Results

Time (min)
0
3
6
9
12
15
18
21
24
27
30
33
36
39
42
45
48
51
54
57
60
63
66
69
72
75
78

Stirrer 1 (mS)
0.169
6.840
17.100
22.900
25.800
29.300
30.800
32.200
33.400
34.000
34.500
34.800
35.200
35.200
35.500
35.500
35.500
35.500
35.500
35.500
35.500
35.500
35.500
35.500
35.500
35.500
35.500

Conductivity
Stirrer 2 (mS)
0.168
0.173
5.080
8.650
12.660
16.150
19.290
24.100
26.500
28.400
29.900
31.200
32.100
33.000
33.600
34.100
34.500
34.700
34.900
35.100
35.300
35.300
35.500
35.500
35.500
35.500
35.500

Stirrer 3 (mS)
0.168
0.311
0.994
2.360
4.550
7.080
9.940
12.870
15.550
17.960
22.200
24.300
26.200
27.800
29.200
30.400
31.400
32.300
32.900
33.500
33.900
34.300
34.500
34.900
35.000
35.300
35.500

Conductivity versus Time

40.000

35.000

30.000

25.000
Conductivity Stirrer 1 (mS)
Conductivity

Conductivity Stirrer 2 (mS)

20.000

Conductivity Stirrer 3 (mS)

15.000

10.000

5.000

0.000
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Time (min)

Discussion
The continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) in series experiment is aimed at
determining the effect of step change input of the three reactors and also the effect of
residence time on the response curve. Based on the results obtained, the experiment was
deemed as to be successful as all the objectives set were achieved.
For this experiment, the readings of conductivity were taken every 3 minutes
for each of the 3 different tanks and the data obtained was tabulated. Then a graph of
conductivity versus time the tanks were plotted. It took 28 readings or 78 minutes for all the
tanks to achieve the desired constant conductivity in all of the tanks. The effect of the step
change to the concentration can be observed from the graph. Step change can be defined as a
sudden change in a process variable, and for this experiment manipulated variable is the
input. The reactor feedstock is abruptly switched from one supply to another, causing sudden
changes in feed concentration and flow.
The concentration of the solvent can be obtained from the graph as conductivity is
directly proportional to concentration. Thus, concentration can be calculated using electrical
conductivity measurements and calibration supplied.
As the continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) are connected in series, the effect of the
step change to the concentration for all the 3 reactors are the same. Initially when the step
change of solute concentration was introduced at the feed of tank 1, the tank will experience a
transient behavior as depicted in the result. The concentration in the 3 reactors will increase
in a period of time until it has reached a constant concentration. Considering that every
reactor it has its own concentration, each will reach the constant concentration at different
times. Based on the experiment, reactor 1 has the highest concentration following tank 2 and
3. The concentration is increasing because of the feed rate that been opened in tank 1, which
contains the dissolve chloride.
As for residence time, the residence time obtained from this experiment was _______.
Residence time can be defined as the average amount of time that a particle spends in a
particular system. Residence time begins from the moment that a particle of a particular
substance enters the system and ends the moment that the same particle of that substance
leaves the system.
For better accuracy of the results obtained in this experiment, it is suggested that the
readings be taken simultaneously for all the 3 tanks as time does affect the conductivity.