THEORY:

The continuous stirred-tank reactor (CSTR), also known as vat- or back mix reactor is
a common ideal reactor type in chemical engineering. A CSTR often refers to a model used to
estimate the key unit operation variables when using a continuous agitated-tank reactor to reach a
specified output. The mathematical model works for all fluids: liquids, gases, and slurries.
The behavior of a CSTR is often approximated or modeled by that of a Continuous Ideally
Stirred-Tank Reactor (CISTR). All calculations performed with CISTRs assume perfect mixing.
If the residence time is 5-10 times the mixing time, this approximation is valid for engineering
purposes. The CISTR model is often used to simplify engineering calculations and can be used to
describe research reactors. In practice it can only be approached, in particular in industrial size
reactors.
Integral mass balance on number of moles Ni of species i in a reactor of volume V.
[accumulation] = [in] [out] + [generation]

1.
where Fio is the molar flow rate inlet of species i, Fi the molar flow rate outlet,
and i stoichiometric coefficient. The reaction rate, r, is generally dependent on the reactant
concentration and the rate constant (k). The rate constant can be figured by using the Arrhenius
temperature dependence. Generally, as the temperature increases so does the rate at which the
reaction occurs. Residence time, , is the average amount of time a discrete quantity of reagent
spends inside the tank. Assume:
Constant density (valid for most liquids; valid for gases only if there is no net change in
the number of moles or drastic temperature change)
Isothermal conditions, or constant temperature (k is constant)
Steady state
Single, irreversible reaction (A = -1)
First-order reaction (r = kCA)
A products
NA = CA V (where CA is the concentration of species A, V is the volume of the reactor, N A is the
number of moles of species A).

2.
The values of the variables, outlet concentration and residence time, in Equation 2 are major
design criteria.
To model systems that do not obey the assumptions of constant temperature and a single
reaction, additional dependent variables must be considered. If the system is considered to be in
unsteady-state, a differential equation or a system of coupled differential equations must be
solved.
CSTR's are known to be one of the systems which exhibit complex behavior such as steady-state
multiplicity, limit cycles and chaos
In environmental engineering, a continuous or continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR) is a
system that has the following properties:
There is inflow and outflow of matter
Chemical reactions occur within the system's boundary
The accumulation rate of any substance
The system is in a steady-state i.e. the concentration of any substance remains constant or
equivalently, the accumulation rate is zero
Any substance on the system is assumed to be homogeneously distributed
With the above assumptions the law of conservation of mass can be written in the generic
form:
Accumulation rate = 0 = input rate - output rate + reaction rate.

Analysis of the Reactor used in the Experiment:

In an ideal CSTR (that is an ideally steady state flow reactor), the contents in the reactor
are well mixed and have uniform composition throughout. Thus, the exit stream has the same
composition as the fluid within the reactor. This type of reactor is also known as Mixed Flow
reactor. The schematic representation of the reactor is as given below:
Net Reaction:
NaOH + CH3COOC2H5 = CH3COONa + C2H5OH
For calculation reference, we denote the above reaction in the following manner, with the terms
representing the respective compounds:
A + B = C +D

Reactant A
Reactant B

(Schematic of the Experimental Set-up)

Stirrer
Product C, D
Reactor Volume = VR liters
Volumetric Feed Rate = VO LPM
Residence Time () = VR/VO mins
Now, the performance equation for the mixed flow reactor is as follows:
= VR/VO = (CAOXA)/ (-rA) = (CAO CA)/KCA2
Here, XA and rA are evaluated at the exit stream conditions, which are the same as the conditions
within the reactor. This equation is valid for a second order reaction. We can thus write:
XA = (CAO CA)/CAO
And, K = (CAO CA)/CA2 lit/gmol-min
For a second order reaction, a plot of log (-rA) v/s log CA yields a straight line with slope = 2 and
intercept = log k. From this, we calculate the values of k.

PREPARATION OF SAMPLE SOLUTION:

Standardization of NaOH using Oxalic Acid sol.:

Strength of Oxalic Acid prepared NOX= 0.1 N
Sl. No. Vol. of Oxalic Acid (ml) Vol. of NaOH required (ml)

1 10 11

Now, we know that:

VOX*NOX = VNaOH*NNaOH
Thus, substituting the respective values, we have NNaOH = 0.091 N

Standardization of HCl sol. using NaOH Sol.:

Sl. No. Vol. of Hydrochloric Acid Vol. of NaOH required (ml)
(ml)

1 10 14.1

VHCl*NHCl = VNaOH*NNaOH
Thus, substituting the respective values, we have NHCl = 0.128 N

Other data: Volume of reactor= 2.15 lit; strength of ethyl acetate solution= 0.1 N
OBSERVATIONS AND CALCULATIONS:

Flow rate= 12.5 LPH, = 10.32min

Titre Unreacted Reacted CA (M) XA k -rA Mean k

value(mL) HCl (mL) HCl (mL) (lit/mol.min) (M/min) (lit/mol.min)
15.4 10.9484375 9.0515625 0.07724 0.151208791 0.223488 0.001333
16.3 11.58828125 8.41171875 0.07178 0.211208791 0.36146544 0.001862 0.447467508
18 12.796875 7.203125 0.061467 0.324542125 0.75744909 0.002862
 Flow rate= 15 LPH, = 8.60min

Titre Unreacted Reacted CA (M) XA k -rA Mean k

value(mL) HCl (mL) HCl (mL) (lit/mol.min) (M/min) (lit/mol.min)
16.6 11.8015625 8.1984375 0.06996 0.231208791 0.49985919 0.002447
16.8 11.94375 8.05625 0.068747 0.244542125 0.54751161 0.002588 0.539956066
16.9 12.01484375 7.98515625 0.06814 0.251208791 0.5724974 0.002658
 Flow rate= 17.5 LPH, = 7.37min

Titre Unreacted Reacted CA (M) XA k -rA Mean k

value(mL) HCl (mL) HCl (mL) (lit/mol.min) (M/min) (lit/mol.min)
16.2 11.5171875 8.4828125 0.072387 0.204542125 0.48189824 0.002525
16.4 11.659375 8.340625 0.071173 0.217875458 0.53096199 0.00269 0.482871601
16 11.375 8.625 0.0736 0.191208791 0.43575458 0.00236
PRECAUTIONS:
1. Measure the exact volume of water and weigh the chemicals.
2. Always use clean water and good quality chemicals and standard solution for
titration.
3. Use electronic balance for the weighing of chemicals. Dont mix the droppers
of different chemicals.
4. Keep close all the drain valves and vent valves should be open during the filling
up the reactor tank.
5. Flow should not be disturbed during experiments.
6. Handle the chemicals carefully.
7. Dont ON heater switch before filling the water in the bath.
8. There should not be any air in the flow during experiments.