EHEI Journal of Science and technology

Vol. 02 Issue 2 (2022) 88–96

Design of Reactor-Continuous Stirred Tank Reactor Type

for the Production of Tin Oxide Nanoparticle (SnO2)

Anisa Klarasita1, Asep Bayu Dani Nandiyanto2*

1,2
Departemen Kimia, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Bandung, Indonesia

Received 13 November 2022, Revised 23 December 2022, Accepted 26 December 2022

Cited as : A. Klarasita, A. B. D. Nandiyanto, Design of Reactor-Continuous Stirred Tank Reactor Type for the
Production of Tin Oxide Nanoparticle (SnO2), EHEI J. Sci. Technol. 02(2) (2022) 88-96

Abstract
The aim of this study is to design a reactor with the CSTR type for SnO2 nanoparticles production. The
method used is to perform computational analysis by calculating various specifications using Microsoft
Excel. The results obtained are reactor volume is 1879.58 liters with a volume of liquid in the cylinder of
1397.51 liters. The design for the impeller specification is impeller length of 5.54 in, impeller width of 4.43
in, impeller height of 14.69 in from tank bottom with 1 number of stirrers and stirring power 8 Hp. The Re
value obtained is 159345.80 which means that the type of impeller used is turbulent. Because the value of
Re obtained is more than 2100, it indicates that a turbulent type is used as the impeller. This design is
expected to become a standard for reference in designing a reactor to be more economical, effective, and
have high reliability.

Keywords: design, reactor, CSTR, SnO2.

*Corresponding author.
E-mail address: nandiyanto@upi.edu

1. Introduction
Reactor is an equipment where raw materials are converted into desired products [1]. Chemical
reactor systems have been adopted for many years in chemistry research and industrial processes
[2]. Chemical reactors are considered an important part of the chemical process, where improved
design and operation of the reactor certainly have several advantages, which usually result in
significant cost savings and potential revenue for the chemical material [3].
A reactor called to be ideal when the mixing is instantaneous and complete throughout the vessel.
A real batch reactor will approach the ideal behavior when the characteristic time for mixing is
short compared to the reaction half-life. Industrial batch reactors have inlet and outlet ports and an
agitation system. The same hardware can be turned into continuous operation. To do this, just feed
and litter continuously. If the reactor mixes well in batch mode, it will likely stay that way in

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 Klarasita et al., EHEI J. Sci. Technol. 02(2) (2022) 88-96 89

continuous mode, at least for the same reactions [4].

Reactor types include Continues Stirred Tank Reactor (CSTR) and plug-flow reactor (PFR), as
a genuine idealization of industrial reactors [5]. Continues Stirred Tank Reactor (CSTR) is an
important subject in chemical process and offering a diverse range of researches in the area of the
chemical and control engineering [6]. CSTR reactors can be cooled or heated in a variety of ways,
which accounts in part for their superior controllability compared to tubular reactors [5]. In CSTR,
the reactor configuration is developed to pump the reactant continuously and efficiently into the
reactor. In the beginning, the reactor is loaded with reaction materials, and an adequate agitation
process lasts until the reaction process is completed [7]. When comparing CSTR with BR, CSTR
provides quality operation to improve thermal and mass transfer, less production cost, provides
uniformity of product, and supports scale-up [8]. CSTR can be used to produce Tin Oxide
Nanoparticles.
Tin oxide (SnO2) are a chemical material that has the potential to be used as a conductive electrode
in solar cells, gas sensor materials, photoconductive and photochemical devices for LCDs, and
lithium batteries [9]. Recently, the synthesis of nano-sized particles has been extensively
investigated for their novel magnetic, optical, electrical and chemical properties [10]. Research in
the area of nanoscale materials is motivated by the possibility of processing and designing
nanostructured materials with unique properties thereby offering new and important technological
applications [11]. The effect of the particle size of SnO2 on the electronic and optical properties of
nano-sized particles has attracted the attention of researchers. On an industrial scale, reactors are
used to produce Tin oxide nanoparticles.
The aim of this study is to design a reactor with the CSTR type for SnO2 production while still
adhering to the parameters that have been applied before.

