Reactores

BTC 5001 - Biorremediación

Original: Valeria Ochoa-Herrera (2020)

Modificaciones: Melany Ruiz-Urigüen (2021-22)

References

• Shuler, M.L., and Kargi, F. Bioprocess Engineering: Basic

Concepts, 2nd Edition, Prentice Hall, 2001

• Metcalf, L., Eddy, H.P. and Tchobanoglous, G.,

1991. Wastewater engineering: treatment, disposal, and
reuse (Vol. 4). New York: McGraw-Hill. Chapter 1.
Tipos de reactores

a. Batch reactor.

b. Complete-mix reactor /Continous

stirred-tank reactor (CSTR).

c. Plug-flow reactor.

myengineeringtools.com

Bioreactors and photo credit: V. Razaviarani

Bioreactors and photo
credits: M. Ruiz-Urigüen
Reactors

Law of conversion of mass

Accumulation rate = Input – Output + Generation - Consumption

Accumulation rate = Input – Output + Rxn

!"
= "in − "out + "'()
!#

Accumulation rate: change over time in the amount of species in the fluid within the
control volume
 Reactors

Law of conversion of mass

!"
Q,C0 = "in − "out + "'()
!#

!*
+ = ,*& − ,* + '-+
!#
Q, C

V , C, rC
Where,
dc/dt = rate of change con C in the control V (g/m3 s)
V = volume (m3)
Q = volumetric flowrate (m3/s)
Co = concentration of the reactant in (g/m3)
C = concentration of the reactant out (g/m3)
rc = first order reation (-kC) (g/m3 s)
k = reaction rate coeffient (1/s)
Accumulation rate: change over time in the amount of species in the fluid within the
control volume
Reactors

Definition of terms

At steady state:
dC
=0
dt

http://www.thetruthaboutforensicscience.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/steady-state.png
Reactors

Definition of terms

Hidraulic retention time = T= Ɵ

V
Q=
Q
Where:

Ɵ = hidraulic retention time (time)

V = volumen (volume)
Q = flow rate (volume/time)
Reactors

Mass balance for reactors

Steps:

1. Draw a schematic of the reactor

2. Define a control volume and variables

3. Write mass balance

4. Solve equation

5. Check units
Reactors

Mass balance for reactors

Batch reactor
Reactants are first placed inside the reactor and then allowed to react over time.
Batch reactors are closed systems, thus no Q and no V change.

Batch reactors used in diary industry

(Copyright DCI Inc., St. Cloud, MN)

http://encyclopedia.che.engin.umich.edu/Images/Reactors/Batch/gen.jpg
Reactors

Mass balance for reactors

Batch reactor

Bioreactors and photo

Bioreactors and photo credit: A. López credit: M. Ruiz-Urigüen

Conteo de BSR: formación de precipitado de sulfuro de hierro (izq.) y

ausencia de BSR en la dilución 10-6 (der)
Reactors

Mass balance for reactors

Batch reactor

1) Draw a schematic of the batch reactor

2) Define a control volume and variables

V , C, rC
Reactors

Mass balance for reactors

Batch reactor

3) Write the mass balance

V ,C, rC
dC
V = VrC
dt

dC
= rC
dt
Reactors

Mass balance for reactors

Batch reactor

4) Solve the differential equation if

dC V , C, rC
= rC rC = -kC
dt

dC
= −kC C = C0 e - kt
dt
Reactors

Mass balance for reactors

Continuous stirred-tank reactor (CSTR)
Reactants are continuously introduced into the reactor, while products are
continuously removed. CSTR are open systems that operate under steady-state
conditions. Complete mixing within the reactor is assumed

The CSTR is a conventional digester

design consisting of an above-ground
tank with a fixed pitched roof. Biogas is
collected at the top of the tank and is
pumped to a separate gas holder.
Digestate is removed from the base of
the digester tank.

CSTR in industrial applications

http://www.marchesbiogas.com/cs_tank_system
Reactors

Mass balance for reactors

Continuous stirred-tank reactor (CSTR)
Reactors

Mass balance for reactors

CSTR

1) Draw a schematic of the CSTR

2) Define a control volume and variables

Q,C0

Q, C

V , C, rC
Reactors

Mass balance for reactors

Q,C0
CSTR

3) Write the mass balance

Q, C

Assumptions: V , C, rC
dC
Steady state conditions: =0
dt

dC
V = QC0 - QC + VrC
dt
0 = QC0 - QC + VrC
Reactors

Mass balance for reactors

Q,C0
CSTR

4) Solve the differential equation if

Q, C

V , C, rC
0 = QC0 - QC + VrC

rC = -kC

C0
C=
1+ kΘ
Reactors

Mass balance for reactors

CSTR in series
Reactants are continuously introduced into the reactor, while products are
continuously removed. CSTR in series

