A chemical reactor gives a fractional conversion of only 10% of the expensive limiting reactant in the feed stream. Assuming nothing will improve the reactor’s performance, how would you design a process to make better use of the expensive reactant? What performance characteristics would you need for other process units? (b) A second reactor is available which gives 90% conversion but allows an irreversible, undesirable side reaction with only a 50% selectivity or the desired product versus the undesired product. For some cases, the 1st reactor would be better, while for others the 2nd reactor is a better choice. Explain what performance characteristics of other units would dictate this choice?