2. Materials and methods

2.1. Manufacture of Tin oxide nanoparticles
The preparation SnO2 nanoparticles were schematically illustrated in Fig 1. Tin (IV) dioxide
precursors were precipitated from SnCl4·5H2O solution by slowly adding NH4OH with rapid
stirring. pH value of starting solutions varied between 0.2 and 9. After 30 min of stirring the
solution was placed in stainless steel pressure vessel. Hydrothermal treatment was carried out at
130- 250℃ for 6h and cooled naturally to room temperature. The reaction products were washed
five times by repeated centrifugation, and then dried at 80℃ for 12h in air [10]. The PDF
illustration for the manufacture of SnO2 nanoparticles is shown in Fig 2.

2.2. Mathematical models for designing reactors

To design an ideal reactor, it is necessary to calculate the various parameters that have been set
beforehand. Data processing for reactor design is carried out using Microsoft Excel to make it
more efficient. Table 1 shows the parameters for calculating the reactor design.

3. Results and discussion

3.1. Main Reaction
The main reactions expected to occur in the production of SnO2 are:
SnCl4 + 4NH4OH → SnO2 + 2H2O + 4NH4Cl

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The reaction consists of SnCl4 which is then added with NH4OH which in this reaction both act as
reactants, then after the two react it is expected to produce SnO2 in the form of nanoparticles.
Where the reaction that occurs is expected to achieve a fairly high purity in the presence of side-
products. To suppress unwanted side reactions, it is often necessary to operate the reactor with a
low concentration of one of the reactants and the excess of the other reactant must be recovered in
the separation section and then recycled back to the reaction section [5].

Fig 1. SnO2 nanoparticles manufacture

Fig 2. PFD on the manufacture of SnO2 nanoparticles

Table 1. Calculations for designing the reactor

No Section Parameter Equation Eq
1. Reactor planning Volume (1)
𝑉!"!#$ = 𝑉 𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑙 + 𝑉 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑠𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑒
Reaktor (𝑉!"!#$ )
𝑉!"!#$ = 𝑉 𝑡𝑜𝑝 𝑙𝑖𝑑 + 𝑉𝑐𝑦𝑙𝑖𝑛 + 𝑉 𝑡𝑜𝑝 𝑐𝑜𝑣 (2)
% '( ! % '( "
𝑉!"!#$ = )* +,- ./)0 + *
× 𝐿𝑠 + 0,0847 𝑑𝑖 1
Vessel
Diameter (𝐷𝑖) 𝐷𝑖 = vessel diameter
𝜋 = the value of 3.14
𝐿𝑠 = cylinder height
Volume of (3)
𝑉$2 = 𝑉 𝑙𝑖𝑞 + 𝑉 𝑡𝑜𝑝 𝑙𝑖𝑑
Liquid in The

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Cylinder (𝑉$2 ) 𝜋 𝑑𝑖 1
𝑉$2 = 𝑉 𝑙𝑖𝑞 +
24 tan 1/2𝛼

