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Ch#6, Design For Single Reaction

This document compares mixed and plug flow reactors and discusses their optimal arrangements. It shows that for a single reaction, an element of fluid reacts for the same amount of time in a batch reactor and a plug flow reactor. It also states that multiple plug flow reactors in series are equivalent to a single larger plug flow reactor, while reactors in parallel must have equal volume/flow rates to be efficient. Finally, it provides rules for arranging reactors in series depending on whether the reaction rate increases or decreases with concentration.

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Zaid Yahya
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303 views9 pages

Ch#6, Design For Single Reaction

This document compares mixed and plug flow reactors and discusses their optimal arrangements. It shows that for a single reaction, an element of fluid reacts for the same amount of time in a batch reactor and a plug flow reactor. It also states that multiple plug flow reactors in series are equivalent to a single larger plug flow reactor, while reactors in parallel must have equal volume/flow rates to be efficient. Finally, it provides rules for arranging reactors in series depending on whether the reaction rate increases or decreases with concentration.

Uploaded by

Zaid Yahya
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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DESIGN FOR SINGLE

REACTION
ENGR. M. ZIA UL HAQ
MIXED VERSUS PLUG FLOW REACTOR:

BATCH VERSUS PLUG FLOW


REACTOR

For a given duty & for 𝜀 = 0


shows that an element of fluid
reacts for the same length of
time in the batch and in the
plug flow reactor.
DESIGN FOR SINGLE REACTION
PLUG FLOW REACTOR IN SERIES:
𝑁
𝑉 𝑉𝑖 𝑉1 + 𝑉2 + 𝑉3 + ⋯ … … 𝑉𝑁
= ෍ =
𝐹0 𝐹0 𝐹0
𝑖=1
𝑥1 𝑥2 𝑥𝑁 𝑥𝑁
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
= න +න + −−−− + න =න
𝑥0=0 −𝑟 𝑥1 −𝑟 𝑥𝑁−1 −𝑟 𝑥0 −𝑟

Hence “N” plug flow reactors in series with a total volume “V” gives the same conversion
as a single plug flow reactors of volume “V”.
DESIGN FOR SINGLE REACTION
• PLUG FLOW REACTOR IN PARALLEL:
For reactors in parallel “V/F” or “𝜏” must be the same for each parallel line. Any other way of feeding is less efficient.
• EQUAL SIZE MIXED FLOW REACTORS IN SERIES:
1
𝑁 𝐶0 𝑁
𝜏𝑁 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑠 = 𝑁𝜏𝑖 = −1
𝑘 𝐶𝑁

If 𝑁 → ∞, this equation reduces to the plug flow equation,


1 𝐶0
𝜏𝑝 = ln
𝑘 𝐶
We can compare performance of “N” reactors in series with a plug flow reactor or with a single mixed flow reactor.
COMPARISON OF PERFORMANCE OF A SERIES OF N EQUAL-SIZE
MIXED FLOW REACTORS WITH A PLUG FLOW REACTOR FOR N=1
COMPARISON OF PERFORMANCE OF A SERIES OF N EQUAL-SIZE
MIXED FLOW REACTORS WITH A PLUG FLOW REACTOR FOR N=2
BEST ARRANGEMENTS OF A SET OF IDEAL
REACTORS
For the most effective use of a given set of ideal reactors we have the following general
rules:
• For a reaction whose rate-concentration curve rises monotonically (any nth-order
reaction, n>0) the reactors should be connected in series. They should be ordered so as
to keep the concentration of reactant as high as possible if the rate-concentration curve
is concave (n>1), and as low as possible if the curve is convex (n<1). As an example, for
the case of Fig. the ordering of units should be plug, small mixed, large mixed, for n>1;
the reverse order should be used when n<1.
BEST ARRANGEMENTS OF A SET OF IDEAL
REACTORS
BEST ARRANGEMENTS OF A SET OF IDEAL
REACTORS
• For reactions where the rate-concentration curve passes through a maximum or
minimum the arrangement of units depends on the actual shape of curve, the conversion
level desired, and the units available. No simple rules can be suggested.
• Whatever may be the kinetics and the reactor system, an examination of the 1/(-rA,) vs.
CA curve is a good way to find the best arrangement of units.

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