Code No: R05312301 Set No.

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III B.Tech I Semester Regular Examinations, November 2007
BIO CHEMICAL REACTION ENGINEERING
(Bio-Technology)
Time: 3 hours Max Marks: 80
Answer any FIVE Questions
All Questions carry equal marks
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1. Derive the design equation for a batch reactor. Write the advantages and disad-
vantages using batch reactors in bioprocessing. [16]

2. Decomposition of acetone dicarboxylic acid is a first order reaction:

CO(CH2 COOH)2 → CO(CH3 )2 + 2CO2
Following is the data for the same:

T,K 273 293 313 333

k1 , (s)−1 2.46×105 47.5×105 576×105 5480×105

Find out the energy of activation for this reaction graphically. [16]

3. (a) What sort of fermentation would not need to be performed in a fed batch
manner?
(b) Derive the mathematical expressions for various feeding mechanism of fed
batch reactor? [16]

4. Substance A in a liquid reacts to produce R and S as follows: (figure 4)

Figure 4
A feed (CA0 = 1, CR0 = CS0 = 0 ) enters in two mixed flow reactors in series (τ1 =
2 min; τ2 = 5 min). Knowing the composition in the first reactor (CA1 = 0.40, CR1 =
0.40 and CS1 =0.2), find the composition leaving the second reactor. [16]

5. Given the following gas-phase reaction

A = B+C, ∆Hr,298 = 1000 cal/mol
Start with 1 mole A in 4 12 moles inert gas and suppose that 50 % of the original
A is dissociated at 1000 0 K and 100 atm.

(a) Find ∆G0 at 500 0 K and 1 atm.

(b) Find ∆G0 at 500 0 K and 0.01 atm.

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Code No: R05312301 Set No. 1
(c) Find the % A dissociated at 500 0 K and 1 atm
(d) Find the % A dissociated at 500 0 K and 0.01 atm
Data :
Critical values
0
Substance C p , Cal/mol k Tc pc
A 13 1000 100
B 8 400 50
C 5 800 20

Assume that the system is an ideal solution:

 
f
fA = yA fA,puresubs tan ce = yA π A,puresubs
π
tan ce

The quantity in brackets is given by the Newton charts, which may be found in
most thermodynamics texts for chemical engineers. [16]

6. Behavior of short laminar f low reactors. Consider laminar flow in a tubular

reactor, which is so short that the dispersion model is not applicable. For this
situation prediction of behavior becomes very difficult, however we can still estimate
the poorest expected performance of such reactors. As an example take a first-order
reaction A → R with XA,plug = 0.99. Recalling for laminar flow that the maximum
velocity in the centerline of the pipe is twice the average velocity and that this
represents the smallest residence time in the reactor estimate the lower bound to
the expected conversion. [16]

7. Write about the stability analysis of bioreactors using mathematical model? [16]

8. (a) Describe the mass transfer aspects you need to consider in the design of biore-
actors.
(b) Describe the heat transfer aspects you need to consider in the design of biore-
actors. [16]

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Code No: R05312301 Set No. 2
III B.Tech I Semester Regular Examinations, November 2007
BIO CHEMICAL REACTION ENGINEERING
(Bio-Technology)
Time: 3 hours Max Marks: 80
Answer any FIVE Questions
All Questions carry equal marks
⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆

1. What are the ideal flow conditions in a bioreactor? Explain them in detail. [16]

2. (a) What is meant by a homogenous reaction? What is its importance in fermen-

tation industry? Explain in detail.
(b) What is Michaelis -Menten equation? Describe its importance in enzymatic
processor. [16]

3. (a) What is the difference between the specific growth rate (µ) and the rate of
cell increase (dx/dt)?
(b) Why do we use the specific growth rate to describe cell growth instead of the
doubling time (or generation time)? [16]

4. Reactant A decomposes in an isothermal batch reactor (CA0 = 100) to produce

wanted R and unwanted S and the following progressive concentration reading are
recorded:

CA (100) 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 (0)
CR (0) 1 4 9 16 25 35 45 55 64 (71)

Additional runs show that adding R or S does not affect the distribution of products
formed and that only A does. Also it is noted that the number of moles of A, R,
and S is constant.

(a) find the ϕ versus CA curve for this reaction. With a feed CAO = 100 and CAf
=10, find CR
(b) from a mixed flow reactor,
(c) from a plug flow reactor,
(d) and
(e) ; repeat parts (b) and (c) with the modifications that CA0 = 70. [16]

5. For the system with CA0 = 5 mol/liter

(a) find the space-time in a mixed reactor needed to achieve 90% conversion of A
to R
(b) with a sketch show the location and determine the necessary heat exchange if
feed enters at 25 0 C, product leaves at 25 0 C, and the allowable temperature
range is from 5 0 C to 95 0 C. [16]

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Code No: R05312301 Set No. 2
6. Describe how do you estimate the conversions in a bioreactor with non-ideal flow
behaviour using dispersion model. [16]

