Classification of Systems

For the purpose of modelling, Chemical Engin-

eering systems can be classified into two
broad classes:

Lumped parameter systems.

Distributed parameter systems.
•In Lumped parameter systems, the decision
and state variables are usually singular leading
to a singular time constant, whereas
•Distributed parameter system have their state
and decision variables as function of time or
position and therefore multiple.
 Classification of Systems contd…
• An example of lumped parameter system is con-
tinuous-flow-stirred-tank-reactor (CFSTR or CSTR).
• In which case, concentration is the state variable
and Temperature the decision variable are constant
throughout the system i.e. they are time-dependent
only and do not vary from point to point within the
system.

T, C

Figure 2: A CSTR with

concentration and Tem-
perature constant with po-
sition within the system
 Classification of Systems contd…

• An example of distributed parameter system (DPS)

is tubular reactor.

• In a tubular reactor, concentration and temperature

vary with position throughout the system i.e. both
the state and decision variables are functions of
both time and spatial-geometry.

Figure 3: Flow through a long pipe

 Classification of Systems contd…
• With distributed parameter system, we take the ma-
terial and/or energy balance over a differential time
or space.
• In analysing lumped and distributed parameter sys-
tems, we make use of two equations:
The steady state equation, and
Unsteady state equation.

• The modeling of lumped parameter system leads to

ordinary differential equations (ODE);

• Whereas the modeling of distributed parameter sys-

tem leads to partial differential equations (PDE) in
most times (especially transient modeling).
 Modeling Examples

Figure 4: A stirred tank reactor

(Isothermal)
 Example 1: A perfectly Mixed Tank contd. …
• F = flow rate, V = volume, and  = density
(a) Applying total continuity equation, we have:
T
o
t
a
l
M
as
sF
l
o
wT
o
t
a
l
M
as
sF
l
o
wT
o
t
a
l
T
im
er
a
t
e
of
ch
a
ng
e
o
f
Ma
s
s
 
 
I 
I
N O
UT NS
ID
E
sy
s
t
em 
• Simply,
I
N
O
UT

Ac
c
u
mu
l
a
ti
o
n
d(V )
F 00 F  
dt
• In standard form, the accumulation term is usually
placed on the left hand side of the equation, so that
we have
d( V)

(1) F
0 0 F 
dt
Example 1: A perfectly Mixed Tank contd. …

dV
F
0 F
dt

I
fF0F,

d
V
 F0F
dt

d
VF
(0
 F
)
dt
 If

Example 1: A perfectly Mixed Tank contd. …

then

• Integrating both sides, we have

V t

dV(FF)dt
V
0
0
0


V
V

0(F

0F)
t


V
V(
(3)
0 F

0F)
t

(ii) IfF
0F, then, in Eqn (2),
dV
 0 (steady state situation)
dt
• Which implies, V = constant
 Example 1: A perfectly Mixed Tank contd. …
(b) Applying component Continuity Equation,
we have
F
l
o
w
o
fm
o
l
e
so
fF
l
o
w
o
fm
o
l
e
so
fT
i
m
e
r
at
e
of
c
ha
n
ge
o
fm
ol
e
s 
 
 
 
j
t
h
c
o
mp
o
n
e
nt
I
Nj
t
h
c
o
mp
o
n
e
nt
O
UT
o
f
j
t
h
co
mp
o
ne
n
tI
N
S
ID
Es
y
st
e
m
d
(VC )
F
C
00F
C
dt
In standard form,
d
(VC )
F
0C0F
C (4)
dt
I
fF0F, V = constant; then we have
d
C F 1
(C 
How?C)
 (CC
)
d
t V
0
 0
 Example 1: A perfectly Mixed Tank contd. …
d
C1
(C C
)
,C(
0)0 (5)
t 
0
d

• The likely solution to Equation (5) is


t
/
C
(
t)
Ce
(
01) (6)
• If condition (i) above applies,FF, (but they are
0
constant rates) we have
d
(VC )
F
0C0F
C
dt
• Substituting equation (3) into equation (4), we ob-
tain
d
[{(
V
0 F

0F)
t
}C]
FC
00
FC
d
t
 Example 1: A perfectly Mixed Tank contd. …

• Differentiating, we have that:

dCd C
V
0  
t C F
C
00FC
dt d
t
d
C
Vt

0   
FC
FC
00 (7)
dt
• Dividing through byV0 t , we have

C 
d 
F F
 C
 0 C (8)
t V
d 0
t V0
t 0
 Example 1: A perfectly Mixed Tank contd. …
• Equation (8) is now of the likely ODE form
d
y
P()
xyQ()
x (9)
d
x
• What sense can you then make out of Eqns
(8) and (9) ?
 CLASSWORK 1

On the look out