Maximum space time yield for a simple consecutive reaction

My proposal for managing the task:

  1. look at the snapshot of the simulation of the batch reaction and run a simulation with the given data: when k1 > k2 (here even 10 fold !!), you observe a maximum curve for the concentration of compound B. If you run a batch reaction at the reaction time corresponding to Bmax, you will get most B (as possible). The same statement is valid for the 'not-back-mixed brother' of the batch STR, namely the TFR, you have only to apply a coordinate transformation from time to space.
  2. derive the formula for the optimal reaction time Tauopt by differentiating CB to time in the material balance equation and set dcB/dt = 0 . For Tauopt you will get:
    Tauopt= (ln(k1/k2))/(k1-k2)
    and therefore:
    Bmax = CA,0 (k1/k2)(k2/(k2-k1))
  3. Input the given data and compare the results to the values obtained for the real-time simulations, hope they are identical!! You see that you can't take a maximum conversion, or ? By the way: realize that you have bad chances for that optimization, when k1 << k2 !!! try it with a simulation!! Clear?
  4. write the differential equation for the reaction running in a CSTR, take the continuous operation mode and apply the same mathematical procedure as above. Here you will find for Tauopt:

    Tauopt = 1/((k1*k2)0.5)

    and for Bmax:

    Bmax= cA,0 (1/((k2/k1)0.5 + 1)2)
  5. look at the snapshot for an example of the same reaction running in a CSTR, do some simulations (and see further informations) for different Taus close to the Tauopt of the batch and finally with the value received by the formula above. Don't forget that you have to regard the 'constant' stationary values in this case, not maximums observed in the start-up phase !!. The results should be equivalent!!
  6. Compare the optimal values, - the space time for STR and TFR should be shorter than the value for the CSTR. Can you explain that phenomenologically ? No ?

take your browser back for previous text or:

Back to main test page