ABSTRACT

In this experiment, a continuous stirred tank reactor ( CSTR ) in series are used to
determine the concentration response to a step change and pulse input and also to determine the
effect of residence time on the response curve.

Firstly the deionised water are filled in the both two tanks with the sodium chloride are
being diluted in the tank one. Than the deionised water from the tank two are flow through to fill
up the three reactors. The flow rates of the deionised water were set up to 150 mL/min to prevent
the overflow of the deionised water in the reactors. After 10 minutes the initial readings of the
conductivity were taken after the reading are stable. After that, the diluted sodium chloride was
flow through the tank after the valve was set up to position 2. The readings of the conductivity
are taken for every 3 minutes by the programme set up in the computer. The readings were
recorded until the conductivity was closed to each other for every reactor. The graph of the
conductivity versus time was plotted. From the graph we can determine the effect of the step
change and pulse input to the concentration.

But during the experiment, there were not enough time to run experiment B to determine
the concentration response to the pulse input. Therefore only experiment A was conducted.
INTRODUCTION

In the majority of industrial chemical process, a reactor is the key item of equipment in which
raw materials undergo a chemical change to form desired product. The design and operation of
chemical reactors is thus crucial to the whole success of the industrial operation.

Reactors can widely form, depending on the nature of the feed materials and the products.
Understanding non-steady behavior of process equipment is necessary for design and operation
of automatic control systems. One particular type of process equipment is the continuous stirred
tank reactor. In this reactor, it is important to determine the system response to a change in
concentration. This response of concentration versus time is an indication of the ideality of the
system.

The Armfield Stirred Tank Reactors in Series unit is designed to follow the dynamics of the
perfectly mixed multi-stage process. Dynamic behaviour can be studied as can multi-stage
chemical reaction. Bench mounted and self-contained, the unit requires only to be connected to a
single phase electrical supply for operation. A self-contained bench mounted small scale unit
fitted with three continuous stirred reactors in series which are fed from two 5 litre tanks. Each
reactor is fitted with a conductivity probe.

There are three reactor vessels connected in series, each containing a propellor agitator driven by
a variable speed electric motor. Two reagent vessels and two variable speed feed pumps feed
reagents into the first reactor in line. For certain experiments the feed can be connected to the
third reactor and a dead-time coil, also positioned on the vacuum formed plinth. Each reactor and
the exit port of the dead-time coil are fitted with accurate conductivity probes for monitoring the
process.

Conductivity is displayed on a digital meter on the console through a selector switch and all four
probes can be connected to the optional Armfield data logging accessory CEX-304IFD. A dead-
time residence coil can also be attached to the exit of the last reactor in the series.
AIMS / OBJECTIVES

1. To determine the concentration response to a step change.

2. To determine the concentration response to a pulse input.

THEORY

General Mole Balance Equation

Assumptions

1) Steady state therefore

2) Well mixed therefore rA is the same throughout the reactor

Rearranging the generation

 In terms of conversion

Reactors in Series

Given -rA as a function of conversion, , -rA = f(X), one can also design any sequence of reactors
in series provided there are no side streams by defining the overall conversion at any point.

Mole Balance on Reactor 1

Mole Balance on Reactor 2

Given -rA = f(X) the Levenspiel Plot can be used to find the reactor volume

Tracer Analysis on the Transient Behaviors of Continuous Stirred-Tank in Series.

Unlike the above, the tracer analysis will help to understand the transient behaviors of the
continuous stirred tank reactor in series by having a step input or pulse of tracer component such
as salts. The conductivity measurement will indicate the progression of the tracer throughout the
stirred tank in series.
 CO

C1 C2

C3

Figure 5
Effect of Step Change In Input Concentration to the Concentration of Solute In Stirred Tank
Reactors In Series

When a step change of solute concentration is introduced at the feed of tank 1, the tank in series
will experience a transient behaviour as of Figure 8 below. The response will be dependent on
the residence time of each reactor in series.

Concentration Concentration

Reactor 1

Reacto 2

Reactor 3

Time Time
Figure 7a: Step change Figure 7b: Transient response of
input. tank in series to the step input.
Effect of Pulse in Input Concentration to the Concentration of solute in Stirred Tank in Series

When a pulse input of solute concentration is introduced at the feed of tank 1, the transient
behaviour will be different than the step change input due to the diminishing concentration from
the input after pulsing.

Concentration Concentration

Reactor 1

Reactor 2

Reactor 3

Time Time

Figure 8a: Pulse Input Figure 8b: Transient response of

tank in series to the pulse input
PROCEDURE

Experiment 1: The Effect of Step Change Input

In this experiment a step-change input would be introduced and the progression of the tracer will
be monitored via the conductivity measurements in all the three reactors.

1. Tank 1 and tank 2 was filled up with 20 L feeds deionizer water.

2. 300g of Sodium Chloride was dissolved in tank 1until the salts dissolve entirely and the
solution is homogenous.
3. Three way valve (V3) was set to position 2 so that deionizer water from tank 2 will flow
into reactor 1.
4. Pump 2 was switched on to fill up all three reactors with deionizer water.
5. The flow rate (Fl1) was set to 150 ml/min by adjusting the needles valve (V4). Do not use
too high flow rate to avoid the over flow and make sure no air bubbles trapped in the
piping. The stirrers 1, 2 and 3 were switched on.
6. The deionizer water was continued pumped for about 10 minute until the conductivity
readings for all three reactors were stable at low values.
7. The values of conductivity were recorded at t0.
8. The pump 2 was switched off after 5 minutes. The valve (V3) was switched to position 1
and the pump 1 was switched on. The timer was started.
9. The conductivity values for each reactor were recorded every three minutes.
10. Record the conductivity values were continued until reading for reactor 3 closed to
reactor 1.
11. Pump 2 was switched off and the valve (V4) was closed.
12. All liquids in reactors were drained by opening valves V5 and V6.
APPARATUS

1. Distillation water
2. Sodium Chloride
3. Continuous reactor in series
4. Stirrer system
5. Feed tanks
6. Waste tank
7. Dead time coil
8. Computerize system
9. Stop watch