Question

Consider the isothermal gas phase dehydrogenation of ethane (C2H6):

C2H6 → C2H4 + H2

From experiments in a constant volume batch reactor at 800 K, it is known that the time required for a 50% increase in total pressure is 83 seconds, if the initial pressure is 1 atm. The reaction is known to be first-order in ethane, and you might assume that the reactor was initially loaded with pure ethane. Determine the volume of a plug flow reactor (PFR) necessary to process 120 L/min of pure ethane to an 80% conversion level. The feed pressure will be 1 atm. The reaction may be assumed to be essentially irreversible. The pressure drop along the length of the plug flow reactor can be assume to be negligible.