First Order Reaction in Two Mixed Flow Reactors in Series

A first order reaction is to be treated in a series of two mixed reactors. Show that the total volume of the two reactors is minimum when the reactors are equal in size.

Assumptions:

1. Constant density system
2. Isothermal operation
3. Steady operation.

For the CSTR in series,

V_i = F_Ao(X_A,i - X_A,i-1)/(-r_A)_i → 1

For two reactors,

→ 2

From the rate equation,

(-r_A)₁ = k C_Ao (1 - X_A1) → 3

(-r_A)₂ = k C_Ao (1 - X_A2) → 4

substituting 3 and 4 in equn.2,

  → 5

for minimum V,

→ 6

from equn.5 and 6, we obtain

from which,

1/( 1- X_A1)² = 1/(1 - X_A2)

( 1- X_A1)² = (1 - X_A2)

X_A2 = 1 - ( 1- X_A1)² = 1 -1 + 2X_A1 - X_A1² = 2X_A1 - X_A1² = X_A1(2 - X_A1) → 7

Substituting for X_A2 from equn.7 in equn.5 for the last term (V₂),

That is, for a first order equation, the two stages must be of equal size to minimize V. The proof can be extended to an N-stage CSTR. For other orders of reaction, this result is approximately correct. The conclusion is that tanks in series should all be the same size, which accords with ease of fabrication.