Page 8 - Introduction to chemical reaction engineering and kinetics

viii Preface

followed by a discussion of theories of reaction and reaction mechanisms in Chapters 6
and 7. Chapter 8 is devoted to catalysis of various types. Chapter 9 is devoted to reac-
tions in multiphase systems. The treatment of chemical kinetics concludes in Chapter 10
with a discussion of enzyme kinetics in biochemical reactions.
Our treatment of Chemical Reaction Engineering begins in Chapters 1 and 2 and
continues in Chapters 11-24. After an introduction (Chapter 11) surveying the field,
the next five Chapters (12-16) are devoted to performance and design characteris-
tics of four ideal reactor models (batch, CSTR, plug-flow, and laminar-flow), and to
the characteristics of various types of ideal flow involved in continuous-flow reactors.
Chapter 17 deals with comparisons and combinations of ideal reactors. Chapter 18
deals with ideal reactors for complex (multireaction) systems. Chapters 19 and 20
treat nonideal flow and reactor considerations taking this into account. Chapters 21-
24 provide an introduction to reactors for multiphase systems, including fixed-bed
catalytic reactors, fluidized-bed reactors, and reactors for gas-solid and gas-liquid
reactions.

Ways to Use This Book in CRJ3 Courses
One way in which the material can be used is illustrated by the practice at the Uni-
versity of Toronto. Chapters 1-8 (sections 8.1-8.4) on chemical kinetics are used for
a 40-lecture (3 per week) course in the fall term of the third year of a four-year pro-
gram; the lectures are accompanied by weekly 2-hour tutorial (problem-solving) ses-
sions. Chapters on CRE (ll-15,17,18, and 21) together with particle-transport kinetics
from section 8.5 are used for a similarly organized course in the spring term. There is
more material than can be adequately treated in the two terms. In particular, it is not
the practice to deal with all the aspects of nonideal flow and multiphase systems that are
described. This approach allows both flexibility in choice of topics from year to year,
and material for an elective fourth-year course (in support of our plant design course),
drawn primarily from Chapters 9,19,20, and 22-24.
At another institution, the use of this material depends on the time available, the re-
quirements of the students, and the interests of the instructor. The possibilities include:
(1) a basic one-semester course in CRE primarily for simple, homogeneous systems,
using Chapters 1-4 (for kinetics, if required) and Chapters 11-17;
(2) an extension of (1) to include complex, homogeneous systems, using Chapters 5
(for kinetics) and 18 in addition;
(3) a further extension of (1) and (2) to include heterogeneous systems using Chap-
ters 8 and 9 (for kinetics), and selected parts of Chapters 21-24;
(4) a final extension to nonideal flow, using Chapters 19 and 20.

In addition, Chapters 6 and 7 could be reserved for the enrichment of the treatment
of kinetics, and Chapter 10 can be used for an introduction to enzyme kinetics dealing
with some of the problems in the reactor design chapters.
Reviewers have suggested that this book may be used both at the undergraduate level
and at the beginning of a graduate course. The latter is not our intention or our practice,
but we leave this to the discretion and judgement of individual instructors.

Problem Solving and Computer Tools

We place primary emphasis on developing the students’ abilities to establish the work-
ing equations of an appropriate model for a particular reactor situation, and of course
to interpret and appreciate the significance of quantitative results. In an introductory
text in a field such as CRE, it is important to emphasize the development of principles,