Donna Mae L.

Daniot BS ChE 5
Tutorial 4:
Brief Discussion:
The first part of the tutorial deals with an isothermal CSTR reactor with two input
changes. The reaction occurring inside the reactor is described by the following rate
equation: -rA=kCA0.5. The reactor was assumed to be isothermal and well-mixed. It
was also assumed that the density of the reactor content is constant as well as the
reactor volume. The linearized model relating the change in C A0 with the reactor
concentration CA and the change in F with respect to the reactor concentration was
derived and it was found out to be the same as what was derived in the previous
tutorial. The corresponding transfer functions for the two linear models derived were
then determined. Block diagram relating both C A0 and F to CA was also drawn. Two
input changes are applied to the CSTR and without solving the equation, the
behaviour of CA as a function of t was sketched.
The second part of the tutorial focuses on the usefulness of the transfer functions
that was just derived. Based on the transfer function, it was known whether a causal
relationship exist in the system. The order of the system as well as its stability can
also be identified.
The last part of the tutorial is about selecting simple processes that has been
studied and modelled. They are connected in series. The overall input-output model
was derived based on the individual models. The gain, stability, and damping of the
processes were also determined. And lastly, the response of the output variable to a
step in the input variable was sketched.

Technical Generalization:
Transfer function is an algebraic expression for the dynamic relation between a
selected input and output of the process model. It is defined so as to be
independent of the initial conditions and of the particular choice of forcing function.
If the transfer function of the process is written in standard form, the fundamental
dynamic properties of the process itself become apparent. Also, transfer function
can be derived only for a linear differential equation model because Laplace
transforms can be applied only to linear equations.

Rating:
1. 5
2. 4

3. 6
4. 6