7. Explain in detail the packed bed bioreactor dynamics using mathematical model?
[16]

8. (a) Describe some characteristic features of a fermenter which are needed to be

considered while designing a fermenter.
(b) What are the advantages and disadvantages of using off-centre impellers over
baffles for creating turbulence? Explain in detail. [16]

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Code No: R05312301 Set No. 3
III B.Tech I Semester Regular Examinations, November 2007
BIO CHEMICAL REACTION ENGINEERING
(Bio-Technology)
Time: 3 hours Max Marks: 80
Answer any FIVE Questions
All Questions carry equal marks
⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆

1. Derive the design equations for the following using mathematical models for :

(a) CSTR
(b) PFR. [16]

2. Explain how do you calculate the first order reaction rate constant using various
methods. [16]

3. (a) What is Diauxie growth curve?

(b) Why do cell numbers increase exponentially during the log phase in batch
culture? [16]

4. The desired liquid phase reaction:

dCR dCT 1.5 0.30

A + B → R + T, dt
= dt
= k1 CA CB
is accompanied by the undesired side reaction
dCs dCU 0.50 1.8
A + B → S+ U, dt
= dt
= k2 CA · CB
What contacting schemes (reactor types) would you use to carry above reactions
to minimize the concentration of undesired products? [16]

5. Determine the equilibrium conversion for the following elementary reaction between
0 0 C and 100 0 C.
A↽ ⇀R
At 298 K: ∆G0 = -14130 J/mol, ∆H0R = -75300 J/mol, CpA = CpR = constant.

(a) Construct a plot of temperature v/s conversion.

(b) What restrictions should be placed on the reactor operating isothermally if
conversion of 75% or highest is desired? [16]

6. The kinetics of a homogeneous liquid reaction are studied in a flow reactor, and
to approximate plug flow the 48 cm long reactor is packed with 5 mm nonporous
pellets. If the conversion is 99% for a mean residence time of 1 sec calculate the
rate constant for the first order reaction

(a) Assuming that the liquid passes in plug flow through the reactor,
(b) Accounting for the deviation of the actual flow from plug flow.

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Code No: R05312301 Set No. 3
(c) What is the error in calculated k if deviation from plug flow is not considered.

Data: Bed voidage ω = 0.4,

Particales Reynolds number Rep = 200 [16]

7. Explain in detail the transient response of the Nutristat operation? [16]

8. (a) Describe some characteristic features of a fermenter which are needed to be

considered while designing a fermenter.
(b) What are the advantages and disadvantages of using off-centre impellers over
baffles for creating turbulence? Explain in detail. [16]

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Code No: R05312301 Set No. 4
III B.Tech I Semester Regular Examinations, November 2007
BIO CHEMICAL REACTION ENGINEERING
(Bio-Technology)
Time: 3 hours Max Marks: 80
Answer any FIVE Questions
All Questions carry equal marks
⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆

1. A gas mixture consisting of 50 mole % A and 50 mole % inerts enters the reactor
with the flow rate of 6 l/ s at 144 0 C. The rate data is as follows:

XA 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.85

−rA 0.0053 0.0052 0.005 0.0045 0.004 0.0033 0.0025 0.0018 0.00125 0.001

If the reaction is carried out in two reactors in series with 40% conversion in the
first reactor and 85% overall conversion, estimate the total volume of reactors when

(a) reactors are both mixed flow, and

(b) reactors are both plug flow. [16]

2. A batch fermenter is being used for the production of yeast cells from glucose. The
number of yeast cells is found to double in 1.5h. Find the average specific growth
of cells (µ). [16]

3. (a) What is the effect of mutation and contamination on the operation of a chemo-
stat?
(b) What are the problems associated with the culture of genetically engineered
yeast in continuous culture system? [16]

4. (a) What are the various types of fermentation reactions? Explain with examples.
(b) Explain in detail what are the effects of temperature, pressure, pH on fermen-
tation reactions. [16]

5. Given the gas-phase reaction A=B+C. Start with pure A. Suppose that 50% of the
original A is dissociated at 1000 0 K and 10 atm as well as at 500 0 K and 0.1 at.

(a) Calculate the percent dissociation at 250 0 K and 1 atm.

(b) Calculate the percent dissociation at 250 0 K and 0.1 atm.

Data: Average Cp of A = 12 cal/mol. 0 K

Average Cp of B = 7 cal/mol. 0 K
Average Cp of C = 5 cal/mol. 0 K [16]

6. Define the following:

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Code No: R05312301 Set No. 4
(a) Dispersion coefficient
(b) Dispersion number
(c) Pecklet number
(d) Damkohler number [16]

7. How do you control the Cascade bioreactors? Explain in detail using mathematical
model. [16]

8. (a) Describe some characteristic features of a fermenter which are needed to be

considered while designing a fermenter.
(b) What are the advantages and disadvantages of using off-centre impellers over
baffles for creating turbulence? Explain in detail. [16]

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