Stream numbers are indicated at the top

0 1 2 f
Volume = V
Ft0 Ft1 Ft2 Ftf
FA0 FA1 FA2 FAf
CA0 CA1 CA2 CAf
v1 3 v2 vf
v0
Ft3
FA3
CA3
v3

For incremental conversion in a PFR, the mole balance reduces to:

X A2
V dX A
FA0′
= ∫
X A1
(−rA )

Where, FA0′ refers to unconverted feed

Consider the reaction

aA + bB → cC + dD
c d b
∂ = ( + −1− )
a a a

v3 v3 ⋅ C A3 FA3
R= = =
v f v f ⋅ C Af FAf

FAf = FA0 (1 − X 2 )
Product Stream:
Ftf = Ft 0 + ∂ ( FA0 − FAf )
 FA1 = FA0 + RFAf = FA0 [1 + R(1 − X 2 )]
Ft1 = Ft 0 + RFtf
v1 = v0 + Rv f
FA1 FA0 + RFAf
Inlet Stream: C A1 = =
v1 v0 + Rv f
If v0 = v f ,
C A0 + RC A 2
C A1 =
1+ R

C A 2 = C Af
Reactor Outlet Stream: FA 2 = ( R + 1) FAf = FA0 ( R + 1)(1 − X 2 )

FA3 = RFAf
Recycle Stream:

In general, inside the reactor: Ft = Ft1 + ∂ ( FA1 − FA ) based on the definition of ∂

In general, for any system with volume change

V = V0 (1 + ε A X A )
N A = N A0 (1 − X A )
N A N A0 (1 − X A ) C A0 (1 − X A )
CA = = =
V V0 (1 + ε A X A ) (1 + ε A X A )
CA C
1− 1 − A1
C A0 C A0
XA = ⇒ X A1 =
CA C
1+ ε A ( ) 1 + ε A ( A1 )
C A0 C A0
FA1 FA0 + FA3 FA0 + RFA0 (1 − X Af ) 1 + R(1 − X Af )
C A1 = = = = C A0 ( )
v1 v0 + Rv f v0 + Rv0 (1 + ε A X Af ) 1 + R(1 + ε A X Af )
C A1 ⎛ 1 + R(1 − X Af ) ⎞
=⎜ ⎟ Use this to find X A1
C A0 ⎜⎝ 1 + R(1 + ε A X Af ) ⎟⎠
⎛ R ⎞
X A1 = ⎜ ⎟ X Af
⎝ R +1⎠

General design equation for the recycle reactor:

In terms of unconverted feed FA0′ = (1 + R) FA0

X Af
V dX A
FA0
= (1 + R)
⎛
∫
R ⎞ (− rA )
⎜ ⎟ X Af
⎝ R +1 ⎠

Please also look at homework solutions for relationships at constant volume.