Question

An extremely corrosive chemical is to be converted to a less noxious compound using an endothermic reaction that will be carried out in a spherical glass reactor (I.D. = 1 m). The reactor is to be immersed in hot water to supply heat to drive the reaction. How thick must the reactor's wall be if the operation is to be isothermal?

Data:

Reaction temperature = 50°C

Water temperature = 100°C

For glass, k=1.0 W/m?K

Rate of heat absorption = 6200 W/m³

Answer 1

We want the reaction to be isothermal, that means the reaction temperature should be kept constant at 50-degree Celsius. It is an endothermic reaction with a rate of heat absorption given as 6200W/m3. So 6200W/m3 of energy is getting utilized in the reaction which will lower the reaction temperature if there is no external supply of heat. So external heat supply should be exactly 6200W/m3 to keep the reaction temperature at 50 C. If we supply more heat then reaction temperature will increase and if it is less than 6200W/m3, then it will decrease. ?