:Introduction

The time takes a molecule to pass through a vessel is called its

residence time. The value of the residence time depends on many
factors; the degree of mixing inside the vessel is one of them. The
average residence time for all reacting molecules affects the
conversion of those molecules. To design a reactor for a certain
conversion, the residence time distribution (RTD) is important to
know, to choose the suitable design equation. Design equations for
reactors are based on the flow pattern inside the reactor. The flow
inside ideal reactors (CSTR or PFR) is formulated and used to derive
their design equations (Mole balance equations). If the flow pattern
is not assumed mixed or plug, the reactor is non-ideal. Therefore,
experimental methods are used to study that non-ideal reactor to
determine the conversion out of that reactor. Several methods are
used experimentally to describe the mixing inside reactors and
determine (RTD). One of these methods is the pulse method, in
which a tracer (as a pulse) is injected into the inflow stream.
Samples of the exit stream are collected and the tracer
concentration is determined as a function of time. A plot of tracer
concentration versus time is known as concentration distribution
function C(t). From the concentration distribution C(t), the age
.distribution function E(t) can be constructed
In this experiment the pulse input method is to be used to
.determine RTD calculations

:Result and discussion

In this experiment the ink was introduced to the system as a pulse
input into the feed stream entering the tank in as short a time as
possible. The outlet concentration was then measured with time.
Figure one below shows the change in the outlet stream
concentration with time, as expected it has initially increased until it
reach a maxima and then it has decreased as a result of water flow
into the tank
Table 1: Residence time distribution data

Time(s)

C(t)dt
(mol.sec/L
)

Absorbence(m
ol/L)

E (t)(s-1)

t*E
(t)

tm=(tE(t)dt
)

(ttm)(s)

F(t)

(ttm)E(t)

(s)2

14525.043

20

0.032

0.1

0.0055

0.0439

0.131735077

0.00659

400

0.878234

2.6347

40

0.085

0.158

0.0086

0.0518

0.155518609

0.00389

1600

2.073581

6.22074

60

0.085

0.158

0.0086

0.1419

0.283753251

0.00473

3600

8.512598

17.0252

80

0.07

0.14

0.0076

0.1892

0.567506501

0.00709

6400

15.13351

45.4005

100

0.055

0.131

0.0071

0.2296

0.688920152

0.00689

10000

22.96401

68.892

120

0.051

0.125

0.0068

0.2756

0.551136121

0.00459

14400

33.06817

66.1363

140

0.05

0.2

0.0066

0.3183

0.954938824

0.00682

19600

44.56381

133.691

160

0.049

0.2

0.0062

0.2728

0.818518992

0.00512

25600

43.65435

130.963

180

0.035

0.12

0.005

0.3274

0.654815194

0.00364

32400

58.93337

117.867

200

0.03

0.21

0.0042

0.3183

0.954938824

0.00477

40000

63.66259

190.988

220

0.02

0.18

0.0025

0.3001

0.900370891

0.00409

48400

66.0272

198.082

240

0.01

0.09

0.0012

0.2728

0.545679328

0.00227

57600

65.48152

130.963

260

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.2365

0.709383127

0.00273

67600

61.47987

184.44

After measuring the Absorbance and time in the experiment, Table 1

was done and it shows the value of tm = 0.218s, which is the mean
time the ink particles spent in the vessel. And the value of the
.variance =69.847 s, with standard deviation = 8.35 s

90.0
80.0
70.0
60.0
50.0
40.0
30.0
20.0
10.0
0
003

052

002

051

001

05

.Figure 1: the concentration of the outlet stream with time

The figure above shows the change in Absorbance (concentration of
ink) with Time, the Absorbance increases with increasing time till it
reaches the peak Abs = 0.104mol/L at time t = 60 s, then it starts
decreasing with increasing time till it reaches 0.0 mol/L ( the final
.reading taken during the experiment)
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
0
0
0
0
0
003

052

002

051

001

05

Figure4: E (t) Vs Time

The figure above is for the Residence time distribution function E(t)
change with time, It shows the same behavior as the Abs time
figure but here it has a maxima of 0.002365. Both of the figures

show a little bit deviated behavior from the ideal behavior due to
.errors in sampling and calculations and personal errors as well

References
1. H. Scott Fogler, "Elements of Chemical Reaction Engineering",3rd
edition, Prentice Hall PTR, June, 2002.
Dr.Khalil Ali Halhouli Chemical Processing Laboratory Manual .2
.2nd Semester 2005/2006

Sample calculation
260

:Finding

C ( t ) dt
0

using Numerical Integration

260

C ( t ) dt
0

= 3h/8[Co+3C1+3C2+2C3+3C4+3C5+2C6+.+3CN-

+CN]

h=(tN-to)/N,

h= (260-20)/18= 13.3 sec

, 3h/8= 5

Use the above Simpson`s rule the integral calculated

and equal 1.82 (mol.s/l)
Finding the Residence time distribution function: at t = 20 sec

s-1

0.00

55

E ( t ) = 260

C (t )

C ( t ) dt
0

: Finding the mean residence time using

Simpson`s rule
260

tm= tE ( t )=0.2 0 8 s
0

Finding the Cumulative distribution function F (t) from t=0 to t=60 sec
:form Equ(6)

E ( t ) dt=
60

0.00473

F ( t )=
0

:To find the variance

340

sec2 = ( ttm ) E ( t )=69. 8

2

:Finally, to find the standard deviation

= 2= 69 . 8=8 . 35 sec