 m3 fermenter?