TABLE OF CONTENT

No. CONTENT PAGE

1.0 ABSTRACT/SUMMARY
2.0 INTRODUCTION
3.0 OBJECTIVES
4.0 THEORY
5.0 APPARATUS
6.0 PROCEDURE
7.0 RESULTS
8.0 SAMPLE OF CALCULATION
9.0 DISCUSSION
10.0 CONCLUSION
11.0 RECOMMENDATION
12.0 REFERENCE
13.0 APPENDICES























ABSTRACT
The following report presents the results of two experiments. The first one is to determine
the effect of a pulse input in a tubular flow reactor while the second experiment is to figure out
the effect of a step change input in a tubular flow reactor. Both experiment also conducted to
construct the Residence Time Distribution (RTD) function. In order to examine the objectives,
sodium chloride (NaCl) solution and deionized water is use along Tubular Flow Reactor.
Basically, both method be used to determine the residence time distribution as both experiment
results show approximately to the theoretically residence time distribution.

INTRODUCTION
The Plug Flow Reactor is a reactor in the form of a cylindrical tube through which feed
enters at one end and exists at the other end. In an actual tubular reactor, there is incomplete
mixing in both radial and axial directions, whereas in ideal tubular reactor there is assumed to be
complete mixing perpendicular to the direction of flow and no mixing in the direction of flow.

Figure 1 : Schematic diagram of Plug Flow Reactor
In the plug flow, the residence time in the reactor is the same for all elements of fluid, the
reaction proceeds as the reactants in a plug progress along the reactor tube. However, no
interchange of material in the plug with material in the other leading or following plugs occurs.
There is ideally no back-mixing in the reactor and there exists a uniform velocity profile across
the radius. Concentrations vary along the longitudinal direction, but not the radial direction.
Except when isothermal operation is possible, temperature will also vary with the axial direction.


Figure 2: Flow of the reaction
The performance ofreactor depends upon the residence time of material in the reactor. In
case of plug flow reactor, the fluid or material flow in an orderly manner and all the materials
remains for equal time in the reactor. In batch reactor also all the fluid remains for equal time in
the reactor. This time spent by the fluid in the reactor is called the residence time. Residence
time distribution(RTD) in a reactor is a characteristic of mixing that occurs in the chemical
reactor. The RTD characteristics of plug flow reactor and CSTR are quite different because in
Plug Flow Reactor there is no axial mixing while in CSTR the content are uniformly mixed.
RTD offers a clue to the type of mixing occurring in the reactor.

Diagram 1 : E(t) curve
Residence time distribution has gained importance due to widespread acceptance of
continuous process in chemical manufacture and processing. In order to understand the concept
of residence time distribution, it is necessary to distinguish between Macromixing and
Micromixing phenomena. RTD studies are quite useful for the understanding of
macromixing. The reason is it is, difficult to exact the position of fluid elements during their
residence in the system and it cant be extracted from residence time distribution function.
The knowledge of RTD is directly useful in vessel design, improvement in performance
and for the first order kinetics conversion calculations. Detailed knowledge of residence time
distribution with the understanding of the overall flow pattern helps in development of a model
of the system and this model can be used for the handling complicated kinetics. The choice of
RTD characterizing parameters is often a matter of balancing complicity against the required
degree of precision. In this regards, mixed model approach has gained importance in RTD
understanding. According to this concept, a real reactor is considered as consisting of various
flow regimes with known resistance time distribution (such as plug flow regions, perfectly mixed
regions) and various types of flow.

In the pulse input method of determining the residence time distribution(RTD) of a
tubular flow, a concentrated pulse of reactor is introduce into the influent water and effluent
tracer concentration is monitored over time.

Diagram 2 : Graph of the effect on the pulse input in tubular flow.
The step change input method involves the introduction of a constant dose of the tracer
until the effluent tracer concentration reaches a steady-state level.


Diagram 3: Graph of the effect of step change in tubular flow
OBJECTIVES
EXPERIMENT 1
1. To examine the effect of a pulse input in a tubular flow reactor.
2. To construct a residence time distribution (RTD) function for the tubular flow reactor.
EXPERIMENT 2
1. To examine the effect of a step change input in a tubular flow reactor.
2. To construct a residence time distribution (RTD) function for the tubular flow reactor.
THEORY
In a tubular reactor, the feed enters at one end of a cylindrical tube and the product stream
leaves at the other end. The long tube and the lack of provision for stirring prevent complete
mixing of the fluid in the tube. Hence the properties of the flowing stream will vary from one
point to another, namely in both radial and axial directions. In the ideal tubular reactor, which is
called the plug flow reactor, specific assumptions are made about the extent of mixing:
1. No mixing in the axial direction, i.e., the direction of flow
2. Complete mixing in the radial direction
3. A uniform velocity profile across the radius.
The absence of longitudinal mixing is the special characteristics of this type of reactor. It is
an assumption at the opposite extreme from the complete mixing assumption of the ideal stirred
tank reactor. The validity of the assumptions will depend on the geometry of the reactor and the
flow conditions. Deviations, which are frequent but not always important, are of two kinds:
1. Mixing in longitudinal direction due to vortices and turbulence
2. Incomplete mixing in radial direction in laminar flow conditions