Two fully-automated 0.6 L Parr reactors

connected in series:
- Pressure rated to 100 bar
- Operational temperature range: 0-32.5 °C
- Can be modified to accommodate alternative
feed gases
- Mass flow controller for gas uptake monitoring

CSTR in series, iPRD, University leeds, UK

http://www.iprd.leeds.ac.uk/facilities/cstr-parallel-reactors.html
Reactors

Mass balance for reactors

CSTR in series

1) Draw a schematic of the CSTR

Reactors

Mass balance for reactors

CSTR in series

2) Define a control volume and variables

Assumptions:
Q,C0 Q,C1
1. Steady state conditions

2. All reactors have the same

Q,C2
V1 , C1, rC1, volume: V1= V2 = … = Vn

3. Ɵ1= Ɵ2 = … = Ɵn
V2 , C2, rC 2
 Reactors

Mass balance for reactors

CSTR in series

3) Write the mass balance

Reactor 1
Reactor 2
dC1
V1 = QC0 − QC1 +V1rC1 dC2
dt V2 = QC1 − QC2 +V2 rC
dt
0 = QC0 − QC1 +V1rC1 0 = QC1 − QC2 +V2 rC
 Reactors

Mass balance for reactors

CSTR in series

3) Write the mass balance

Reactor 1
Reactor 2
dC1
V1 = QC0 − QC1 +V1rC1 dC2
dt V2 = QC1 − QC2 +V2 rC
dt
0 = QC0 − QC1 +V1rC1 0 = QC1 − QC2 +V2 rC
rC = -kC

C1 1 C2 1
= =
C0 1+ kΘ C1 1+ kΘ
Reactors

Mass balance for reactors

CSTR in series

3) Write the mass balance

Reactor 1
Reactor 2 Assumptions:
C1 1
= 1) Steady state conditions
C0 1+ kΘ C2 1
= 2) V1 = V2 = … = Vn
C1 1+ kΘ 3) Ɵ1= Ɵ2 = … = Ɵn
n
Cn ⎛ 1 ⎞
=⎜ ⎟
C0 1+ kΘ ⎠
⎝
Reactors

Mass balance for reactors

CSTR in series

3) Write the mass balance

Reactor 1
Reactor 2 Assumptions:
C1 1
=
C0 1+ kΘ C2 1 1) Steady state conditions
= 2) DIFFERENT VOLUMES
C1 1+ kΘ
n
Cn ⎛ 1 ⎞
=⎜ ⎟
C0 1+ kΘ ⎠
⎝

!! !!
!. = !/ =
1 + Ɵ.& (1 + Ɵ.&)(1 + Ɵ/&)
Reactors

Mass balance for reactors

CSTR in series

3) Write the mass balance

Tchobanoglous & Schroeder, 1987
Reactor 1
Reactor 2 Assumptions:
C1 1
=
C0 1+ kΘ C2 1 1) Steady state conditions
= 2) DIFFERENT VOLUMES
C1 1+ kΘ
n
Cn ⎛ 1 ⎞
=⎜ ⎟
C0 1+ kΘ ⎠
⎝

!! !!
!. = !/ =
1 + Ɵ.& (1 + Ɵ.&)(1 + Ɵ/&)
Reactors

Mass balance for reactors

Plug-flow reactor (PFR)
Plug flow, or tubular, reactors consist of a hollow pipe or tube through which reactants
flow.
Fluid passes through the reactor with little or non longitudinal mixing and exits the
reactor in the same sequence.

Common industrial uses of tubular

reactors are in gasoline production, oil
cracking, synthesis of ammonia from its
elements, and the oxidation of sulfur
dioxide to sulfur trioxide. Pictured is a
tubular reactor used in research on the
oxidation of nitrogen compounds. It
reaches temperatures of 800 -
1100°C.

PFR in industrial applications

http://encyclopedia.che.engin.umich.edu/Pages/Reactors/PFR/PFR.html
Reactors

Mass balance for reactors

Plug-flow reactor (PFR)

Representación en 3D del Fotobiorreactor tubular de 10 L instalado.

fotobiorreactor tubular y sus Iluminación provista por 5 lámparas de luz fría
medidas del LIA-USFQ OSRAM de 20W y aireación provista por una
bomba de aire
 Reactors

Mass balance for reactors

Plug-flow reactor (PFR)

