TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Abstract / Summary Introduction Objectives Theory Apparatus Procedures Results and Calculation Discussion Conclusion Recommendation Reference Appendix

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ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION

In the majority of industrial chemical processes, a reactor is the key item of equipment in which raw materials undergo a chemical change to form desired products. The design and operation of chemical reactors is thus crucial to the whole success of the industrial operation. Reactor can take a widely varying form, depending on the nature of the feed materials and products. Understanding non-steady behavior of process equipment is necessary for the design and operation of automatic control systems. One particular type of process equipment is 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 problem. There are three reactor vessels connected in series, each containing a propeller 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 deadtime 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. Demonstration capabilities: 1. Investigation of dynamic behaviour of stirred tank reactors in series 2. Investigation of chemical reaction in a three tank system 3. Influence of flow rate and step input change 4. Investigation of time constant using a dead-time coil

OBJECTIVES

To determine; 1) The effect of step change input of the three reactors. 2) the effect of residence time on the response curve

THEORY

There are a number of practical reasons for using two or more small reactors rather than one large reactor. Temperature control is better in smaller reactors. Sometimes the shape of the curve in the Levenspiel plot dictates that minimizing the reactor volume requires two or more reactors. It is often advantage to mix and match reactors. When CSTRs are placed in series the equation for the first reactor is VCSTR =FAOX1/(-rA) The equation for the second and subsequent CSTRs is modified somewhat VCSTR = FA0 (Xf X1)/ (-rA) The equation for the first reactor can be written as VCSTR = FA0 (X1 X0)/(-rA) Where X0 is most often equal to zero.

Continuous Stirred Tank Reactors (CSTRs)

The characteristics of this type of reactor are it is run at steady state with continuous flow of reactants and products, the feed assumes a uniform composition throughout the reactor and the exit stream has the same composition as in the tank.

There are three kinds of phases present: 1. Liquid phase. 2. Gas-liquid reactions. 3. Solid-liquid reactions. The usage of this kind of reactor are: 1. When agitation is required. 2. Series configurations for different concentration streams.

The advantages are: 1. Continuous operation. 2. Good temperature control. 3. Easily adapts to two phase runs. 4. Good control. 5. Simplicity of construction. 6. Low operating (labor) cost. 7. Easy to clean.

The disadvantages are:

1. Lowest conversion per unit volume

2. By-passing and channeling possible with poor agitation

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. Xi = moles of A reacted up to point i Moles of A fed to first reactor

Mole balance on Reactor 1: ln Out + Generation = 0 FAO - FA1 + r A1 V1 = 0 X = FAO FA1 FAO FA1 = FAO FAO X1 V = FAO X -rA

Mole balance on Reactor 2: ln Out + Generation = 0 FAO - FA2 + r A2 V2 = 0 X = FAO FA2 FAO FA2 = FAO FAO X2 V = FAO (X2 X1) -rA2
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Given -rA = f(X) the Levenspiel Plot can be used to find the reactor volume.

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 behavior as of Figure 8 below. The response will be dependent on the residence time of each reactor in series.

Figure 3.2 : Step change input

Figure 3.3 : transient response of tank in series to the step input.

APPARATUS AND MATERIALS

The apparatus in this experiment are; 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Distillation water Sodium Chloride Continuous reactor in series Stirrer system Feed tanks Waste tank Stop watch Computerize system

Reactors Three reactors made of borosilicate glass, each having approximately 2 liters capacity. Each reactor is fitted with variable speed stirred mounted on the top plate. Temperature and conductivity sensors are provided for each reactor. Flows between vessels are by gravity. Overflow tubes are provided for the 2nd and 3rd reactor. Stirred System Variable speed stirred system with digital display consisting of a motor and a shaft with impellers made of stainless steel. Speed adjustment by means of a speed controller knob on each stirrer. Feed Tanks Two 15-L cylindrical tanks made of stainless steels are provided with the unit. Each tank has a feed pump to transfer the liquid from feed tank to the reactors. Each tank is fitted with a level switch to protect the pumps from dry on. Waste Tank A rectangular 50-L waste tank made of stainless steel is provided at the bottom of the equipment.

PROCEDURES

RESULTS

Reading

t (min)

QT1 (mS/cm)

QT2 (mS/cm)

QT3 (mS/cm)

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

0.0 3.0 6.0 9.0 12.0 15.0 18.0 21.0 24.0 27.0 30.0 33.0 36.0 39.0 42.0 45.0 48.0 51.0 54.0 57.0

0.0409 3.8800 6.0800 8.5900 9.8800 11.5800 12.4000 14.0200 15.4100 16.7200 17.0100 17.8100 17.6900 17.6600 16.5200 18.2300 18.4200 18.4200 18.6400 18.7000

0.0395 0.2426 0.7406 1.8600 2.6300 4.0100 4.9400 7.1600 8.5500 10.7700 12.4800 13.9000 15.0600 15.6400 16.7400 16.9900 17.5700 17.2400 18.6100 17.0600

0.0384 0.0559 0.0659 0.1587 0.2990 0.6778 1.0070 1.6970 2.7400 4.6500 9.8400 8.2400 9.6300 11.2100 12.1700 12.3300 13.9800 15.6100 15.8700 16.5400
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20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33

60.0 63.0 66.0 69.0 72.0 75.0 78.0 81.0 84.0 87.0 90.0 93.0 96.0 99.0

18.5500 18.6200 18.8300 18.9700 18.8800 18.8300 18.9900 19.1000 18.7500 18.9700 18.8900 18.8100 18.8200 18.8200

18.7900 18.7600 17.8300 18.9600 17.9600 19.4200 19.0000 19.4500 19.4600 17.5200 19.3500 19.5400 19.2100 19.3500

16.9400 17.4800 17.6100 17.8300 17.9200 18.0900 18.3600 18.4700 18.6300 18.6700 18.7400 18.4000 18.7500 18.8300

DISCUSSION

REFERENCES 1) Fogler, H.S. (2006). Elements of Chemical Reaction Engineering (4th ed.). New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

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APPENDICES

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