Chemical Reactors

Dr Josephine Lai Chang Hui

Chemical Reactors

Main types of reactors

Batch reactors Continuous-flow reactors

1. Continuous-stirred
tank reactor (CSTR)
2. Plug Flow Reactor
(PFR)
3. Packed-bed reactor
(PBR)
Batch Reactors
Batch Reactors
• Application:
1. Small-scale operation,
2. For testing new processes that have not been fully developed,
3. For the manufacture of expensive products,
4. For processes that are difficult to convert to continuous operations.
Batch Reactors
Batch Reactors
Continuous-flow reactors:
1. Continuous-stirred tank
reactor (CSTR)
Continuous-stirred tank reactor (CSTR)
• Known as backmix reactor
• Application:
1. Liquid phase reaction
Continuous-stirred tank reactor (CSTR)
• Condition:
1. Liquid phase
2. Perfectly mixed
3. Operate at steady state
Continuous-stirred tank reactor (CSTR)
Continuous-flow reactors:
2. Plug Flow Reactor (PFR)
Plug Flow Reactor (PFR)
• Application:
1. Used most often for gas-phase reactions.
Plug Flow Reactor (PFR)
Plug Flow Reactor (PFR)
 Continuous-flow reactors:
3. Packed-bed reactor (PBR)
Packed-bed reactor (PBR)
Packed-bed reactor (PBR)
Packed-bed reactor (PBR)
Summary of reactor mole balances
Design equation
Reactor Comment Mole balance Algebraic form Integral form
Differential form
Batch No spatial variation

CSTR No spatial variation,

steady state

PFR steady state

PBR steady state

Example 1
Example 1
Example 1
Example 1
Example 1
Thank You