1) Draw a schematic of the PFR

2) Define a control volume and variables

Dx

Q, C x Q, C x + Dx
Q,C0 Q, C
x x + Dx

DV = ADX
L
Reactors

Mass balance for reactors Dx

Plug-flow reactor (PFR) Q, C x Q, C x + Dx

x x + Dx

3) Write the mass balance

dC
DV = QC x - QC x + Dx + DVrC
dt

DV = ADX

dC Q C x Q C x + Dx
= - + rC
dt A DX A DX

dC Q æ C x - C x + Dx ö
= ç ÷ + rC
dt Aè DX ø
Reactors

Mass balance for reactors Dx

Plug-flow reactor (PFR) Q, C x Q, C x + Dx

x x + Dx

3) Write the mass balance

dC Q æ C x - C x + Dx ö
= ç ÷ + rC
dt Aè DX ø

DX ® 0

dC Q æ dC ö
= ç- ÷ + rC U = fluid flow rate (Length/Time)
dt A è dX ø i.e. the velocity of the liquid

#$#
dC æ dC ö ! !#
=Uç- ÷ + rC U = = "
, %&#'
dt " " $(
è dX ø
Reactors

Mass balance for reactors Dx

Plug-flow reactor (PFR) Q, C x Q, C x + Dx

x x + Dx

3) Write the mass balance

dC dC
= -U + rC
dt dX
Assumptions:

1) Steady state conditions

dC
=0
dt

dC
U = rC
dX
Reactors

Mass balance for reactors Dx

Plug-flow reactor (PFR) Q, C x Q, C x + Dx

x x + Dx

4) Solve the differential equation if

dC
U = rC
dX

dC dX
=
rC U

C dC L dX
∫ C0 r = ∫ 0
U
C

L C dC
U
= ∫ C0
rC L = Length
Reactors

Mass balance for reactors Dx

Plug-flow reactor (PFR) Q, C x Q, C x + Dx

x x + Dx

4) Solve the differential equation if

L C dC
= ∫ rC = -kC
U C0
rC

L C dC

U òC0 - kC
=

C dC
Q=ò
C0 - kC

C = C0 e - kQ
 Reactors

Mass balance for reactors

Vertical continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR, left) and horizontal plug flow reactor (PFR, right)
— two examples for large-scale agricultural biogas digesters in Europe. Source: BRUYN (2006

Mas información sobre reactors:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3flM6rAUk10

http://www.sswm.info/content/anaerobic-digestion-large-scale
Ejercicios

41
Reactors

Mass balance for reactors

Steps:

1. Draw a schematic of the reactor

2. Define a control volume and variables

3. Write mass balance

4. Solve equation

5. Check units
Una corriente que recorre 10 m3/s se ve incrementada con un afluente con un flujo
de 5 m3/s. La concentración de cloruro de la corriente, río arriba de la confluencia,
es 20 mg/L y la concentración de cloruro del afluente es 40 mg/L. Cuál es la
concentración de cloruro río abajo?

Accumulation rate = Input – Output + Rxn

Todos los años garzas, gaviotas, águilas y otros pájaros se concentran a lo largo de
un tramo de corriente de 4,75 km que conecta el lago con el oceáno, para atrapar el
salmón firgerling ya que ellos emigran río abajo hacia el mar. Los pájaros son
pescadores eficaces y consumirán 10 000 fingerlings/km*h, independientemente del
número de salmones que haya en la corriente. Es decir, hay suficiente salmón, los
pájaros solo se ven limitados por lo rápido que puedan capturar y comer el pez. La
corriente atraviesa un área promedio de 20 m2 y el salmón se mueve corriente
abajo con una tasa de flujo de corriente de 700 m3/min. Si hay 7 fingerlings/m3 en el
agua que entra a la corriente. Cuál es la concentración de salmón que alcanza el
oceáno después de que los pájaros se hayan alimentado?
1) Dibujar un esquema y definer volumen y variables

Qin = Qout = 700 m3/min

Co = Cin = 7 peces/m3
r = 10000 peces / km h

2) Balance de masas de un PFR

dC
∆V = QCx + QCx + #x − kC∆V
dt

0 = QCx + QCx + #x − kC∆V ∆V = A∆x

A∆x A∆x A∆x A = area
x = distancia
! #!$#!
0=" ∆&
"#! - kC …(ver sección de PFR para el resto del balance de masas)

C = Coe-kΘ

3) Calcular k y Θ 4) Calcular C= la cantidad de salmón que

'(((( )*+*, '-. alcanza el oceáno después de que los pájaros
k= -. /
x '((( . = 10 peces / m h se hayan alimentado
'( )*+*, 0 !" 1 !"
k= 2( .$
= 0.5 peces / m3 h C = Coe-kΘ
3 ! Q = flujo
Θ= ;U= C = (7 peces/m3)e-(0.5 peces/m^3 h) x 2.26h
4 5

L 2
Θ= = V=LxA C = 2.26 peces/m3
//1 /

Θ = 2.26h