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PFR under steady state conditions will yield an ordinary differential equation, ODE (may or may
not be linear), and in unsteady state conditions will yield a PDE, first order w.r.t. time and first
F
order w.r.t. volume. Note that the concentration can be written as C A = A In gas phase, we can
Q
further write PT Q = FT RT for the total and PAQ = FA RT for a species A. Q and T correspond to
the entire mixture and not to the individual species.
FAin FA
. The idea of conversion
FAin
may not apply if we have multiple reactions. It also doesnt apply in case of continuous reactors
under unsteady state conditions
CSTR
Assume it is well mixed, uniform concentration and it spends, on the average, minutes in the
reactor. This is given by V/Q. This is also called as mean residence time.
The outlet concentration is the same as the concentration in the reactor. The mass balance
(design equation) is
FAin + ( rA ) V = FAout and likewise Fi in + ( ri ) V = Fi out
out
out
CSTR under steady state conditions will result in an algebraic equation (might be linear or
nonlinear). Unsteady state equation is an ODE , first order w.r.t. to time (may or may not be a
linear equation).
1. (a)
(b) 50 kV = 40
V = 10
= 200
0.05
V = 200 lit. Both CSTR and PFR need the same volume for the zero order reaction
F (1 x )
F
2. (a) When we have constant volumetric flow rate C A = A = Ain
= C Ain (1 x )
Q
Q
dFA
dx
= FAin
= rA = kC A = kC Ain (1 x )
dV
dV
dx
k
1
0.1
= k C Ain
dV =
dV =
dV
1 x
FAin
Qin
100
V = 1000 ln ( 0.8 ) = 223.14
10 1000
=
= 250
0.04
4
1
1
=
1 = 0.25 = 103V
1 x 0
0.8
Volume = 250 lit
(b) Second order reaction , CSTR
FAin + ( rA ) out V = FAout
50 kC A2V = 40
50 0.2 0.42 V = 40
V=
10
= 312.5
0.2 0.42
Additional notes:If the reaction order is negative, then CSTR is better. All these
conclusions are valid for simple reactions, isothermal conditions.
Usually liquid phase reaction is conducted in CSTR and gas phase in PFR. There are no
moving parts in PFR. It is harder to maintain temperature in PFR.