Types of Reactors:
A chemical reactor is a process equipment where in chemicals are fed in order
to make them chemically react with each other for the purpose of making a
desired product. Chemical reactors are designed in such a way to increase the
net present value for a given reaction and it is done by ensuring highest
efficiency to output the desired product.
Types of Reactors
1.Batch Reactor
2.Continuous Stirred Tank Reactor (C.S.T.R)
3.Plug Flow Reactor (P.F.R)
1. Batch Reactor
A batch reactor is a closed vessel in which reactions happen and it is a non-
continuous type of reactor. The reactants are fed in to the reactor all at once
initially. The vessel contains an agitator. The purpose of the agitator is to mix
the reactants thoroughly so that the contact makes them react together
efficiently and produce products.
1.1 Characteristics of Batch Reactor
1. Each batch is a closed system.
2. The total mass of each batch is fixed.
3. The volume or density of each batch may vary (as reaction proceeds).
4. The energy of each batch may vary (as reaction proceeds)
5. The reaction (residence) time t for all elements of fluid is the same.
6. The operation of the reactor is inherently unsteady-state; for example, batch
composition changes with respect to time.
7.It is assumed that, at any time, the batch is uniform (e.g., in composition,
temperature, etc.), because of efficient stirring.
1.2 Performance equation of Batch Reactor
In a batch reactor, since the composition is uniform throughout at any instant of
time, we may make the accounting about the whole reactor. Noting that no fluid
enters or leaves the reaction mixture during reaction.
2. Continuous Stirred Tank Reactor (C.S.T.R)
A continuous stirred tank reactor (C.S.T.R) is also often called a mixed flow
reactor (M.F.R). In this reactor also the reaction occurs in a closed tank. The
tank also has agitator in order to mix the reactants thoroughly. It is different
from batch reactor in the sense that the name itself indicates it is continuous
type of equipment.
The reactants enter the reactor at a certain mass flow rate, the react inside the
vessel for sometime dictated by the space time of the reactor and then they form
products. The products flow out of the reactor at the same mass flow rate. One
space time is the time required to process one reactor volume.
The C.S.T.R is steady sate equipment. It means the extent of conversion does
not depend on the time. The agitator makes the concentration uniform
throughout the reactor. It means the extent of conversion does not depend on the
location also. The extent of conversion depends on the volume of the reactor.
2.1 Characteristics of CSTR:
1. The flow through the vessel(s), both input and output streams, is continuous
but not necessarily at a constant rate.
2. The system mass inside each vessel is not necessarily fixed.
3. The fluid inside each vessel is perfectly mixed (back-mix flow, BMF), and
hence its properties are uniform at any time, because of efficient stirring.
4. The density of the flowing system is not necessarily constant; that is, the
density of the output stream may differ from that of the input stream.
5. The system may operate at steady-state or at unsteady-state.
6. A heat exchanger may be provided in each vessel to control temperature
2.2 Performance equation of CSTR
The fluid inside the vessel is uniformly mixed (and hence
elements of fluid are uniformly distributed), all fluid elements
have equal probability of leaving the vessel in the output stream
at any time. Therefore, the output stream has the same properties
as the fluid inside the vessel. If there is a step-change across the
inlet in any property of the system that changes from inlet to
outlet.
Material input = output + disappearance by reaction +
accumulation
3. Plug Flow Reactor (P.F.R)
A plug flow reactor (P.F.R) is also sometime called a continuous tubular reactor
(C.T.R). In an idealised model, the profile of the reaction mixture can be
considered to be made up of a number of plugs and each plug having a uniform
concentration.
3.1 The characteristics of a PFR
1. The flow through the vessel, both input and output streams, is continuous, but
not necessarily at constant rate; the flow in the vessel is PF.
2. The system mass inside the vessel is not necessarily fixed.
3. There is no axial mixing of fluid inside the vessel (i.e., in the direction of
flow).
4. There is complete radial mixing of fluid inside the vessel (i.e., in the plane
perpendicular to the direction of flow); thus, the properties of the fluid,
including its velocity, are uniform in this plane.
5. The density of the flowing system may vary in the direction of flow.
6. The system may operate at steady-state or at unsteady-state.
7. There may be heat transfer through the walls of the vessel between the system
and the surroundings.
MATERIAL BALANCE:
In a plug flow reactor the composition of the fluid varies from point to point
along a flow path; consequently, the material balance for a reaction component
must be made for a differential element of volume dV. Thus for reactant A, the
balance equation becomes
input = output + disappearance by reaction + accumulation
since accumulation is 0.
SO,PERFORMANCE EQUATION OF PFR IS GIVEN BY:
