Determination of space time in reactor

The space time is the parameter that links the concept of reaction kinetics and reactor
design. Thus, it is necessary to calculate first the space time based on the given reaction data and
mechanism for the design of reactor to be done.

1. Understand the reaction mechanism.

The relevant data required in the calculation of space time (τ) are the mass percentage of
the reactants in the reactor for each step reaction: triglycerides, diglycerides, monoglycerides,
and methanol. The mass percentage are preferred over the molar concentrations since the
literature values for the rate constant k is in the units of (wt.%-min)-1. However, a simplification
in the mechanism was done by formulating a pseudo-second order reaction with respect to the
amount of glycerides themselves only. Thus, the reaction rate laws are now described as follows.

𝒓𝑻𝑮 = −𝑘1 (%𝑇𝐺)2

𝒓𝑫𝑮 = −𝑘2 (%𝐷𝐺)2

𝒓𝑴𝑮 = −𝑘3 (%𝑀𝐺)2

This shows that the maximum weight percentage of the glycerides, as well as the
stepwise fractional conversion are required to calculate for the space time of the reactor.

2. Obtain the relevant data for the reaction.

As per the calculated masses of the glycerides, the maximum formed glycerides are
tabulated below. The maximum mass percentage of each glycerides are calculated as 100 times
the maximum mass of the specific glyceride formed (TG, DG, or MG) divided by the sum of the
masses of TG, MeOH, and NaOH fed, which is the total mass of reactants in the reactor.
Table 1. Calculation of the amounts of reactants and intermediates present in the reactor.

Species Amount
TGo, fed (kg/day) 87813.2102
DG, formed (kmol/day) 97.1449
DGo, formed (kg/day) 57777.007
MG, formed (kmol/day) 90.9267
MGo, formed (kg/day) 31226.2565
MeOH-NaOH mixture (kg/day) 20831.6596
Total mass of the reactants (kg/day) 108644.8698
%TGo 80.82591825
%DGo 53.17970723
%MGo 28.74159042

Table 2. Rate constants of the transesterification reaction.

Rate constant Value (wt.%-min)-1

K1 0.036
K2 0.07
K3 0.141

3. Calculate the space time of the reaction

The space time of the reaction can be calcu5lated using the formula shown below.

(%𝑇𝐺𝑜 )(𝑥)
𝜏1 =
𝑘1 (%𝑇𝐺𝑜 )2 (1 − 𝑥)2

(%𝐷𝐺𝑜 )(𝑥)
𝜏2 =
𝑘2 (𝐷𝐺𝑜 )2 (1 − 𝑥)2

(%𝑀𝐺𝑜 )(𝑥)
𝜏3 =
𝑘3 (%𝑀𝐺𝑜 )2 (1 − 𝑥)2
Where x is the stepwise fractional conversion, τ1 is the space time based on the first reaction, τ2
is the space time based on the second reaction, and τ3 is the space time based on the third
reaction. Upon calculation, the results are shown below.

(80.8259)(0.821/3 )
𝜏1 = = 𝟕𝟖. 𝟓𝟎𝟗𝟗 𝒎𝒊𝒏
(0.036)(80.8259)2 (1 − 0.821/3 )2

(53.1797)(0.821/3 )
𝜏2 = = 61.3669 𝑚𝑖𝑛
(0.07)(53.1797)2 (1 − 0.821/3 )2

(28.7416)(0.821/3 )
𝜏3 = = 56.3700 𝑚𝑖𝑛
(0.141)(28.7416)2 (1 − 0.821/3 )2

In the results shown above, it can be inferred that the appropriate space time to be used for
design is τ1 since it is the greatest of the three calculated space times. This is preferred because
with this space time, all the reactions are given sufficient time to allow a conversion equal to
0.821/3.