final_work.doc

FAME (Fatty Acid Methyl Ester) reaction unit works continuously with stream of reagents and catalyst mixture.  Chemical reaction is presented underneath:

Where

Table 1. R – alkyl radicals and densities

Methanol density d=0.7918 g/cm3

Sulfuric acid density d=1.8356 g/cm3

Glycerol density d=1.2589 g/cm³

Construct model for description of flow reactor with specified output of ester. Draw flowchart and make necessary calculations of reagent flows basing on output stream of ester as well as reactor volume. Flowchart specification:

·         alcohol tank

·         fatty acid tank

·         base feeder

·         mixer

·         reactor

·         separator of methanol (distiller – assume 100% effectiveness)

·         separator of glycerol (

·         recirculation is unnecessary

Methanol is introduced to the mixture with the excess in the reference to stoichiometry to improve of the reaction.

Simplifying assumption: densities of reagents are the same in different temperature (cause: lack of data)

Data for project are given in Table 2.

Table 2. Data for the project