Unit 12. Performing Kinetics Experiments

This website provides learning and teaching tools for a first course on kinetics and reaction engineering. The course is divided into four parts (I through IV). Here, in Part II of the course, the focus is on chemical reaction kinetics, and more specifically, on rate expressions, which are mathematical models of reaction rates. As you progress through Part II, you will learn how rate expressions are generated from experimental kinetics data.

The second section of Part II of the course focuses on gathering experimental data that can be used to test a rate expression. Obtaining those data requires the use of a reactor, and the subsequent analysis of the resulting data will require an accurate mathematical model for the reactor. Consequently Section B examines common types of laboratory reactors and models for them. The commonly used reactor models make assumptions about flow and other aspects of reactor operation, so methods for testing the conformity of experimental reactors to their models are discussed here. Section B also provides some guidelines for the generation of experimental kinetics data.

Unit 11 introduced the three most common types of laboratory reactors for the generation of kinetics data, and it described a few ways to test the assumptions in the models for those reactors without running any chemical reactions. Unit 12 describes a few additional ways to test the assumptions in the laboratory reactor models while chemical reactions are taking place. It then goes on to describe typical approaches for the generation of kinetics data using each type of reactor.

Learning Resources

• Archive (.zip) - Contains all learning resources listed below for this unit, except for the simulators
• Documents to Read:
  • Unit 12 Informational Reading (.pdf)
  • Example 12.1 (.pdf)
  • Example 12.2 (.pdf)
  • Example 12.3 (.pdf)
  • Example 12.4 (.pdf)
  • Example 12.5 (.pdf)
• Videos to Watch (please right-click and save, then play back locally on your computer):
  • Unit 12 Informational Video (.mov)
  • Example 12.1 Video (.mov)
  • Example 12.2 Video (.mov)
  • Example 12.3 Video (.mov)
  • Example 12.4 Video (.mov)
  • Example 12.5 Video (.mov)
• Reference Files:
  • Unit 12 Definitions, Nomenclature and Equations (.pdf)
• Other Files:
  • A video illustrating the use of a batch reactor to generate kinetics data for the saponification of ethyl acetate. (.mov)
  • Kinetics Simulators
    • Batch Reactor Kinetics Simulator (zipped .jar file)
    • CSTR Kinetics Simulator (zipped .jar file)
    • PFR Kinetics Simulator (zipped .jar file)
     
    Please note that these simulators are intended for educational purposes only. They should not be used for any other purpose, and if they are, the author does not bear any responsibility or liability for the consequences.
     
    The “zipped .jar file,” when unzipped, will produce a folder that contains a .jar file and a folder named "lib". Not surprisingly the latter folder contains additional libraries and files that the simulator uses. To run the simulator, launch the .jar file either from the command line using java -jar [name of .jar file], or by double clicking it if your operating system supports it. The simulators require JAVA 1.6 or later in order to run. There is a User's Guide under the Help menu that describes how to use the simulators.
     
    

Teaching Resources

• Archive (.zip) - Contains all teaching resources listed below for this unit
• Sample Class
  • Online Pre-class Quiz (.pdf file)
  • Redacted slides to make available to students before class
    • Keynote 09
    • PowerPoint
  • Learning Activity Files to make available to students before class
    • Activity 2 Handout (.xlsx)
  • Class Lesson Plan (.pdf)
  • Complete slides to make available to students after class
    • Keynote 09
    • PowerPoint
  • Learning Activity Files to make available to students after class
    • Activity 2 Results (.xlsx)
• Alternative Questions (.pdf) that could be used in a pre-class quiz
• Alternative In-Class Learning Activities
  • Alternative Activity 12.1 (.zip) - an activity where students generate a large set of kinetics data using one of the kinetics simulators provided with this unit.
• Simulator Source files
  • Batch Reactor Kinetics Simulator (zipped Netbeans project folder)
  • CSTR Kinetics Simulator (zipped Netbeans project folder)
  • PFR Kinetics Simulator (zipped Netbeans project folder)
   
  Please note that these simulators are intended for educational purposes only. They should not be used for any other purpose, and if they are, the author does not bear any responsibility or liability for the consequences.
   
  The “Netbeans Project folders” contain the Netbeans java project used to create them. Providing them in this way will allow instructors or students familiar with java and the Netbeans development environment to modify them. They were developed using version 6.7 of Netbeans. They use the Swing Application Framework, which is not supported in version 7.1 or higher of the Netbeans IDE. They are no longer in development, and I am not available to consult on any issues encountered when using them.

Practice Problems