Mole balances parallel reactions

In this chapter we discuss reactor selection and general mole balances for multiple reactions. There are three basic types of multiple reactions series, parallel, and independent. In parallel reactions (also called competing reactions) the reactant is consumed by two different reaction pathways to form different products ... 

In complex reaction systems consisting of combinations of parallel and series reactions the availability of software packages (ODE solvers) makes it much easier to solve problems using moles Nj or molar flow rates Fj rather than conversion. For liquid systems, concentration may be the preferred variable used in, the mole balance equations. The resulting coupled differential equations can be easily solved using an ODE solver. In fact, tltis section has been developed to take advantage of the vast number of computational techniques now available on mainframe (e.g., Simulsolv) and personal computers (POLYMATH). 

The mass-balance problem can be solved graphically. The median connecting the vertex C with the AB edge corresponds to the transformation of an equimolar AB mixture into C. Extending this line with an equal segment gives the position of the pole n of coordinates (0,1) and (1,0). From this point, stoichiometric lines can be drawn for any initial composition of the reaction mixtures. When the reaction preserves the number of moles (v, = 0) the stoichiometric lines are parallel. 

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