Dispersion Model

Used to model non ideal PFRs

o Deals with small deviations from PFR

Application of the Model

Turbulent Flow
Laminar Flow in long pipes
Not for laminar flow in short pipes
Fundamentals
Axial dispersion occurs in a non-ideal reactor (diffusion also occurs)
This dispersion results in the flattening of the RTD of a pulse input
o Particles are moved into areas of different velocity, hence the RTD is distorted
o Hence the pulse input can be used to determine the axial dispersion
o This distortion maintains the shape of the pulse

Axial dispersion is governed by

o Ficks Law of Dispersion ( D a A c

dC
)
dz

o Bulk Flow ( U A c C )

Model
Subscript T is for tracer
z is for the length
U is velocity
D is the dispersion coefficient
A c is the cross sectional area

Molar flow rate of a tracer

FT =Da A c

d CT
+U Ac CT
dz

FT , by both convection and dispersion is

Taking the mole balance on the inert T

d FT
d CT
=A c
dz
dt

Substituting the flow rate definition into the above and dividing by
2

Da

d CT
dz

d (U C T )
dz

d CT
dt

Considering laminar pipe flow

2

( ( ))

u ( r )=2 U 1

r
R

Ac