System Modeling Coursework

Class 14: Modeling of Chemical systems – Example

of Batch reactor

P.R. VENKATESWARAN
Faculty, Instrumentation and Control Engineering,
Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal
Karnataka 576 104 INDIA
Ph: 0820 2925154, 2925152
Fax: 0820 2571071
Email: pr.venkat@manipal.edu, prv_i@yahoo.com
Web address: http://www.esnips.com/web/SystemModelingClassNotes
 WARNING!

• I claim no originality in all these notes. These are the

compilation from various sources for the purpose of
delivering lectures. I humbly acknowledge the wonderful
help provided by the original sources in this compilation.
• For best results, it is always suggested you read the source
material.
• Of late, this has becoming supplement to what is taught in
the class. So BEWARE! You are on two tracks!

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 Contents

• Description of a Batch reactor system

• Model of the batch reactor

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 Introduction

• Although the progress of the chemical industry has been

toward continuous processes, some reactions will inevitably
be conducted batch wise.
• The bulk of commercial batch reactions are polymerizations
involved in the production of rubber and many types of
plastics.
• Distribution of molecular weight is an important parameter
in polymer manufacture, and it seems to be the most easily
controlled batch wise. Another consideration is the great
change in viscosity frequently encountered between the
reactants and products.
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 Steps in a chemical process

• Charge the reactor with reactants and catalyst.

• Heat to operating temperature.
• Allow the reaction to proceed to completion, normally
several hours.
• Heat or cool to cure temperatures.
• Cool and empty the reactor.
• Production reactors are stirred, jacketed vessels of several
thousand gallons capacity. Here, a stirred tank reactor is
considered as an example of a chemical system.

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 A stirred tank reactor

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 Assumptions for the system

• Fluid in the tank is perfectly mixed so that it is at

uniform temperature
• The tank is insulated to eliminate heat loss to the
surrounding air.
• There is no heat storage in the insulation.

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 Derivation of the transfer function

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 Derivation of the transfer function

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 Can you derive the transfer function for this system?

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 … and this?

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 T.F of multiple input system

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 T.F of multiple input system

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 T.F of multiple input system

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 References

1. Advanced Control Systems Engineering, Ronald

Burns
2. Modern Control Engineering, Ogata
3. Chemical Process Control and Chemical Modeling
- Stephanopoulous

…amongst others

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 And, before we break…

• When the great scorekeeper comes, he counts

not whether you won or lost but how you
played the game.

Thanks for listening…

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