Tutorial

1) Explain the effect of mixing (RTD) on different configuration of reactor: Single CSTR,
3-stages CSTR and Tubular (PFR) reactor.

-Single CSTR:

The continuous stirred-tank reactor or CSTR model is used to estimate, predict, or design the key
unit operation variables for a continuous agitated tank reactor. The mathematical model works
for all fluids: liquids, gases, and slurries. Perfect - This is a fair assumption due to the fact that
merely requires the region of variable composition at the inlet area is very small when compared
to the entire reactor contents. This is required due to the strong dependence of the reaction rate
on the concentration of the reagent species. In a CSTR, one or more fluid reagents are introduced
into a tank reactor equipped with an impeller while the reactor effluent is removed. The impeller
stirs the reagents to ensure proper mixing. Simply dividing the volume of the tank by the average
volumetric flow rate through the tank gives the residence time, or the average amount of time a
discrete quantity of reagent spends inside the tank. Using chemical kinetics the reaction's
expected percent completion can be calculated. Some important aspects of the CSTR:

a) At steady-state, the flow rate in must equal the mass flow rate out, otherwise the tank will
overflow or go empty (transient state). While the reactor is in a transient state the model equation
must be derived from the differential mass and energy balances.
b) All calculations performed with CSTRs assume perfect mixing
c) The reaction proceeds at the reaction rate associated with the final (output) concentration.
d) Often, it is economically beneficial to operate several CSTRs in series or in parallel. This
allows, for example, the first CSTR to operate at a higher reagent concentration and therefore a
higher reaction rate. In these cases, the sizes of the reactors may be varied in order to minimize
the total capital investment required to implement the process.
e) It can be seen that an infinite number of infinitely small CSTRs operating in series would be
equivalent to a PFR

-3-stages CSTR

Constructed of 3 reactor tanks that consists of an agitated stirrer each which the complete or
finished products is the lowest compares to PFR and single stage CSTR because it has 3 tanks
and the stirrers itself that must be overcome by substrates but it will produce the best reaction as
well balance of concentration and mixture will be a better reaction as it flows tank by tank.
PFR

A Plug flow reactor (PFR) is a chemical reactor where the fluid passes through in a coherent
manner, so that the residence time is the same for all fluid elements. This coherent fluid that
passes through the reactor is known as a plug. PFRs are used to model the chemical
transformation of compounds as they are transported in systems resembling "pipes". The "pipe"
can represent a variety of engineered or natural conduits through which liquids or gases flow. (ie
a river, pipelines, regions between two mountains, etc.)
As a plug flows down a PFR, the fluid is mixed radial direction (up and down) but not in the
axial direction (forwards and backwards.) Each plug can be considered a separate entity as it
flows down the pipe.
An ideal plug flow reactor has a fixed residence time: Any fluid (plug) that enters the reactor at
time t will exit the reactor at time t + , where is the residence time of the reactor. A real plug
flow reactor has a residence time distribution that is a narrow pulse around the mean residence
time distribution.
A typical plug flow reactor could be a tube packed with some solid material (frequently a
catalyst). Sometimes the tube will be a tube in a shell and tube heat exchanger.
2) What are the differences between steps and pulse input?

Pulse input Step input

An amount of tracer is suddenly injected in one The step function is one of most useful functions
shoot into the feed stream entering the reactor in as for control design. Given a system representation,
short a time as possible. The outlet concentration is the response to a step input can immediately be
then measure as function of time. plotted. A step input can be described as a change
in the input from zero to a finite value at time t = 0.
By default, the step command performs a unit step
(i.e. the input goes from zero to one at time t = 0).

3) Based on your observation, which reactors shows the best RTD functions? Why?

Based on our observations and the results that we have obtained throughout the experiment, it
can be said that the reactor that shows the best RTD functions will be PFR because it can be seen
clearly that the value of RTD obtained by PFR is the highest followed by 3 stages CSTR and
then will be the single CSTR. There are actually two types of reactors which are the plug-flow
reactor and the continuous stirred-tank reactor (CSTR). The time distribution of a reactor is
needed in order to compare its behavior to that type of reactor. The plug flow reactor has a fixed
residence time at which when any kind of fluid that enter the reactor at time t will exit the reactor
at time t + v. v is actually the residence time of the reactor. Then, there is PFR which is no back
mixing.