H2 gas is needed as a gas source for fuel cells. You want to generate H2 through a gas phase reaction of n-pentane 1 C5H12 2 with steam 1 H2O 2 . You may assume the only by-product formed is carbon monoxide (CO). Consider a molar feed ratio of 1 mol C5H12 to 10 mol H2O at a pressure of 0.5 bar. It is desirable to convert 98% of the feed n-pentane to hydrogen (i.e, for every 1 mol of C5H12 fed into the reactor, 0.02 mol C5H12 exits).
(a) Calculate the minimum temperature you can run the reactor to achieve 98% conversion of C5H12. You may assume Dhrxn is a constant.
(b) If you wanted to be more accurate in part A, what other thermodynamic property data would you need? Report the values of the property data you would need. (Do not do the calculation.)
(c) Explain why you would choose to operate this reactor at reduced pressure.
(d) Draw a quick schematic of a process you would use to separate H2 from the other species exiting the reactor to feed to the fuel cell.