Expt.

MT 401

Residence Time Distribution

Objective
To determine the residence time distribution in the given configuration for pulse and step inputs.

Concept
The main objective of this experiment is to introduce the concept and measurement of residence time distri-
bution and to emphasize its use in the reactor design. The three basic reactor models viz., batch, back mix
(CSTR) and PFR are based on ideal concepts. We often apply these models to determine the conversion and
other parameters. However, owing to non-ideality prevalent in the ‘real’ systems, the conversion obtained
may not be the true conversion. How do we account for this non-ideality? The residence time distribution
(RTD) or more precisely the E(t) function may be looked upon as a correction factor to account for the
non-ideality. The causes of non-ideality could be channeling and back mixing in the case of a PFR and dead
zones and non-uniform mixing in the case of a CSTR.

Theory
Imagine that 10 atoms are injected in a PFR in a short time. Since, there is no axial mixing in the PFR,
ideally all these atoms should come out of the reactor at the same time. However, this is not the case with
the real system. Different atoms take different time to come out of the reactor. The time the atoms have
spent in the reactor is called the residence time and the distribution of the various atoms coming out the
reactor with respect to time is called the residence time distribution. RTD can be determined experimentally
by injecting an inert chemical, molecule, or atom, called tracer, into the reactor at some time t=0 and then
measuring the tracer concentration ‘C’ in the exit stream as a function of time. Pulse and step inputs are the
two commonly used methods of injection.

Pulse Input

In a pulse input, an amount of tracer No is suddenly injected in one shot into the feed stream entering the
reactor in as short time as possible. The outlet concentration is then measured as a function of time. The
effluent concentration-time curve is referred to as the C curve in the RTD analysis. If we select an increment
of time ∆t sufficiently small that the concentration of tracer, C(t), exiting between time t and t + ∆t is
essentially constant, then the amount of tracer material, ∆N, leaving the reactor between time t and t + ∆t is
∆N = C(t)v∆t (1)

MT 401-1
where, v is the effluent volumetric flow rate. In other words, ∆N is the amount of material that has spent an
amount of time between t and t + ∆t in the reactor. If we now divide by the total amount of material that was
injected into the reactor, N0 , we obtain
∆N vC(t)
= ∆t (2)
N0 N0
which, represents the fraction of the material that has a residence time in the reactor between time t and
t + ∆t.
For a pulse injection we define
vC(t)
E(t) = (3)
N0
so that
∆N
= E(t)∆T (4)
N0
This quantity E(t) is called the residence time distribution function. It describes in a quantitative manner
how much time different fluid elements have spent in the reactor.
Re-writing the above equations in the differential form,

dN = vC(t)dt (5)

and integrating, we obtain Z ∞

N0 = vC(t)dt (6)
0

The volumetric flow rate v is constant, and so we can define E(t) as:
C(t)
E(t) = R ∞ (7)
0
C(t)dt

The integral in the denominator is the area under the C curve.

Step Input

Consider a constant rate of tracer addition to a feed that is initiated at time t = 0. Before this time no tracer
was added to the feed. Thus, we have

C0 (t) = 0 t<0
C0 (t) = C0 t≥0 (8)

The concentration of the tracer in the feed to the reactor is kept at this level until the concentration in the
effluent is indistinguishable from that in the feed; the test may then be discontinued.
The output concentration from a vessel is related to the input concentration by the convolution integral:
Z t
Cout (t) = Cin (t − t0 )E(t0 )dt0 (9)
0

Because the inlet concentration is a constant with time, C0 , we can take it outside the integral sign. Thus,
Z t
Cout (t) = C0 E(t0 )dt0 (10)
0

MT 401-2
Dividing by C0 yields $ % Z t
Cout
= E(t0 )dt0 = F(t) (11)
C0 step 0

Thus, the normalized concentration vs. time profile gives the F curve. The relation between E(t) and F(t)
is:
dF(t)
= E(t) (12)
dt
For a laminar flow reactor, the velocity profile is parabolic with the fluid in the center of the tube spending
the shortest time. By using a similar analysis as shown above, we obtain the complete RTD function for a
laminar flow reactor as:

