Batch Reactor Using the Segregation Model

RTD	result for segregation model

μ

1

0.45

μ

2

3.15

σ

1

0.38

σ

2

0.35

Consider a mixture distribution formed by taking a weighted sum of three normal distributions and given by

f(x)=

1

5

2π

-

2

x

2

e

+

1

σ

1

-

2

(x-

μ

1

)

2

2

σ

1

e

+

3

σ

2

-

2

(x-

μ

2

)

2

2

σ

2

e

.

You can change this distribution's properties by varying

μ

1

,

μ

2

,

σ

1

, and

σ

2

. This Demonstration plots this distribution. For specific values of

μ

1

,

μ

2

,

σ

1

, and

σ

2

, you can obtain a bimodal distribution, which mimics the residence time distribution (or

RTD

) of a batch reactor.

The following sequential reaction mechanism takes place in this reactor:

A+B→C

A→D

B+D→E

All rate constants are set equal to one. Initially, the reactor contains only species

A

and

B

.

The segregation model and the

RTD

function allow the calculation of the exit concentration as a function of time for all species. This Demonstration gives the exit concentration in light blue, magenta, brown, green, and dark blue for species

A

,

B

,

C

,

D

, and

E

, respectively. The first two snapshots show: (1) a bimodal

RTD

and (2) the batch reactor's exit concentrations versus time, which present two plateaus as expected.