The decomposition of cyclohexane to hydrogen and benzene is mass transfer limited at the high temperatures. The reaction is carried out in a 5 cm ID pipes, 20m in length packed with the cylindrical pellets 0.5 cm in length and 0.5 cm in diameter. The pellets are coated with catalyst only on the outside. The bed porosity is 40%.the entering volumetric flow rate is 60l/min.
Estimate the number of pipes necessary to achieve 99.9%conversion of cyclohexane from an entering gas stream of 95% hydrogen and 5% cyclohexane at the 2 atm and 5000C.