E(t) = 0 t < τ/2

E(t) = τ /2t
2 3
t ≥ τ/2 (13)

We can also determine the dispersion number in the following manner:

R∞
0
tCdt P tiCi ∆ti
Tm = R ∞ = P (14)
Cdt Ci ∆ti
0

The variance is defined as:

t Ci ∆ti
P 2
σ = Pi
2 2
− tm (15)
Ci ∆ti

σ2
σ2θ = 2
(16)
tm
The Dispersion number is defined as D/uL and is given by:

σ2 D  D 2  
σ2θ = = 2 − 2 1 − exp u/L/D
(17)
t¯2 uL uL

Apparatus

The set-up consists of three CSTRs and 2 PFRs (LFRs) which can be connected in series of parallel. Two
reservoirs are provided for the continuous phase (water) and tracer (dilute NaOH solution) respectively.
Peristaltic pumps are used to pump the water and tracer to the reactor/s. The dispensing mode available with
the pumps can be used to give a pulse input. The concentrations at the exit of the reactor/s is/are monitored
by conductivity probes.

Procedure

1. Check whether both the reservoirs (water and tracer) are full.

2. Measure the volume of the reactors in the given configuration.

3. Adjust the flowrates of both the fluids so that they are in the given range of residence time.

4. Start the flow of water through the reactors and allow the system to attain steady state (w.r.t. flowrate).

5. Prepare about 100 ml of 5 M NaOH solution for pulse input study.

MT 401-3
 Figure MT 401.0.1: Experimental setup

6. Purge the pump tubing (to be used for dispensing) with the prepared solution.

7. Activate the dispensing mode on the pump and set the quantity to dispensed. Set the flow at the
maximum value so that the set quantity will be dispensed at the maximum flowrate, thus, acting as a
pulse input.

8. At a particular time instant press the ‘start’ button on the pump and simultaneously start the ‘stop
watch’. Prior to dispensing, ensure that the valve on the feed line is open.

9. Note down the conductivity w.r.t. time at every half residence time intervals. Initially (till two res-
idence times) note down the values at every 10 sec time interval. The time span can be eventually
increased when the change in conductivity is not rapid.

10. Continue till the conductivity values attain or approach the initial values.

11. For step input study, start the flow of water through the reactors and allow steady state to be attained.

12. Purge the tracer pump tubing with the solution from the reservoir. Ensure that the flowrate is the same
as that adjusted at the start.

13. At a particular time instant, stop the flow of water and simultaneously start the flow of tracer.

14. Note down the conductivity values w.r.t. time at every 10 sec time interval initially followed by 30
sec later when the change in the conductivity values is not rapid.

15. Continue till the conductivity values become steady.

MT 401-4
Calculations
Pulse Input

1. Plot concentration (conductivity) C vs. t

2. Calculate E(t) using equation 7

3. Calculate E theo (t)

τ2
Etheo (t) = (PFR)
2t3
1
Etheo (t) = exp−t/τ (CS T R)
τ

4. Plot Eexp (t) and Etheo (t) vs. t.

5. Calculate the mean residence time (tm ).

6. Calculate variance (σ2 ), σ2θ and D/uL using equations 15-17 [only in the case of LFR]

7. Calculate and plot Eexp (t) and Etheo (t) for given configuration.

Step Input

1. Plot concentration (conductivity) vs. t.

2. Evaluate Ftheo (t) using equation 12.

3. Plot Fexp (t) i.e. C/C0 and Ftheo (t) vs. t.

4. Obtain the equation for the F-plot by curve fitting.

5. Differentiate this with respect to t to obtain Eexp(t) .

6. Plot Eexp (t) vs. t.

7. Evaluate Ftheo (t) for given configuration and plot Ftheo (t) and Fexp (t) vs. t.

Results

Single reactor Configuration

tm

D/uL

Comments

MT 401-5