Mass Balance
For a time element t and a volume element V, the mass balance for species i is given by the
QA CA v t- QA CAv+vt - rAVt = 0
Where QA : volumetric flow rate of reactant A to the reactor, L/s
CA : concentration of reactant A, mol/L
rA : rate of disappearance of reactant A, mol/Ls
The conversion, X, is defined as:
X = (initial concentration - final concentration) / (initial concentration)
Since the system is at steady state, the accumulation term is zero. The equation can be written as:
-QA CA - rAV = 0
Dividing by V and taking limit as V 0
dCA/dV = -rA/QA
This is the relationship between concentration and size of reactor for the plug flow
reactor. Here rate is a variable, but varies with longitudinal position (volume in the reactor, rather
than with time).
Integrating,
-dV/ QA = dCA/rA
At the entrance: V = 0
CA = CA0
At the exit: V = VR (total reactor volume)
CA = CA (exit conversion)

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
General Start-Up Procedures for Experiments 1 & 2
1. All valves are ensured that initially closed except valves V4, V8 and V17.
2. A 20 liter of salt solution (e.g. sodium chloride, NaCl; 0.05 M)are prepared.
3. The feed tank B2 with the NaCl solution is filled.
4. The water de-ionizer is connected to the laboratory water supply. Valve V3 is opened and
feed tank B1 is filled up with the de-ionized water. Valve V3 is closed.
5. The power for the control panel is switched on.
6. Valves V2, V4 and V10 are opened. Pump P1 is switched on. P1 is adjusted to obtain a
flow rate of approximately 150 ml/min at flow meter FI-01. Valve V10 is closed and
pump P1 is switched on.
7. Valves V6. V8 and V12 are opened. Pump P2 is switched. P2 adjusted to obtain a flow
rate of approximately 150 ml/min at flow meter FI-02. Valve V12 closed and switched
off pump P2.
8. The unit now ready for experiment.

General Shut-Down Procedures
1. Switched off both pumps P1, P2 and P3. Closed valves V2 and V6.
2. Switched off the heaters.
3. Keep the cooling water circulating through the reactor while the stirrer motor is running
to allow the water jacket to cool down to room temperature.
4. If the equipment is not going to be used for long period of time, drain all liquid from the
unit by opening valves V1 to V19. Rinse the feed tanks with clean water.
5. Turn off the power for the control panel.


Experiment 1
1. The general start-up procedures are performed.
2. Valve V9 is opened and pump P1 is switched on.
3. P1 flow controller adjusted to give a constant flow rate of de-ionized water into the
reactor R1 at approximately 150 ml/min at FI-01.
4. Let the de-ionized water to continue flowing through the reactor until the inlet (QI-01)
and outlet (QI-02) conductivity values are stable at low levels. Record both conductivity
values.
5. V9 is closed and switched off pump P1. Valve V11 opened and switched on pump P2.
Start the timer simultaneously.
6. P2 flow controller is adjusted to give a constant flow rate of salt solution into the reactor
R1 at 150 ml/min at FI-02.
7. Let the salt solution to flow for 1 minute, then reset and restart the timer. This will start
the time at the average pulse input.
8. Close valve V11 and switch off pump P2. Then, quickly open valve V9 and switch on
pump P1.
9. Make sure the de-ionized water flow rate is always maintained at 150 ml/min by
adjusting P1.
10. Start recording both the inlet (QI-01) and outlet (QI-02) conductivity values at regular
intervals of 30 seconds.
11. Continue recording the conductivity values until all readings are almost constant and
approach the stable low level values.





Experiment 2
1. Perform the general start-up procedures.
2. Open valve V9 and switch on pump P1.
3. Adjust P1 to give a constant flow rate of de-ionized water into the reactor R1 at
approximately 150 ml/min at FI-01.
4. Let the de-ionized water to continue flowing through the reactor until the inlet (QI-01)
and outlet (QI-02) conductivity values are stable at low levels. Record both conductivity
values.
5. Close valve V9 and switch off pump P1.
6. Open valve V11 and switch on pump P2. Start the timer simultaneously.
7. Record both the inlet (QI-01) and outlet (QI-02) conductivity values at regular intervals
of 30 seconds.
8. Continue recording the conductivity values until all readings are almost constant.












RESULTS
Flow Rate = 700 mL/min

Time (min) Conductivity I (mS/cm) Conductivity II(mS/cm)
Inlet Outlet Inlet Outlet
0.00 0.2 2.3 3.5 0.0
0.50 0.0 2.4 3.6 0.0
1.00 0.0 2.4 3.6 0.0
1.50 0.0 2.4 3.6 1.1
2.00 0.0 1.4 3.6 1.9
2.50 0.0 0.4 3.7 2.0
3.00 0.0 0.2 3.7 2.1
3.50 0.0 0.1 3.7 2.1
4.00 0.0 0.0 3.7 2.1
4.50 3.7 2.1

Experiment 1






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time (min)
Conductivity Outlet (mS/cm) vs. time (min)
Outlet
Experiment 2














-0.5
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time (min)
Outlet conductivity (mS/cm) vs time (min)
Outlet
DISCUSSION