Reversible Reaction in an Adiabatic Plug Flow Reactor
A reversible reaction, A ↔ B, takes place in an adiabatic plug-flow reactor (PFR). Select either an exothermic (ΔH < 0) or an endothermic (ΔH > 0) reaction. The black curve is the equilibrium conversion as a function of temperature from the van't Hoff equation. The blue line is conversion as a function of temperature from the adiabatic energy balance. The intersection of the curve and the line is the conversion at equilibrium (Xe)and the adiabatic temperature at equilibrium (Te). You can vary the feed temperature and the molar ratio of inert to reactant in the feed. Download the CDF file to view the simulation using the free Wolfram CDF player.
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For the reversible reaction A ↔ B with both reactant A and inert component I in the adiabatic PFR feed, the equilibrium constant is:

The equilibrium conversion is obtained from the equilibrium constant, assuming ideal gases:
