CHAPTER 4

INTRODUCTION TO REACTOR DESIGN

Dwi Sulistyanto
21030115120003
General Discussion
In reactor design we want to know what size and type of reactor and method
of operation are best for a given job.
In effect, then, many factors must be accounted for in predicting the
performance of a reactor. How best to treat these factors is the main problem
of reactor design.
Type Of Reactor
Material Balance
The starting point for all design is the material balance expressed for any
reactant (or product).
Energy Balance
In nonisothermal operations energy balances must be used in conjunction
with material balances.
The material balance of Eq.1 and the energy balance of Eq. 2 are tied
together by their third terms because the heat effect is produced by the
reaction itself.

Since Eqs. 1 and 2 are the starting points for all design, we consider their
integration for a variety of situations of increasing complexity in the chapters
to follow.
Symbols and Relationship
Between CA and XA

0 : Total
Pressure
PA0 : Partial
Pressure

For the reaction aA + bB rR, with inerts iI, Figs. 4.4 and 4.5 show the symbols
commonly used to tell what is happening in the batch and flow reactors.
Symbols and Relationship
Between CA and XA
Special Case 1 - Constant Density Batch and Flow Systems
Special Case 2 - Batch and Flow Systems of Gases of Changing Density but
with T and Constant

Special Case 3 - Batch and Flow Systems for Gases in General (varying , T,
and )
Special Case 1 - Constant Density
Batch and Flow Systems
This includes most liquid reactions and also those gas reactions run at
constant temperature and density. Here CA and XA are related as follows :

To relate the changes in B and R to A we have :

Special Case 2 - Batch and Flow Systems of Gases
of Changing Density but with T and Constant
Here the density changes because of the change in number of moles during
reaction. In addition, we require that the volume of a fluid element changes
linearly with conversion, or
Special Case 2 - Batch and Flow Systems of Gases
of Changing Density but with T and Constant
To follow changes in the other components we have
Special Case 3 - Batch and Flow Systems
for Gases in General (varying , T, and )
Reaction :
Pick one reactant as the basis for determining the conversion. We call this the
key reactant.
Let A be the key. Then for ideal gas behavior,
Special Case 3 - Batch and Flow Systems
for Gases in General (varying , T, and )
For high-pressure nonideal gas behavior replace where z is
the compressibility factor. To change to another key reactant, say B, note that

For liquids or isothermal gases with no change pressure and density

and the preceding expressions simplify greatly.

CHAPTER 5
IDEAL REACTOR FOR A SINGLE REACTION
Types of Ideal Reactors
Ideal Batch Reactor
In the batch reactor, or BR, of Fig.5.la the reactants are initially charged into a
container, are well mixed, and are left to react for a certain period. The
resultant mixture is then discharged. This is an unsteady-state operation
where composition changes with time; however, at any instant the
composition throughout the reactor is uniform.
Material Balance for Component A :
Ideal Batch Reactor
Evaluating the terms of Eq. 1, we find :
Ideal Batch Reactor
By replacing these two terms in Eq. 1, we obtain To design
reactor
Rearranging and integrating then gives
time required to achieve a
conversion
XA for either isothermal or
nonisothermal operation
If the density of the fluid remains constant, we obtain

For all reactions in which the volume of reacting mixture changes

proportionately with conversion
Ideal Batch Reactor
Graphical representation of two of these equations :
Space-Time and Space-
Velocity

A space-time of 2 min means that every 2 min one reactor volume of feed at
specified conditions is being treated by the reactor.

A space-velocity of 5 hr-l means that five reactor volumes of feed atspecified

conditions are being fed into the reactor per hour.
Space-Time and Space-
Velocity
The value for space-velocity or space-time depends on the conditions
selected. If they are of the stream entering the reactor, the relation between
s and and the other pertinent variables is
Space-Time and Space-
Velocity
The relation between the space-velocity and space-time for actual feed
conditions (unprimed symbols) and at standard conditions (designated by
primes) is given by