UNIVERSITY OF BENGHAZ I FACULLTY OF

ENGINEERING CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT

Experiment (3): Determination of rate equation from

mixed flow reactor (CSTR)
( CHE 401 )

PREPARED BY :-

Soha jumah younis 21173

Contents

1. Objective
2. Introduction
2.1 Theory
2.2 Materials
2.3 Type of Reactors
3. Results and calculation
3.1 Experiment 1
3.2 Experiment 2
3.3 Experiment 3

4. Conclusion
1. Objective
Deriving and estimating rate equation order

2. Introduction
The continuous stirred-tank reactor (CSTR), also known as vat- or back mix reactor,
mixed flow reactor (MFR), or a continuous-flow stirred-tank reactor (CFSTR), is a
common model for a chemical reactor in chemical engineering and environmental
engineering. A CSTR often refers to a model used to estimate the key unit operation
variables when using a continuous agitated-tank reactor to reach a specified output. The
mathematical model works for all fluids: liquids, gases, and slurries.

The behavior of a CSTR is often approximated or modeled by that of an ideal CSTR,

which assumes perfect mixing. In a perfectly mixed reactor, reagent is instantaneously
and uniformly mixed throughout the reactor upon entry. Consequently, the output
composition is identical to composition of the material inside the reactor, which is a
function of residence time and reaction rate. The CSTR is the ideal limit of complete
mixing in reactor design, which is the complete opposite of a plug flow reactor (PFR). In
practice, no reactors behave ideally but instead fall somewhere in between the mixing
limits of an ideal CSTR and PFR.

2.1 Theory
The aim of the experiment derivation of rate equation assume a

Power law

-rA=KCAn
Linearization of the rate equation

Log(-rA)=Log K + n Log (CA)

A plot of the experiment data where log (-rA)on (Y axis) and log (CA) on( X axis)a
straight line will be developed with n slop. For the first order case n=1 and for second
order case n= 2 or any other under. But if we obtain curve or highly random points, then
the rate equation does not fit to the experiment

Reaction 2A→ R( Liquid phase)

 Volume of the reactor ( V= 0.1 liter)

CA0 = 100 milmol/L

2.2 Materials
1. Tap water reservoir used to flush out salt water to investigate residence time.

2. Potassium chloride tracer used to quantify residence time and mixing

capabilities.

3. Master flex Peristaltic Pump-feed pump.

4. Plug flow reactors (short and long) - investigate deviations from ideality in PFR's.

5. Red food coloring - visually analyze the mixing capabilities.

6. CSTR (large beaker with agitator) investigate deviations from ideality in CSTR's.

7. Impellers of different size and shape - used vary the mixing conditions.

8. Agitator used to vary the mixing speed.

9. Venire Conductivity.

2.3 Type of Reactors

A) Batch Reactor
B) Continuous-Flow Reactors

B-1 Continuous-Stirred Tank Reactor CSTR

Fig (2) Tank Reactor CSTR

B-2 Tubular Reactor (PFR)

Fig(3) Tubular Reactor (PFR)

3. Results and calculation

X= 1 – (CA/ CA0)

-rA = (CA0 XV0 / V)

Where, X is the mole fraction

CA is the concentration at each run

CA0 is the initial concentration

3.1 Experiment 1:
Table (1): Values of experiment 1

Run 1 2 3 4

V0 10 3 1.2 0.5

CA 85.7 66.7 50 33.4

(mmol/L)
XA 0.143 0.333 0.5 0.666

-rA 1.43 0.999 0.6 0.333

(mol/L .hr)
-rA 0.0003972 0.000278 0.00016667 0.0000925
(mol/L.sec)
CA 0.0875 0.0667 0.05 0.0334
(mol/L)
Log (CA) -1.067019 -1.17587 -1.30103 -1.4762535

Log ( -rA) -3.400966 -3.55674 - -4.0338583

3.77815125
3.2 Experiment 2:
Table (2): Values of experiment 2

Run 1 2 3 4

V0 10 3 1.2 0.5

CA 80 60 40 25
(mmol/L)
XA 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.75

-rA 2 1.2 0.72 0.375

(mol/L .hr)
-rA 0.000555 0.000333 0.0002 0.000104
(mol/L.sec)
CA 0.0222 0.01666 0.0111 0.00694
(mol/L)
Log (CA) -1.653 -1.7783 -1.9546 -2.1586

Log ( -rA) -3.2557 -3.4775 -3.6989 -3.9829

3.3 Experiment 3:
Table (3): Values of experiment 3

Run 1 2 3 4

V0 10 3 1.2 0.5

CA 60 50 20 10
(mmol/L)
XA 0.4 0.5 0.8 0.9

-rA 4 1.5 0.96 0.45

(mol/L .hr)
-rA 0.00111 0.000416 0.000266 0.000125
(mol/L.sec)
CA 0.06 0.05 0.02 0.01
(mol/L)
Log (CA) -1.2218 -1.3010 -1.6989 -2

Log ( -rA) -2.9546 -3.38090 -3.5751 -3.90308

4. Conclusion
Knowing how different concentrations of chemicals affect the speed of a reaction. The
total order of any reaction is the sum of the arrangement of all the current reactions.

Understanding deviations from ideal reactors is extremely important in the chemical

processing industry.