Pacific School of Engineering ,Surat

CHEMICAL REACTION ENGINEERING-I

B.E. Semester – 6
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
An
PRESENTATION
ON
“PLUG FLOW REACTOR ”
Submitted by:
Sr.No Name Enrollment No.

1. Brijesh Jha 161120105017

2. Narayan Bhargav 161120105004

3. Sojitra Umang 161120105058

4. Navadiya Vivek 161120105035

Guided by: Prof. Rachna Solanki

Prof. Ketal Chaudhary
PLUG FLOW REACTOR
 In case of plug flow reactor composition varies from point to point along the flow , the material
balance for any reacting component must be done over a differential element of volume dV of
reactor.

 For any component A material balance on mole basis on differential element of volume dV is
(input of A in moles/time to dV )= (output of A in moles/time to dV) +
(rate of disappearance in moles/time to dV) +( rate of accumulation in moles/time to dV)
For steady state 4th term is zero ……………………………………..(1)
(input of A in moles/time to dV )= (output of A in moles/time to dV) +
(rate of disappearance in moles/time to dV) ……………………………………(2)

Referring to figure 3.15 we see the differential element of volume dV that

Input of A in moles/time =FA
Output of A in moles/time =FA +dFA
Rate of disappearance of A by reaction ,moles/time =(-rA)dV
Putting the values of these terms in equation 1 we get
FA = (FA +dFA) + (-rA)dV
We know FA = FAo(1-XA)
dFA =-FA0dXA
FA = (FA +dFA) + (-rA)dV

FA =FA-FA0 dXA + (-rA)dV

FA0 dXA = (-rA)dV (3)
 Above equation is differential equation for reactor in volume Dv.For a reactor as whole the
equation (3) must be integrated . FA0 is constant in equation (3) but (-rA) depend on
concentration.
𝑉 𝑑𝑉 𝑋𝑎𝑓 𝑑𝑋𝑎
∫0 = ∫0
Fao −𝑟𝐴

𝑉 𝑋𝑎𝑓 𝑑𝑋𝑎
= ∫0
𝐹𝑎𝑜 −𝑟𝐴
𝑉 ɽ 𝑋𝑎𝑓 𝑑𝑋𝑎
= = ∫0
𝐹𝑎𝑜 𝐶𝐴0 −𝑟𝐴

𝑉 𝑉𝐶𝐴0 𝑋𝑎𝑓 𝑑𝑋𝑎

ɽ= = = CA0∫0 …….(3.34)
𝑉0 𝐹𝐴0 −𝑟𝐴

Equation (4 ) is known as performance equation for plug flow reactor.

 With the help of performance equation one can determine reactor size for a given feed rate
and conversion.
 If feed on which conversion enters the reactor , partially converted then we have
𝑉 𝑋𝑎𝑓 𝑑𝑋𝑎
= ∫𝑋𝑎𝑖 or
𝐹𝐴0 −𝑟𝐴

𝑉 𝑋𝑎𝑓 𝑑𝑋𝑎
ɽ= = CA0∫0
𝑉0 −𝑟𝐴

where XAi is conversion of A at inlet and XAF is conversion of A at outlet .

 For constant density performance is derived in terms of concentration.
CA0 − CA
XA = CA0

From equation 3.34 , we get

𝑉 𝑋𝑎𝑓 𝑑𝑋𝑎
ɽ = 𝑉0 = - CA0∫0 for constant density …..(3.36)
−𝑟𝐴
….