NAME: HANSALIYA MIRAJ NIKULKUMAR

ROLL NO. 13BCH010

BATCH REACTOR

Let us consider the batch reactor sketched in Fig. Reactant is charged into the vessel. Steam is
fed into the jacket to bring the reaction mass up to a desired temperature.
Then cooling water must be added to the jacket to remove the exothermic heat of reaction and to
make the reactor temperature follow the prescribed temperature-time curve.
This temperature profile is fed into the temperature controller as a set point signal. The set point
varies with time.
First-order consecutive reactions take place in the reactor as time proceeds.
The product that we want to make is component B. If we let the reaction go on too long, too much
of B will react to form undesired C; that is, the yield will be low.
If we stop the reaction too early, too little A will have reacted; i.e., the conversion and yield will be
low.

 Therefore there is an optimum batch time when we should stop the reaction. This is often done by
quenching it, i.e., cooling it down quickly.
k1
k2
If the temperature dependences of the specific reaction rates
and
are the same (if their
activation energies are equal), the reaction should be run at the highest possible temperature to
minimize the batch time
This maximum temperature would be a limit imposed by some maximum working temperature or
pressure of the equipment.
k
k
If 1 , is more temperature-dependent than 2 , we again want to run at the highest possible
temperature to favour the reaction to B.
In both cases we must be sure to stop the reaction at the right time so that the maximum amount of
B is recovered.
k1
k2
If
is less temperature-dependent that
the optimum temperature profile is one that starts
off at a high temperature to get the first reaction going but then drops to prevent the loss of too
much B.
Figure (b) sketches typical optimum temperature and concentration profiles. Also shown in Fig. (b)
As the dashed line is an example of an actual temperature that could be achieved in a real
reactor.

The reaction mass must be heated up to

T max

, we will use the optimum temperature profile as the

set point signal.

Figure (b)

I.

Total continuity equation for the reaction mass:

Mass flow in the system mass flow out the system = rate of change of mass whit in the system
00=

d(V)
dt

d ( V )
=0
dt

d(V)
=0
dt

II.

Component mass balance for A:

Flow of moles of A component in the system - Flow of moles of A component out the system +
rate of reaction = rate of change of Flow of moles of A component in the system
d(V CA )
0 0 + (- k 1 CA )V =
dt
k 1 CA V +
But volume of the reactor is constant.
k 1 CA +

III.

d(V CA )
=0
dt
d( CA )
=0
dt

Component mass balance for A:

Flow of moles of B component in the system - Flow of moles of B component out the system +
rate of reaction = rate of change of Flow of moles of B component in the system
d(V CB )
0 0 + (- k 1 CA )V + k 2 CB V =
dt
k 1 C A V - k 2 CB V =

But volume of the reactor is constant.

k 1 CA - k 2 CB =

IV.

Kinetic Equations:

d(V CB )
dt

d( CB )
dt

E
RT

E
RT

k 1 = 1 e

k 2 = 2 e
V.

Energy balance for system:

Energy in the system energy out the system + energy generated in the system = energy
accumulation in the system
d(Vh)
- h i Ai ( T-T i ) - 1 k 1 CA V- 2 k 2 CB V =
dt

But

h = Cp T
Cp V

VI.

d(T)
+ h i A i ( T- Ti ) + 1 k 1 CA V+ 2 k 2 CB V = 0
dt

Energy balance for jacket:

Energy in in jacket energy out in jacket = energy accumulation in the jacket
d( M VM h M )
h 0 A 0 ( TJ - TM ) + h i Ai ( TM -T ) =
dt
But

h M = Cp T M
M

.
h 0 A 0 ( TJ - TM ) + h i Ai ( TM -T ) = M VM Cp

VII.

Volumetric flow rates of steam

Fs

and cooling water

FS =f(E)

d( T M )
dt

FW

F W =f(E)

Where E is error in signal (=temperature set point reactor temperature)

h0
outside heat transfer coefficient
hi

outside heat transfer coefficient

TJ

= inside jacket temperature

TM

=metal wall temperature

= system temperature

1 And

2 are the exothermic heats of reaction for the two reactions.

Reference:
1. Modelling and Optimization by William L Luyben (2 nd edition) page no 57, 58, 59,
60, 61
2. Perry's Chemical Engineers' Handbook (8th edition) page no -19.8
3. N.A. Anderson. Instrumentation for Process Measurement and Control. CRC Press,
Boca Raton, 1998.