10.

37 Chemical and Biological Reaction Engineering, Spring 2007

Prof. K. Dane Wittrup
Lecture 7: Batch Reactors

This lecture covers batch reactor equations, reactor sizing for constant volume and
variable volume processes.

Batch Reactors

Run at non-steady state conditions

Which to choose? Batch vs. CSTR?

Batch CSTR

Figure 1. Schematics of a batch reactor and a

CSTR.
Small Amount of Material (small quantities) (does not tie up
equipment continuously)

Flexibility + -

Expensive Reactants + -

If product does not flow, + -

Materials Handling (e.g. Polymers)

Do not have to shut down and - +

clean, less down time

Captial costs? For size of reactor, + -

for given conversion (concentration stays
higher longer)

Operability & Control (T, P, p4) - +

e.g. Exothermic reaction (Manipulate only one
setpoint, steady state.
You can control additional
variables. Such as flow rates.)

Material Balance

In Out + Product = Accumulation

0 0

Cite as: K. Dane Wittrup, course materials for 10.37 Chemical and Biological Reaction Engineering, Spring
2007. MIT OpenCourseWare (http://ocw.mit.edu), Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Downloaded on
[DD Month YYYY].
 dN A
rA V =
dt
dC A
Constant V, rA =
dt
dX A
In terms of conversion, C Ao = rA
dt
CA dC A X A dX
Integrating, t= or t = C Ao A
C Ao r 0 r
A A

1st Order Reaction A k

B

rA = kC A = kC Ao (1 x A )
xA dx A 1 1
t = C Ao
t= ln
0 kC Ao (1 x A ) k 1 x A
xA = 1 e kt

1 1 2.3
90% conversion t90.0% = ln =
k 1 0.9 k
1
(order of )
k

2nd Order Reaction A + A k

B

rA = kC A2 = kC Ao 2 (1 X A )2
XA dX A 1 XA dX A
t = C Ao =
0 kC Ao (1 X A )
2 2
kC Ao 0 (1 X A ) 2

1 XA kC Aot
t= XA =
kC Ao 1 X A 1+ kC Aot

If kfirst order = ksecond order C Ao , which is faster?

1 2 3
1st order 0.63 0.86 0.95
2nd order 0.50 0.67 0.75 }x A

For a given Damkohler number, 1st order is faster. The second order reaction has
greater concentration dependence. Exponential approach (1st order) is faster.

10.37 Chemical and Biological Reaction Engineering, Spring 2007 Lecture #

Prof. K. Dane Wittrup Page 2 of 5

Cite as: K. Dane Wittrup, course materials for 10.37 Chemical and Biological Reaction Engineering, Spring
2007. MIT OpenCourseWare (http://ocw.mit.edu), Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Downloaded on
[DD Month YYYY].
Batch Cycle
t
Time
Charge rxn Discharge Clean

 

 

Downtime, td

How long should t be?

How high should X A be?
Economic calculation: Compare economics of further conversion to a different use
of equipment
Chemical consideration: Will product degrade? Assume product stable.

Product produced in one cycle = X AC Ao V

X AC Ao V
Pr(Rate of Production) =
t + td
What value of t will maximize Pr?
d Pr
If there is a maximum of Pr vs. t, =0
dt
dX A
(toptimum + td ) XA
d Pr dt
Assume td = constant. 0= = C Ao V
dt (toptimum + td ) 2
dX A
(toptimum + td ) XA = 0
dt

Now specify kinetics. There may be no optimum.

1st order X A = 1 e kt
dX A
= ke kt
dt
ktoptimum kt
(toptimum + td )ke (1 e optimum ) = 0
Can numerically solve for toptimum .

10.37 Chemical and Biological Reaction Engineering, Spring 2007 Lecture #

Prof. K. Dane Wittrup Page 3 of 5

Cite as: K. Dane Wittrup, course materials for 10.37 Chemical and Biological Reaction Engineering, Spring
2007. MIT OpenCourseWare (http://ocw.mit.edu), Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Downloaded on
[DD Month YYYY].
Semi-batch Reactor

or

Figure 2. Schematics of two types of fed-batch reactors.

1) Why?
To remove poisonous product
Make room in reactor (expansion of product)
If a reactant has a negative order effect on rate, add in small quantities
Selectivity A + B Desired
(control) A + A Byproduct

Start with B, slowly feed A.

slow
feed of
A
Figure 3. A fed-batch
reactor with a slow feed of
B one reactant.

To shift equilibrium, strip off product

To control evolution of heat
In biological cases
Fed-batch - Feed in carbon source slowly to avoid overflow metabolism
- (glucose)
- O2 sparingly soluble, must feed.

2) Balances B

A Balance
Figure 4. Fed-batch
reactor with a feed of B.
A

In Out + Product = Accumulation

d (rA V)
rA V(t ) =
dt

10.37 Chemical and Biological Reaction Engineering, Spring 2007 Lecture #

Prof. K. Dane Wittrup Page 4 of 5

Cite as: K. Dane Wittrup, course materials for 10.37 Chemical and Biological Reaction Engineering, Spring
2007. MIT OpenCourseWare (http://ocw.mit.edu), Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Downloaded on
[DD Month YYYY].
 dC A dV
rA V(t ) = V + CA
dt dt
Liquid V = V0 + v0t
flow
dilution

dC A v
= rA 0 C A
dt V0

B Balance

dCB v v
= rB + 0 CBo 0 CB
dt V0 V0

N
Addition Dilution

10.37 Chemical and Biological Reaction Engineering, Spring 2007 Lecture #

Prof. K. Dane Wittrup Page 5 of 5

Cite as: K. Dane Wittrup, course materials for 10.37 Chemical and Biological Reaction Engineering, Spring
2007. MIT OpenCourseWare (http://ocw.mit.edu), Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Downloaded on
[DD Month YYYY].