Chapter 5

Ideal Reactors for a Single

Reaction

5.2 steady-state
mixed flow reactor

5.2 steady-state mixed flow reactor

For the mixed flow reactor:

=0
Input = output

disappearance by reaction

accumulation

the composition is uniform throughout

Element of volume

The whole reactor

Molar feed rate

of component A

Introducing these three terms into Eq.(10), we obtain

rearrangement

xAi

If the feed on which

conversion is based
XAi

If the products are contained in the feed:

(12)

The above expressions have the simple relation

between the four terms:

XA, -rA, V, FA0

Knowing any three allows the forth to be found directly

In design of reactor
The size of reactor
needed for a given duty

The extent of conversion

in a reactor of given size

In kinetic studies
The reaction rate may
be easily obtained
without integration
Make its use very
attractive in kinetic studies

Performance Equations
Batch reactor

t N A0

XA

dX A
( rA )V

Integrating
For general case

Mixed flow reactor

(11)

Algebraic
For general case

For the case of constant-density

Change conversion
to concentration

Graphical representation
General case

Constant-density system only

First-order reaction, constant density system

CA=CA0(1-XA)

(14)

General case, linear expansion

N A N A0 (1 X A )
VC A V0C A0 (1 X A )

First-order reaction

Second-order reaction

rA kCA2

and

A 0

The performance equation becomes

or

C A0 C A
k
2
CA
1 1 4kC A0
CA
2 k

(*)

5.3 steady-state plug flow reactor

The composition of the fluid varies

from point to point along a flow path

The material balance for a differential

element of volume dV
=0
Input = output

disappearance by reaction

accumulation

For the differential element of volume

cylinder with the thickness of dl

(16)

(16)
This is a differential equation, for the reactor as a
whole the expression must be integrated.
rA is dependent on the concentration or conversion
of materials. Grouping the terms accordingly, we
obtain

Thus

Batch reactor

t N A0

XA

dX A
( rA )V

(3)

If the feed on which conversion is based, or,

there are products in the feed

XAi: A conversion in the feed (inlet)

XAf: A conversion in the outlet

For the special case of constant-density system

and

The performance equation can be expressed in

terms of concentration

Eqs. 17 to 19 can be written either in terms of

concentrations or conversions.
For systems of changing density, it is more
convenient to use conversions.
Whatever its form, the performance equations
interrelate:
Rate of reaction
Extent of reaction
Reactor volume
Feed rate

If any one of
these quantities
is unknown it
can be found
from the others

Graphical representation

XA

(1 A ) A (1 X A )
dX A
1 X A

(21)

Plug flow reactor

Mixed flow reactor

rA varies with position

rA is constant in reactor

Comparing Plug flow reactor with batch reactor

Plug flow reactor

identical
Batch reactor

t N A0

XA

X A dX
dX A
A
C A0
0
(rA )V
rA

By comparing the performance expressions of

batch reactor with those of plug flow reactor:

(1) For system of constant density

(constant-volume batch or constantdensity plug flow) the performance
equations are identical, for plug
flow is equivalent to t for the batch
reactor, and equation can be used
interchangeably.

(2) For systems of changing density there

is no direct correspondence between
the batch and the plug flow equations
and the correct equation must be used
for each particular situation. In this
case the performance equations cannot
be used interchangeably.

Example 5.3 Mixed flow reactor performance

The elementary liquid-phase reaction

With rate equation

AB

SOLUTION
The concentration of components in the
mixed feed stream is

These data show that B is the limiting component,

so for 75% conversion of B and =0,
For no density change, the performance
equation of Eq.13 gives

desired

The composition in the reactor and in the exit stream is

EXAMPLE 5.5
The homogeneous gas decomposition of phosphine

proceeds at 649 with the first-order rate

What size of plug flow reactor operating at 649 and

460kPa can produce
80% conversion of a
feed consisting of 40
mol of pure
phosphine per hour?

Let A=PH3, R=P4, S=H2. Then the reaction be comes

Homogenous gas reaction

Changing density

First-order reaction

The distinction between space time and residence time

for flow reactor

Holding time

PROBLEMS 5.1, 5.4, 5.5, 5.13