𝑉$2 = the volume of liquid in the cylinder

𝐷𝑖 = vessel diameter
𝜋 = the value of 3.14
𝑉 𝑙𝑠 (4)
𝐿$2 = %
F * G × 𝑑𝑖 )
High Liquid in
The Cylinder 𝐿$2 = high liquid in the cylinder
(𝐿$2 ) 𝑉$2 = the volume of liquid in the cylinder
𝜋 = the value of 3.14
𝐷𝑖 = vessel diameter
𝑃𝑖 = 𝑃 𝑎𝑡𝑚 + 𝑃 ℎ𝑦𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑐 (5)
Design Pressure
(Pi) 𝜌 (𝐻𝐿 − 1)
𝑃 ℎ𝑦𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑐 =
144
3( . '( (6)
𝑇𝑠 = )(6.789,;3() + 𝐶
Cylinder 𝑇𝑠 = cylinder thickness
Thickness (Ts) 𝑃𝑖 = design pressure
𝐷𝑖 = vessel diameter
𝑉!"!#$ = 𝑉 𝑡𝑜𝑝 𝑙𝑖𝑑 + 𝑉𝑐𝑦𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 + 𝑉 𝑡𝑜𝑝 𝑐𝑜𝑣 (7)
% '( ! % '( "
𝑉!"!#$ = )* +,- ./)0 + *
× 𝐿𝑠 + 0,0847 𝑑𝑖 1
Cylinder Height
(Ls) 𝐷𝑖 = vessel diameter
𝜋 = the value of 3.14
𝐿𝑠 = cylinder height
9,==> ×3(.'( (8)
𝑡ℎ𝑎 = +𝐶
)(6.789,.3()
Top Cover
Thickness (tha) 𝑡ℎa = top cover thickness
𝑃𝑖 = design pressure
𝐷𝑖 = vessel diameter
ℎ𝑎 = 0,169 𝐷𝑖 (9)
Top Cover
Height (ha) ℎ𝑎= top cover height
𝐷𝑖 = vessel diameter
3(.'( (10)
𝑡ℎ𝑏 = )(6.789,;3() @AB ./)0 + 𝐶
Bottom Cover ℎ𝑏= bottom cover thickness
Thickness (thb) 𝑃𝑖 = design pressure
𝐷𝑖 = vessel diameter
Bottom Cover ./) ' (11)
hb = +,- ./)0
Height (hb)
2. Reactor stirrer Da = 𝐷𝑡 × 0.5
Impeller (12)
Diameter (Da) 𝐷𝑎 = impeller diameter
𝐷𝑡 = cylinder inside diameter

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1 (13)
Impeller Height C= × 𝐷𝑖
3
from Tank
Bottom (C) 𝐶 = cylinder inside diameter
𝐷𝑖 = vessel diameter
1 (14)
L = × 𝐷𝑎
Impeller Length 4
(L) 𝐿 = impeller length
𝐷𝑎 = impeller diameter
W = 0.20 × 𝐷𝑎 (15)
Impeller Width
(W) 𝑊 = impeller width
𝐷𝑎 = impeller diameter
𝐻 𝑙𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑑 (16)
n=
Number of 2 × 𝐷𝑎>
Stirrer (n) 𝑛 = the number of stirrer
𝐷𝑎 = impeller diameter
𝐿) × 𝑛 × 𝜌 (17)
NCD =
𝜇
Reynold
𝑁EF = the Reynold number
Number (NCD )
𝐿 = impeller length
𝑛 = stirrer rotation, set = 100 rpm = 1,67 rps
𝜌 = density (lb/ft3)
𝜑 × 𝜌 × 𝑛1 × 𝐷𝑖 > (18)
P=
𝑔𝑐
P required = (0,1 + 0,15)P + P
Stirring Power
(P) P = stirring power
𝜌 = density (lb/ft3)
𝐷𝑖 = impeller diameter
𝑔𝑐 = 32,2 lb.ft/s2.lbf
#×𝑇 (19)
D=
𝜋×𝑆

Stirrer Shaft 𝐷 = stirrer shaft diameter

Diameter (𝐷) ;19)> G
𝑇 = torsion number (lb.in = H
)
𝜋 = the value of 3.14
𝑆 = maximum allowable design shearing stress
𝐿 = ℎ + 𝑙 − 𝑍𝑖 (20)

Shaft Length 𝐿 = shaft length (ft)

(𝐿) ℎ = cylinder height + top cover height
𝑙 = impeller distance from tank bottom
𝑍𝑖 = length of shaft above tank vessel
3.2. Reactor Type

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3.2. Reactor Type

In industrial processes, the types of reactors known are Continues Stirred Tank Reactor (CSTR)
and plug-flow reactor (PFR). Which of the reactor designs did we use the CSTR type. CSTR is
one of the main components in many chemical process that have nonlinear steady state and
dynamic behavior [12]. CSTR has good heat transfer characteristics and allows continuous
operation, but can only be used for conversion levels where heat transfer and contact are poor due
to increased viscosity. This problem can be overcome by diluting with a solvent, but then handling
and recovering the solvent adds to the cost. Alternatively, a CSTR can be specified for some of
the low conversion ranges, and the remaining conversions can be completed in a screw-type and
tubular flow unit [13]. Many tubular reactors are operated adiabatically, because of the problems
in providing heat transfer [5].

