Question

The two competing reactions for the combustion of methane in a combustor are: CH4 + 2O2 ? CO2 + 2H2O and CH4 + 3/2 O2 ? CO + 2H2O The feed to the combustor contains 7.8 mol% CH4, 19.4% O2, and 72.8% N2 and the gas leaving the reactor contains 8 mol CO2/mol CO. Using a basis of 100 mol/h of feed to the reactor.

1) If 100 mol/h of CH4 is fed to the combustor,

i). what is the theoretical O2 flow if complete combustion occurs?

ii). What is the theoretical O2 flow assuming that only 60% of the methane fed reacts?

iii). What is the theoretical air flow rate?

iv). If 200% excess air is supplied, what is the flow rate of air entering the reactor?

v). If the actual flow rate of air is such that 400 mol O2/h enters the reactor, what is the percent excess air?

Answer 1