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CHAPTER 4
ISOTHERMAL REACTOR DESIGN
 4.1 Overview
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 Objective: This chapter focuses attention on reactors operated isothermally

(T = constant) for Batch, CSTR and PFR

 Heat is applied to or removed from the system to maintain the temperature

in the reactor

Heat
 4.1 Overview
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 Batch Operation Defined in Chapter 1

Where V = V0 Second order reaction

First order reaction

 Example 4.1
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The following elementary gas phase reaction A + B  C is carried out in a constant

volume batch reactor. If CA0 = CB0 = 0.2 mol/dm3 and k = 1 dm3/mol.s. Determine the
reaction time, t, necessary to achieve 90% conversion.
 Example 4.1
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The following elementary gas phase reaction A + B  C is carried out in a constant

volume batch reactor. If CA0 = CB0 = 0.2 mol/dm3 and k = 1 dm3/mol.s. Determine the
reaction time, t, necessary to achieve 90% conversion.

Solution
1 0. 9 dx
Mole balance : t
kCA0 
0 (1  X ) 2
0.9
Rate law: 1  X 
-rA = kCACB   
kCA0  1  X  0
Stoichiometry:  45s
 b  1
CB  C A0  B  X   C A0 1  X 
 a 

Combine:
 rA  kCA2 0 1  X 
2
 Useful Integrals in Reactor Design
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4.2 Design of CSTR Based on Conversion
 4.2 Design of CSTR Based on Conversion
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FA0 X
 Design equation is V
 rA exit
which gives the volume V necessary to achieve a conversion of X
 When the volumetric flow rate does not change with reaction (v=v0)
v0C A0 X
V
 rA V C A0 X
The space or residence time to achieve a conversion X is   
v0  rA

For first order irreversible reaction:  rA  kCA Damkohler number

C A0  C A
 Da  k
1st order reaction
kCA k
X 2nd order reaction
C A0 1  k Da  kCA0
CA 
1  k
This is a relationship between Da – Dimensionless, gives quick
C A  C A0 1  X  the space time, t and estimation of degree of conversion
conversion X for liquid phase, in flow reactor.
irreversible and first order Da < 0.1 => X < 10%
reaction. Da> 10 => X > 0.9
 4.2 Design of CSTR Based on Conversion
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 Two CSTRs with first order in series

C A0
C A1 
1  k

F  FA2 v0 (C A1  C A2 ) If reactors are equal size  1   2 

V2  A1 
 rA2  rA2 and operate at the same temperature k1  k2 
 rA2  kCA2 C A0
C A2 
C A1  C A 2 1  k 2
2 
k 2C A 2
C A1 C A0
C A2  C A2 
1   2k2 (1   2 k2 )(1   1k1 )
 4.2 Design of CSTR Based on Conversion
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 For n CSTRs in series

If reactors are equal size 1   2   3  ...   n 
and operate at the same temperature k1  k2  k3  ...  kn 
C A0 C A0
then C An  
1  k n 1  Dan

The rate of disappearance of A in the nth In terms of conversion,

reactor is
C A0  C A
C A0 C A0 X
 rAn  kCAn  k k C A0
1  k n
1  Dan CA
X  1
C A0
1 1
X  1  1 
1  k n 1  Dan
Economics
 The rate of disappearance of A in the nth reactor is
 Example 4.5 (solve in class)
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The following liquid phase reaction takes place in a CSTR. Pure A is fed to the reactor
under the following condition
FA0 = 10 mol/min, CA0 = 2 mol/dm3, V = 500 dm3 and k = 0.1 min-1
Rate law:  r  kC A
A A

What is the conversion in the CSTR? X?

A+B
Solution
F X kCA0V
V  A0 X
 rA exit FA0  kCA0V
F X (0.1 / min)( 2mol / dm3 )(500dm3 )
V  A0 X
kCA 10mol / min  (0.1 / min)( 2mol / dm3 )(500dm3 )
FA0 X X  0.91
V
kCA0 (1  X )
 Example 4.6 (solve in class)
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The following irreversible liquid phase reaction is carried out isothermally in a CSTR: A  B
Condition:
FT0 = 40 mol/min, CA0 = 2 mol/dm3, V = 500 dm3, k (400K) = 0.1 min-1
The feed is 75 mol% A and 25 mol% inerts
The reaction is first order rate law:  rA  kCA
The activation energy (E) is 10 kcal/mol and the Arrhenius constant A = 3x104 /min

What is the conversion in the CSTR? A

X?

A+B
 Example 4.6 (solve in class)
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Solution

FA0 X  rA  kCA
V
 rA exit
FA0  y A0 FT 0
FA0  0.75 x 40  30mol / min
FA0 X
V
kCA
FA0 X
V
kCA0 (1  X )
kCA0V
X
FA0  kCA0V
(0.1 / min)( 2mol / dm 3 )(500dm 3 )
X
30mol / min  (0.1 / min)( 2mol / dm 3 )(500dm 3 )
X  0.769
 4.2 Design of CSTR Based on Conversion
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 For second order reaction

FA0 X FA0 X
V V
 rA exit kCA2

FA0 X  v0 (C A0  C A ) For a constant density v=v0

V C A0  C A C A0 X
  
kCA2 k C A0 (1  x)
2
v0
X

kCA0 (1  X ) 2

(1  2kCA0 )  1  2kCA0 2  (2kCA0 ) 2

X 
2kCA0

(1  2kCA0 )  1  4kCA0  X 
(1  2 Da)  1  4 Da
X  2 Da
2kCA0
 Example 4.7
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The elementary liquid phase reaction 2A  B is carried out isothermally in a CSTR.

Pure A enters at a volumetric flow rate of 25 dm3/s and at concentration of 0.2
mol/dm3. What CSTR volume is necessary to achieve 90% conversion and what is the
space time? k = 10 dm3/mol.s

Solution
V
FA0 X Evaluate : At X  0.9
Mole balance:  rA (25dm3 / s )(0.9)
Rate law:  rA  kC 2
V
A
(10dm3 / mol.s)(0.2mol / dm3 )(1  0.9) 2
Stoichiometry: liquid phase (v = v0),
V  1125dm3
CA = CA0(1-X)
Combine: v0C A0 X V
V Space time,  
kCA2 v0
v0C A0 X 1125dm 3
V 
kCA2 0 (1  X ) 2 25dm 3 / s
  45s
 CSTR in Parallel
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 X 
The design equation for CSTR of equal volume is V i FA0i  i 
FA0i   rAi 
Since the reactors are of equal size, operated at
the same temperature and same feed rate, and
FA0 feed is distributed equally among each reactor,
the conversion must be the same for each reactor:
X1  X 2      X n  X
the rate of reaction in each reactor is equal:
 rA1  rA2      rAn  rA
Vi  VT / n
FA0i  FA0 / n

The result shows that the conversion achieved F A0X i F A0X

in any one of the reactors in parallel is identical V 
 rAi  rA
Example 4-8
Example 4-8
 Hints:
 Step1.) Design equation
 Step 2.) Rate law
 Step 3.) Stoichiometry
 Step 4.) Combining
 Step 5.) Evaluate
CSTR in Parallel
CSTR in Series