Please solve the problem numerically and find the value of zeta 1 and zeta 2, and don't forget to answer part b.
2. Steam reforming of methane is done to produce hydrogen, which is a feed to the ammonia production unit at Sherritt. Two reactions occur:
CH4 + H2O ⇌ CO + 3H2
ΔH = E
CO + H2O ⇌ CO2 + H2
In a proposed flowsheet: The feed stream 1 has a molar ratio of 1:3 (methane:steam) and a flow rate of 120 kmol/hr. The single pass conversion of methane is 90%. Three separators are used: one to separate all of the CO, CO2, and water from the product stream S1, the second (S2) to condense the water from the CO and CO2 for reuse in the process, and the third (S3) to recover the unreacted CH4 from the hydrogen product stream. S3 is expensive and difficult to operate. 25% of the CH4 which reacts leaves the process as CO in stream 5. The recycle stream contains only methane.
9. (a) Solve the material balance using component flows.
(b) Do you think the recycle streams (9 and 6) are good process engineering decisions?
CO and CO2
S2
Feed
Reactor
S3
Hydrogen
