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Introduction
In chemical engineering, chemical reactors are vessels designed to contain chemical reactions.
The design of a chemical reactor deals with multiple aspects of chemical engineering. Chemical engineers
design reactors to maximize net present value for the given reaction. Designers ensure that the reaction
proceeds with the highest efficiency towards the desired output product, producing the highest yield of
product while requiring the least amount of money to purchase and operate. Normal operating expenses
include energy input, energy removal, raw material costs, labor, etc. Energy changes can come in the form
of heating or cooling, pumping to increase pressure, frictional pressure loss (such as pressure drop across
a 90o elbow or an orifice plate), agitation, etc.
There are three main basic models used to estimate the most important process variables of
different chemical reactors:
In a CSTR, one or more fluid reagents are introduced into a tank reactor equipped with an
impeller while the reactor effluent is removed. The impeller stirs the reagents to ensure proper mixing.
Simply dividing the volume of the tank by the average volumetric flow rate through the tank gives the
residence time, or the average amount of time a discrete quantity of reagent spends inside the tank. Using
chemical kinetics, the reaction's expected percent completion can be calculated. Some important aspects
of the CSTR:
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At steady-state, the flow rate in must equal the mass flow rate out, otherwise the tank will
overflow or go empty (transient state). While the reactor is in a transient state the model
equation must be derived from the differential mass and energy balances.
The reaction proceeds at the reaction rate associated with the final (output) concentration.
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4.1
1. CSTR
2. Beakers
3. Measuring Cylinders
5. Sodium Hydroxide
6. Sodium Acetate
7. Ethyl Acetate
4. Stop Watch
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flowmeters FT1 and FT2. Make sure the flowrates are always maintained the same and check
that no air bubbles are trapped in the piping.
7. Allow both liquids to fill up all three reactors. Switch on stirrers 1, 2 and 3. Set the stirrer speeds
to approximately 200 rpm.
8. Start the stop watch.
9. Start monitoring the conductivity values (CT1, CT2 and CT3) and temperature values (TT1,
TT2 and TT3) every two minutes until they do not change over time (steady state). Stop the stop
watch and record the time and conductivity values. Determine the conversion in each reactors
from the calibration curve.
10. Repeat the experiment (steps 6 to 9) by changing the flowrate to 150mL/min.
4.3. Shutdown
1. After complete the experiment, drain off any liquids from the reactor and make sure that the
reactor and tubing are cleaned properly. Flush the system with de-ionized water until no traces
of salt are detected.
2. Dispose all liquids immediately after each experiment. Do not leave any solution or waste in the
tanks over a long period of time.
3. Wipe off any spillage from the unit immediately.
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6.0
Discussion
1. Plot the calibration curve of conversion vs. conductivity and discuss relationship between these
parameters.
2. Plot a graph of conductivity / conversion vs. time for each flowrate. Discuss a plotted graph and
make a comparison in term of conversion for each flowrate.
3. Give the advantages of CSTR and compare with other types of reactors.
4.
Give several applications of CSTR in chemical process or industries (at least 3 applications).
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