MULTIPLE REACTIONS IN

CONTINUOUS REACTORS
ChE 2115: Chemical Reaction Engineering

Basil James S Santos

Plug Flow Reactor
Mass Balance
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝐴,𝑖𝑛 − 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝐴,𝑜𝑢𝑡 + 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝐴,𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 − 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝐴,𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑒𝑑 = 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝐴,𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑢𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑
𝑑𝑁𝐴
𝐹𝐴,𝑉 − 𝐹𝐴,𝑉+∆𝑉 + ∆𝑉𝑟𝐴 =
𝑑𝑡
At steady-state
𝐹𝐴,𝑉 − 𝐹𝐴,𝑉+∆𝑉 + ∆𝑉𝑟𝐴 = 0
∆𝐹𝐴
= 𝑟𝐴
∆𝑉
𝒅𝑭𝑨 𝒅𝑪𝑨
=𝑭 = 𝒓𝑨
𝒅𝑽 𝒅𝑽
𝒅𝑪𝑨 𝟏
= 𝒓𝑨
𝒅𝑽 𝑭
ChE 2115: Chemical
Reaction Engineering
Plug Flow Reactor
EXAMPLE
Consider the complex liquid-phase reactions shown below A feed, flowing at a rate of 100 L/min and containing 2
M A and 2 M B, is to be reacted in a 100 L PFR. Calculate the expected concentrations of A, B, C, and D at the end
of the PFR.
𝐴 + 2𝐵 → 𝐶, −𝑟1𝐴 = 10𝐶𝐴 𝐶𝐵2
2𝐴 + 3𝐶 → 𝐷, −𝑟2𝐶 = 15𝐶𝐴2 𝐶𝐶3

ChE 2115: Chemical

Reaction Engineering
Plug Flow Reactor
Consider the complex liquid-phase reactions shown below A feed, flowing at a rate of 100 L/min and containing 2 M
EXAMPLE A and 2 M B, is to be reacted in a 100 L PFR. Calculate the expected concentrations of A, B, C, and D at the end of the
PFR. 𝐴 + 2𝐵 → 𝐶, −𝑟1𝐴 = 10𝐶𝐴 𝐶𝐵2 , 2𝐴 + 3𝐶 → 𝐷, −𝑟2𝐶 = 15𝐶𝐴2 𝐶𝐶3

𝑑𝐶𝐴 𝑑𝐶𝐴 1
𝐹 = 𝑟𝐴 ⇒ = 𝑟
𝑑𝑉 𝑑𝑉 𝐹 𝐴
𝑑𝐶𝐴 1
= −10𝐶𝐴 𝐶𝐵2 − 10𝐶𝐴2 𝐶𝐶3
𝑑𝑉 100
𝑑𝐶𝐵 1
= −20𝐶𝐴 𝐶𝐵2
𝑑𝑉 100
𝑑𝐶𝐶 1
= 10𝐶𝐴 𝐶𝐵2 − 15𝐶𝐴2 𝐶𝐶3
𝑑𝑉 100
𝑑𝐶𝐷 1
= 5𝐶𝐴2 𝐶𝐶3
𝑑𝑉 100
𝐶𝐴 0 = 2, 𝐶𝐵 0 = 2, 𝐶𝐶 0 = 0, 𝐶𝐷 0 = 0
ChE 2115: Chemical
Reaction Engineering
Plug Flow Reactor
Consider the complex liquid-phase reactions shown below A feed, flowing at a rate of 100 L/min and containing 2 M
EXAMPLE A and 2 M B, is to be reacted in a 100 L PFR. Calculate the expected concentrations of A, B, C, and D at the end of the
PFR. 𝐴 + 2𝐵 → 𝐶, −𝑟1𝐴 = 10𝐶𝐴 𝐶𝐵2 , 2𝐴 + 3𝐶 → 𝐷, −𝑟2𝐶 = 15𝐶𝐴2 𝐶𝐶3

ChE 2115: Chemical

Reaction Engineering
Plug Flow Reactor
Consider the complex liquid-phase reactions shown below A feed, flowing at a rate of 100 L/min and containing 2 M
EXAMPLE A and 2 M B, is to be reacted in a 100 L PFR. Calculate the expected concentrations of A, B, C, and D at the end of the
PFR. 𝐴 + 2𝐵 → 𝐶, −𝑟1𝐴 = 10𝐶𝐴 𝐶𝐵2 , 2𝐴 + 3𝐶 → 𝐷, −𝑟2𝐶 = 15𝐶𝐴2 𝐶𝐶3

𝑑𝐶𝐴 𝑑𝐶𝐴 1 𝐶𝐴 = 0.5785

𝐹 = 𝑟𝐴 ⇒ = 𝑟
𝑑𝑉 𝑑𝑉 𝐹 𝐴
𝐶𝐵 = 0.0660
𝑑𝐶𝐴 1
= −10𝐶𝐴 𝐶𝐵2 − 10𝐶𝐴2 𝐶𝐶3
𝑑𝑉 100 𝐶𝐶 = 0.2854
𝑑𝐶𝐵 1 𝐶𝐷 = 0.2272
= −20𝐶𝐴 𝐶𝐵2
𝑑𝑉 100
To check:
𝑑𝐶𝐶 1
= 10𝐶𝐴 𝐶𝐵2 − 15𝐶𝐴2 𝐶𝐶3
𝑑𝑉 100 𝐶𝐵 𝐶𝐵0
+ 𝐶𝐶 + 3𝐶𝐷 = + 𝐶𝐶0 + 3𝐶𝐷0
𝑑𝐶𝐷 1 2 2
= 5𝐶𝐴2 𝐶𝐶3
𝑑𝑉 100
𝐶𝐴 0 = 2, 𝐶𝐵 0 = 2, 𝐶𝐶 0 = 0, 𝐶𝐷 0 = 0
ChE 2115: Chemical
Reaction Engineering
Continuously Stirred Tank Reactor
Mass Balance F0, CA0
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝐴,𝑖𝑛 − 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝐴,𝑜𝑢𝑡 + 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝐴,𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 − 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝐴,𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑒𝑑
= 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝐴,𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑢𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑
𝑑𝑁𝐴
𝐹𝐶𝐴0 − 𝐹𝐶𝐴 + 𝑉𝑟𝐴 =
𝑑𝑡
At steady-state
V, CA
𝐹𝐶𝐴0 − 𝐹𝐶𝐴 + 𝑉𝑟𝐴 = 0
F, CA

ChE 2115: Chemical

Reaction Engineering
Continuously Stirred Tank Reactor
EXAMPLE
Consider the complex liquid-phase reactions shown below A feed, flowing at a rate of 100 L/min and containing 2
M A and 2 M B, is to be reacted in a 500 L CSTR. Calculate the expected concentrations of A, B, C, and D at the end
of the PFR.
𝐴 + 2𝐵 → 𝐶, −𝑟1𝐴 = 10𝐶𝐴 𝐶𝐵2
2𝐴 + 3𝐶 → 𝐷, −𝑟2𝐶 = 15𝐶𝐴2 𝐶𝐶3

ChE 2115: Chemical

Reaction Engineering
Continuously Stirred Tank Reactor
Consider the complex liquid-phase reactions shown below A feed, flowing at a rate of 100 L/min and containing 2 M
EXAMPLE A and 2 M B, is to be reacted in a 500 L CSTR. Calculate the expected concentrations of A, B, C, and D at the end of
the PFR. 𝐴 + 2𝐵 → 𝐶, −𝑟1𝐴 = 10𝐶𝐴 𝐶𝐵2 , 2𝐴 + 3𝐶 → 𝐷, −𝑟2𝐶 = 15𝐶𝐴2 𝐶𝐶3

100 2 − 100𝐶𝐴 + 500 −10𝐶𝐴 𝐶𝐵2 − 10𝐶𝐴2 𝐶𝐶3 = 0

100 2 − 100𝐶𝐵 + 500 −20𝐶𝐴 𝐶𝐵2 = 0
−100𝐶𝐶 + 500 10𝐶𝐴 𝐶𝐵2 − 15𝐶𝐴2 𝐶𝐶3 = 0
−100𝐶𝐷 + 500 5𝐶𝐴2 𝐶𝐶3 = 0

ChE 2115: Chemical

Reaction Engineering
Continuously Stirred Tank Reactor
Consider the complex liquid-phase reactions shown below A feed, flowing at a rate of 100 L/min and containing 2 M
EXAMPLE A and 2 M B, is to be reacted in a 500 L CSTR. Calculate the expected concentrations of A, B, C, and D at the end of
the PFR. 𝐴 + 2𝐵 → 𝐶, −𝑟1𝐴 = 10𝐶𝐴 𝐶𝐵2 , 2𝐴 + 3𝐶 → 𝐷, −𝑟2𝐶 = 15𝐶𝐴2 𝐶𝐶3

fsolve
Install Optimization Toolbox

ChE 2115: Chemical

Reaction Engineering
Continuously Stirred Tank Reactor
Consider the complex liquid-phase reactions shown below A feed, flowing at a rate of 100 L/min and containing 2 M
EXAMPLE A and 2 M B, is to be reacted in a 500 L CSTR. Calculate the expected concentrations of A, B, C, and D at the end of
the PFR. 𝐴 + 2𝐵 → 𝐶, −𝑟1𝐴 = 10𝐶𝐴 𝐶𝐵2 , 2𝐴 + 3𝐶 → 𝐷, −𝑟2𝐶 = 15𝐶𝐴2 𝐶𝐶3

100 2 − 100𝐶𝐴 + 500 −10𝐶𝐴 𝐶𝐵2 − 10𝐶𝐴2 𝐶𝐶3 = 0

100 2 − 100𝐶𝐵 + 500 −20𝐶𝐴 𝐶𝐵2 = 0
−100𝐶𝐶 + 500 10𝐶𝐴 𝐶𝐵2 − 15𝐶𝐴2 𝐶𝐶3 = 0
−100𝐶𝐷 + 500 5𝐶𝐴2 𝐶𝐶3 = 0

𝐶𝐴 = 0.6540, 𝐶𝐵 = 0.1674, 𝐶𝐶 = 0.2718, 𝐶𝐷 = 0.2148

To check:
𝐶𝐵 𝐶𝐵0
+ 𝐶𝐶 + 3𝐶𝐷 = + 𝐶𝐶0 + 3𝐶𝐷0
2 2 ChE 2115: Chemical
Reaction Engineering