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PFR vs. CSTR: Size and Selectivity: V R V R
PFR vs. CSTR: Size and Selectivity: V R V R
This lecture covers reactors in series and in parallel, and how the choice of reactor
affects selectivity versus conversion.
Material balance:
CSTR PFR
FAo XA FAo
V= XA V=∫ dX A
−rA 0 −rA
“Levenspiel Plot”
• as X A increases, C A decreases
−rA decreases, for 1st and 2nd order,
FAo F
so Ao increases
− rA 1st or 2nd −rA
order
reaction
Figure 1. General Levenspiel Plot.
XA
FAo FAo
− rA − rA
VCSTR VPFR
XA XA
Figure 2. Levenspiel plots for a CSTR and a PFR for positive order reactions.
So PFR is always a smaller reactor for a given conversion when kinetics are positive
order.
Cite as: K. Dane Wittrup, course materials for 10.37 Chemical and Biological Reaction Engineering, Spring
2007. MIT OpenCourseWare (http://ocw.mit.edu), Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Downloaded on
[DD Month YYYY].
Non-monotonically positive order kinetics arise:
• Autocatalytic reactions (e.g. cell growth)
• Adiabatic or non-isothermal exothermic reactions
• Product inhibited reactions (some enzymes)
Series of Reactors
Example: 2 CSTRs
FAo
v1
x1
FA1
v2
x2
FA2
Figure 3. Schematic of two CSTRs in series.
FAo
V1 = X1
−rA1
2nd reactor: 0
In + Out + Prod = Acc
Cite as: K. Dane Wittrup, course materials for 10.37 Chemical and Biological Reaction Engineering, Spring
2007. MIT OpenCourseWare (http://ocw.mit.edu), Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Downloaded on
[DD Month YYYY].
FA0
FA2 = FA0 − X 2 FA0 → V2 = ( X 2 − X1 )
−rA2
FAo
− rA
V1 Figure 4. Reactor volumes for 2 CSTRs
V2 in series.
X1 X2
X
X
Figure 5. Reactor volumes for multiple CSTRs in series.
Cite as: K. Dane Wittrup, course materials for 10.37 Chemical and Biological Reaction Engineering, Spring
2007. MIT OpenCourseWare (http://ocw.mit.edu), Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Downloaded on
[DD Month YYYY].
FAo FAo
− rA − rA VCSTR
VPFR
VPFR
VCSTR
X XA
Final X
Designed final
conversion
Figure 6. Levenspiel plots comparing CSTR and PFR volumes for changing kinetics.
Left: The CSTR has the smaller volume. Right: The PFR eventually has the smaller
volume.
Choice of PFR vs CSTR depends on conversion. Choose the reactor that has the
smallest volume Æreduce cost.
Reactors:
CSTR
FAo
−rA
VCSTR
VPFR
PFR
X
Final X
Figure 7. To achieve the desired conversion with smaller reactor volumes, use a
combination. In this case, use a CSTR then a PFR. By doing so, the reactor volume is
less than the area underneath the curve.
For competing parallel reactions, selectivity for desired product can dominate the
choice.
Cite as: K. Dane Wittrup, course materials for 10.37 Chemical and Biological Reaction Engineering, Spring
2007. MIT OpenCourseWare (http://ocw.mit.edu), Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Downloaded on
[DD Month YYYY].
rD kd (α1 −α 2 )
Define “selectivity” SD /U = = CA
rU ku
dCD kd C αA1
φ= =
− dC A kd C αA1 + ku C αA 2
All D produced
Overall fractional yield Φ=
All A consumed
ΔC A = C A − C A
0 f
1 C At
For a PFR: Φ=
ΔC A ∫ CA 0
φ dC A
If α1 = α 2
ΦΔC A
C Af C A0
CA
Figure 8. Fractional yield versus concentration. Selectivity does not depend on CA.
Cite as: K. Dane Wittrup, course materials for 10.37 Chemical and Biological Reaction Engineering, Spring
2007. MIT OpenCourseWare (http://ocw.mit.edu), Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Downloaded on
[DD Month YYYY].
If α1 > α 2
CA
Figure 9. Fractional yield versus concentration when α1 > α2.
CSTR PFR
φ φ
Φ PFR ΔC A
Φ CSTR ΔC A
C Af C A0 C Af C A0
CA CA
Figure 10. Comparison of overall fractional yield for a CSTR and a PFR when α1 >
α2.
PFR is preferred because Φ PFR >Φ CSTR , therefore the yield of D per mol A consumed
is higher.
If α1 < α 2
φ Φ CSTR ΔC A φ Φ PFR ΔC A
C Af C A0 CA C Af C A0 C A
CSTR PFR
Figure 11. Comparsion of overall fractional yield for a CSTR and a PFR when α1 >
α2.
Φ PFR <Φ CSTR
10.37 Chemical and Biological Reaction Engineering, Spring 2007 Lecture 9
Prof. K. Dane Wittrup Page 6 of 6
Cite as: K. Dane Wittrup, course materials for 10.37 Chemical and Biological Reaction Engineering, Spring
2007. MIT OpenCourseWare (http://ocw.mit.edu), Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Downloaded on
[DD Month YYYY].