Nitrogen is an essential source of nutrition for growing plants. Ammonia has the highest nitrogen content of any commercial fertilizer. The Haber-Bosch process, is the main industrial reaction to produce synthetic ammonia today. The process converts atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia by a reaction with hydrogen using a metal catalyst under high temperature and pressures: N2 (g) + 3 H2 (g) → 2NH3 (g)

Introduction to Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics
8th Edition
ISBN:9781259696527
Author:J.M. Smith Termodinamica en ingenieria quimica, Hendrick C Van Ness, Michael Abbott, Mark Swihart
Publisher:J.M. Smith Termodinamica en ingenieria quimica, Hendrick C Van Ness, Michael Abbott, Mark Swihart
Chapter1: Introduction
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1.1P
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You can assume ideal gas behavior at the given pressure.
Enthalpy of reaction and heat capacities cannot be assumed to be constant at the
given temperature. You must use Cp values as a function of temperature (Tables
in Appendix C).
Nitrogen is an essential source of nutrition for growing plants. Ammonia has the
highest nitrogen content of any commercial fertilizer. The Haber-Bosch process, is the
main industrial reaction to produce synthetic ammonia today. The process converts atmospheric
nitrogen to ammonia by a reaction with hydrogen using a metal catalyst under high temperatures
and pressures:
N2 (g) + 3 H2 (g) → 2NH3 (g)
Consider a reactor where nitrogen and hydrogen are fed in equal molar amounts to the reactor. In
addition, an equal molar amount of an inert species is also added.
a) Calculate the composition of the product gas at equilibrium if the reactor operates at 350 K
and 4.5 bar.
b) What is the conversion of nitrogen?
c) Would you increase or decrease the operating temperature? Why? Explain Briefly.
d) Why is the reactor operated at a higher than atmospheric pressure? Explain briefly.
Transcribed Image Text:You can assume ideal gas behavior at the given pressure. Enthalpy of reaction and heat capacities cannot be assumed to be constant at the given temperature. You must use Cp values as a function of temperature (Tables in Appendix C). Nitrogen is an essential source of nutrition for growing plants. Ammonia has the highest nitrogen content of any commercial fertilizer. The Haber-Bosch process, is the main industrial reaction to produce synthetic ammonia today. The process converts atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia by a reaction with hydrogen using a metal catalyst under high temperatures and pressures: N2 (g) + 3 H2 (g) → 2NH3 (g) Consider a reactor where nitrogen and hydrogen are fed in equal molar amounts to the reactor. In addition, an equal molar amount of an inert species is also added. a) Calculate the composition of the product gas at equilibrium if the reactor operates at 350 K and 4.5 bar. b) What is the conversion of nitrogen? c) Would you increase or decrease the operating temperature? Why? Explain Briefly. d) Why is the reactor operated at a higher than atmospheric pressure? Explain briefly.
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