Cre PDF

Autocatalytic Reactors
When a material reacts away by any nth order rate (n > 0) in a batch reactor,
Its rate of disappearance is rapid at the start when the concentration of reactant
is high. This rate then slows progressively as reactant is consumed. In an
autocatalytic reaction, however, the rate at the start is low because little
product is present, it increases to a maximum as product is formed and then
drops again to a low value as reactant is consumed. Figure 1 shows a typical
situation.
Reactions with such rate-concentration curves lead to interesting optimization
problems. In addition, they provide a good illustration of the general design
method presented in this chapter. For these reasons let us examine these reactions
1
in some detail. In our approach we deal exclusively with their ,

curves with their characteristic minima, as shown in Fig. 1.
Figure 1
Plug Flow Versus Mixed Flow Reactor, No Recycle.
For any particular rate concentration curve a comparison of areas in Fig. 2 will
show which reactor is superior (which requires a smaller volume) for a given job.
We thus find:
1. At low conversion the mixed reactor is superior to the plug flow reactor.
2. At high enough conversions the plug flow reactor is superior.
These findings differ from ordinary nth-order reactions (n > 0) where the plug
flow reactor is always more efficient than the mixed flow reactor. In addition,
we should note that a plug flow reactor will not operate at all with a feed of
pure reactant. In such a situation the feed must be continually primed with
product, an ideal opportunity for using a recycle reactor.
Figure 2: For autocatalytic reactions mixed flow is more efficient at low conversions,
plug flow is more efficient at high conversions.
The performance equation for recycle reactors, good for any kinetics, any
value and for , = 0 is as below:
Optimum Recycle Operations.
When material is to be processed to some fixed final conversion in a
recycle reactor, reflection suggests that there must be a particular recycle ratio
which is optimum in that it minimizes the reactor volume or space-time.
Let us determine this value of R.
The optimum recycle ratio is found by differentiating Eq. given above with
respect to R and setting to zero, thus
From Calculus Differentiation under Integral sign is performed as mentioned

below:
Then,
Thus applying the aforementioned theorem in our case we get;

Where,
Combining and rearranging then gives for the optimum
In words, the optimum recycle ratio introduces to the reactor a feed whose

value (KL in Fig. 3) equals the average value in the reactor

as a whole (PQ in Fig. 3). Figure 3 compares this optimum with conditions
where the recycle is either too high or too low.
For constant density system in terms of concentration of reactant A
Figure 3: Correct recycle ratio for an autocatalytic reaction compared with recycle
ratios which are too high and too low.
Occurrence of Autocatalytic Reactions.

The most important examples of autocatalytic reactions are the broad class of
fermentation reactions which result from the reaction of microorganism on an
organic feed. When they can be treated as single reactions, the methods of this
chapter can be applied directly.
Another type of reaction which has autocatalytic behavior is the exothermic
reaction (say, the combustion of fuel gas) proceeding in an adiabatic manner with
cool reactants entering the system. In such a reaction, called autothermal, heat
may be considered to be the product which sustains the reaction. Thus, with plug
flow the reaction will die. With backmixing the reaction will be self-sustaining
because the heat generated by the reaction can raise fresh reactants to a
temperature at which they will react. Autothermal reactions are of great
importance in solid catalyzed gas-phase systems.
Reactor Combinations
For autocatalytic reactions all sorts of reactor arrangements are to be considered
if product recycle or product separation with recycle is allowable. In general,
for a rate-concentration curve as shown in Fig. 4 one should always try to
reach point M in one step (using mixed flow in a single reactor), then follow
with plug flow or as close to plug flow as possible. This procedure is shown as
the shaded area in Fig. 4 a.
When separation and reuse of unconverted reactant is possible, operate at
point M (see Fig. 4 b).
The volume required is now the very minimum, less than any of the previous
ways of operating. However, the overall economics, including the cost of
separation and of recycle, will determine which scheme is the optimum overall.
Figure 4: (a) The best multiple reactor scheme. (b) The best scheme when unconverted
reactant can be separated and recycled.

Note: For solving numerical, If we get a U shaped curve between then we

should proceed with the autocatalytic reactor approach.
Question:
Solution:
IF = 0.9 = 1 so we will focus from = 10 1
We should operate the first reactor in series upto concentration of A, = 4(The point at
which rate is maximum=5 unit and second reactor from = 4 = 1.0.
For mixed flow reactor:
= = 1.2 2
For Plug flow reactor:
= = 6 2
v= 0.13 /
= /
= 0.12 3
Similarly = 0.60 3
Thus total volume of reactor system (MFR followed by PFR) = 0.12+0.60=0.723

Cre PDF

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Cre PDF

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Cre PDF

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Autocatalytic Reactors

From Calculus Differentiation under Integral sign is performed as mentioned

Thus applying the aforementioned theorem in our case we get;

Combining and rearranging then gives for the optimum

Occurrence of Autocatalytic Reactions.

For mixed flow reactor:

For Plug flow reactor:

Thus total volume of reactor system (MFR followed by PFR) = 0.12+0.60=0.723

You might also like