3.3. Mass Balance Calculation

The mass balance and energy balance are information that can show the amount of mass and heat
entering, leaving and accumulating in each process equipment. This mass balance is useful for
determining the specifications and size of the reactor to be used, which is presented in Table 2.

Table 2. Mass balance recapitulation of SnO2 production

Mr Reactants Product
Component
(g/mol) Massa Mol Fr.Mol Mol Mol Fr.Mol Massa
SnCl4 260.5 12000 46.06526 0.187207 -43.762 2.303263 0.006904 600
NH4OH 35 7000 200 0.812793 -175.048 24.95202 0.074799 873.3205
SnO2 151 0 0 43.762 43.762 0.131185 6608.061
H2 O 18 0 0 87.52399 87.52399 0.262371 1575.432
NH4Cl 53.5 0 0 175.048 175.048 0.524741 9365.067
Total 19000 246.07 1.00 333.5893 19021.88

3.4. Design Calculation of CSTR

To design an ideal reactor, it is necessary to do calculations first, namely by using a mathematical
model which has become the parameters for the design. Calculations are performed using
Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Excel is used with the aim that the calculations are carried out more
efficiently. Which calculations are based on the parameters presented in Table 1. The calculation
results for the reactor dimension specifications that have been carried out are presented in Table
3. In addition to calculating the dimensional specifications of the reactor, calculations are also
carried out for the specifications of the stirrer dimensions or the power of the stirrer which are
shown in Table 4.
Impellers are classified according to the mixing regimes, laminar or turbulent mixing. For laminar
mixing, the impeller diameters approach the diameter of the tank, since the transport of momentum
by laminar flow is poor. On the other hand, as turbulent flow transports momentum well, the
impellers in turbulent media are typically one-fourth to one-half the tank diameter [14]. Based on
the calculations that have been made for the design of the stirrer power, it is found that the NRe
value. Where Re is the Reynolds number, which physically can be considered the ratio of inertial
to viscous forces [15], the NRe value is 159345.80 which means that the type of impeller used is

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turbulent because the value obtained is more than 2100. Turbulent flow impellers which are most
commonly used in fermentation applications are further classified into axial and radial flow
impellers, depending on the direction of the discharge flow [14]. Impeller dimensions affect the
flow velocity distribution [16-18].

Table 3. Reactor dimension specifications based on calculation results

No Parameter Result
1 Type of reactor Upright cylinder with standard
dished top cap and conical bottom
cap with a peak angle of 120°
2 Volume Reactor (𝑉!"!#$ ) 1879.58 liter
3 Vessel Diameter (𝐷𝑖) 44,09 in
4 Volume of Liquid in The Cylinder (𝑉$2 ) 1397.51 liter
5 High Liquid in The Cylinder (𝐿$2 ) 55.87 in
6 Design Pressure (Pi) 25,50 psig
7 Cylinder Thickness (Ts) 0.10 in
8 Cylinder Height (Ls) 5.05 in
9 Top Cover Thickness (tha) 0.095 in
10 Top Cover Height (ha) 7.45 in
11 Bottom Cover Thickness (thb) 0.14 in
12 Bottom Cover Height (hb) 12.74 in
13 Reactor Height 26.05 in

Table 4. Specification of stirring dimensions based on calculation results

No Parameter Result
1 Impeller Diameter (Da) 22.15 in
2 Impeller Height from Tank Bottom (C) 14.69 in
3 Impeller Length (L) 5.54 in
4 Impeller Width (W) 4.43 in
5 Number of Stirrer (n) 1 piece
6 Reynold Number (NCD ) 159345.80
7 Stirring Power (P) 8 Hp
8 Stirrer Shaft Diameter (𝐷) 1.55 in
9 Shaft Length (𝐿) 8.65 in

Conclusion
Reactor design was carried out by designing a CSTR (Continuous Stirred Tank Reactor) reactor
to produce SnO2. Calculations for designing the reactor were carried out using Microsoft Excel,
both for mass balance, reactor design, and stirrer design. The value of Re is 1593445.80 which
indicates that the type of impeller used is turbulent.

Conflict of Interest:
This study was conducted without any commercial or financial relationship with any institution.

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