Experiment No.

Question: Model and simulate an isothermal CSTR in which a 1st order liquid-phase reaction
takes place.

𝑘 (𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒)−1
A → B

Estimate the outlet concentration profile of component A for first 50 minutes (with an interval of
1 min). Use Euler’s method for solving the differential equation.

Given that

Initial Flow Rate F0 = 0.01 m3/min,

Volume of Reactor V = 0.1m3,

Feed Concentration (A) CA0 = 0.5 mol/m3,

Rate Constant k = 0.23 min-1

Basis: Total mass balance and component balance

Assumptions:

1. Isothermal system
2. Constant density system
3. Constant hold up

1
 4. First order reaction

Model:

Applying total mass balance around the CSTR, we have

𝑑(𝜌𝑉)
𝐹0 − 𝐹1 = =0
𝑑𝑡

𝐹0 = 𝐹1 = 𝐹

Applying component balance on A

𝑑(𝑉𝐶𝐴 )
𝐹 𝐶𝐴0 − 𝐹 𝐶𝐴 − (−𝑟𝐴 )𝑉 =
𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝐶𝐴
𝐹(𝐶𝐴0 − 𝐶𝐴 ) − 𝑘𝐶𝐴 𝑉 = 𝑉
𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝐶𝐴 𝐹
= (𝐶𝐴0 − 𝐶𝐴 ) − 𝑘𝐶𝐴
𝑑𝑡 𝑉

Where

𝜌 = 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟

CA = concentration of A in the reactor

rA = rate of reaction

F = flow rate

For the given values the above expression reduces to

𝑑𝐶𝐴
= 0.05 − 0.123𝐶𝐴
𝑑𝑡

2
MATLAB CODE:

3
Output: