ABSTRACT

Reactor is a device or process vessel that used in industrial plant in which chemical reaction
take place. The experiment involves the Continuous Stirred Tank Reactor (CSTR) that is
connected in series by piping. The experiment carried out by observing the conductivity and
the data can be obtained from the software that supervise and acquired data and then the data
is recorded. The experiment started by mixing the Nacl into the deionised water inside the
CSTR reactor which contain in it is stirrer that responsible for well and uniform mixing and
the conductivity was recorded every 3 minutes. At the initial time, the conductivity is 0
(ms/cm) at all three reactors, after that, the conductivity increases in stable condition for the
reactor 1 and reactor 3, except for reactor 2 which experience increases and decreases. From
the experiment conducted at 78.7 minutes, we got QT 1 = 13.2973 mS/cm and QT 3 =
13.0115 mS/cm. So, we get the step change in input concentration to the concentration of
solute in stirrer reactor in series is proportional to the time.

INTRODUCTION

CSTR
The continuous stirred-tank reactor (CSTR), is a common ideal reactor type in chemical
engineering. A CSTR often refers to a model used to estimate the key unit operation variables
when using continuous agitated-tank reactor to reach a specified output. In CSTR one or
more fluid reagents are introduced into a tank reactor equipped with an impeller while the
reactor effluent is removed. The impeller stirs the reagents to ensure proper mixing. Using
chemical kinetics, the reaction's expected percent completion can be calculated, CSTR is also
widely used in industrial application and especially in industrial wastewater effluent
bioreactor
The CSTR in series has been designed to observe the dynamic behaviour of reactors
in series. The unit is based on the simplest case of well-mixed, multi staged operation that
consists three reactors connected by piping. The unit also connected to supervisory and data
control acquisition software.
AIMS / OBJECTIVES
1.

To determine the concentration response to a step change.

THEORY
General Mole Balance Equation

Assumptions

1) Steady state therefore

2) Well mixed therefore rA is the same throughout the reactor

Rearranging the generation

In terms of conversion

Reactors in Series

Given -rA as a function of conversion, , -rA = f(X), one can also design any sequence of
reactors in series provided there are no side streams by defining the overall conversion at any
point.

Mole Balance on Reactor 1

Mole Balance on Reactor 2

Given -rA = f(X) the Levenspiel Plot can be used to find the reactor volume

Tracer Analysis on the Transient Behaviors of Continuous Stirred-Tank in Series.

Unlike the above, the tracer analysis will help to understand the transient behaviors of the
continuous stirred tank reactor in series by having a step input or pulse of tracer component
such as salts. The conductivity measurement will indicate the progression of the tracer
throughout the stirred tank in series.

CO

C1

C2
C3
Figure 5

Effect of Step Change In Input Concentration to the Concentration of Solute In Stirred Tank
Reactors In Series
When a step change of solute concentration is introduced at the feed of tank 1, the tank in
series will experience a transient behaviour as of Figure 8 below. The response will be
dependent on the residence time of each reactor in series.
Concentration

Concentration

Reactor
1
Reacto 2
Reactor 3

Time
Figure
input.

7a:

Time
Step

change

Figure 7b: Transient response of

tank in series to the step input.

APPARATUS
1.

Distillation water

2.

Sodium Chloride

3.

Continuous reactor in series

4.

Stirrer system

5.

Feed tanks

6.

Waste tank

7.

Dead time coil

8.

Computerize system

9.

Stop watch

PROCEDURE
General Start-up
1.
2.
3.
4.

Two 20 L of the feed tank was fill with deionised water.

300 g of sodium chloride was dissolve in tank 1. The salt was dissolve homogenously.
Power for the control panel was opened
The stirrer assembly was secured properly in order to avoid damaged to the mechanical

seal.
5. Three ways valve (V3) was set to the position 2 in order to allow deionised water from
tank 2 will flow into the reactor 1.
6. Pump 2 was switch on to fill up all three reactors with deionised water.
7. Flowrate (F11) was set to 150 ml/min by adjusting the needle valve (V4). It is
recommended not to use high flowrate to avoid overflow. Stirrer 1, 2 and 3 was switch
on.

Experiment 1: The Effect of Step Change Input

In this experiment a step-change input would be introduced and the progression of the tracer
will be monitored via the conductivity measurements in all the three reactors.
1. Tank 1 and tank 2 was filled up with 20 L feeds deionizer water.
2. 300g of Sodium Chloride was dissolved in tank 1until the salts dissolve entirely and
the solution is homogenous.
3. Three way valve (V3) was set to position 2 so that deionizer water from tank 2 will
flow into reactor 1.

4. Pump 2 was switched on to fill up all three reactors with deionizer water.
5. The flow rate (Fl1) was set to 150 ml/min by adjusting the needles valve (V4). Do not
use too high flow rate to avoid the over flow and make sure no air bubbles trapped in
the piping. The stirrers 1, 2 and 3 were switched on.
6. The deionizer water was continued pumped for about 10 minute until the
conductivity readings for all three reactors were stable at low values.
7. The values of conductivity were recorded at t0.
8. The pump 2 was switched off after 5 minutes. The valve (V3) was switched to
position 1 and the pump 1 was switched on. The timer was started.
9. The conductivity values for each reactor were recorded every three minutes.
10. Record the conductivity values were continued until reading for reactor 3 closed to
reactor 1.
11. Pump 2 was switched off and the valve (V4) was closed.
12. All liquids in reactors were drained by opening valves V5 and V6.

RESULTS

t (min)

QT1 (mS/cm)

QT2 (mS/cm)

QT3 (mS/cm)

0.0
3.0

0.0000
4.1548

0.0000
0.0974

0.0000
0.0000

6.0

6.4002

1.2550

0.4569

9.0
12.0

8.3937
9.4582

2.3230
3.5311

0.5044
1.2413

15.0
18.3

10.5537
11.2243

4.3719
6.2656

1.9483
3.0598

21.0
24.3

11.7859
12.1956

7.2987
7.7165

3.9416
5.1929

27.0

12.3793

7.6637

6.0128

30.0
33.1

12.5618
12.7564

10.0068
9.4767

6.7706
9.2486

36.0
39.3

13.0355
12.9574

10.2471
9.4767

8.4536
9.2486

42.0
45.0

13.0897
13.1556

6.9667
7.8896

9.9025
10.3214

48.3

13.1754

9.3510

11.0788

51.6
54.0

13.3894
13.2390

12.4353
12.5590

11.3571
11.4605

57.0
60.4

13.3483
13.3804

10.4986
10.2595

11.8706
12.1610

63.1
66.0

13.1572
13.1787

10.6299
12.5229

12.3316
12.3249

69.0

13.2499

12.0174

12.6724

72.4
75.1

13.4122
13.2383

11.6054
10.6554

12.6232
12.6334

78.7

13.2973

11.1624

13.0115

78.8

13.2973

11.1624

13.0115

Conductivity vs Time

Conductivity (mS/cm)

16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0

QT 1 ( mS/cm )
QT 2 ( mS/cm )
QT 3 ( mS/cm )2

Time ( min )

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DISCUSSION

From the conducted experiment, the conductivity versus time graph was
plotted as shown above. From the graph we are going to determine the
effect of the step change to the concentration. From the graph we can see
that the concentration in the reactor 1 are higher at the initial compared
to the reactors 2 and reactors 3. This is because the diluted sodium
chloride enters the reactor 1 first and then reactor 2 bypass with the
deionised water containing from the deionised water flow into the
reactors. That is why the concentration of decreased as the diluted
sodium chloride flow bypass through reactor 1 to reactor 3 because of the
deionised water still containing in the reactors as it was not fully removed
in the third reactor.
As the time increased, the concentration of the three reactors
almost become constant, that is at the 78.7 minutes after the valve was
switched to position 2 that is at QT 1 is 13.2973, QT 2 is 11.1624 and also
QT 3 is 13.0115. According to the graph, the concentration at reactor 1
that is the inlet concentration of sodium chloride diluted were not
constantly increased may be because of the flow rate of the inlet that is
not constant at 150 mL/min.
During the data was recorded, there were some problems occur to
the computer that recorded the data. The computer was stuck and thus it
recorded not accurately for every 3 minutes. Because of the data recorded
are not accurate, the result also are affected and the graph are not so
smooth.

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CONCLUSION

As the conclusion, we can conclude that a step change in input affected

the concentration at the reactor. It can be seen from the graph plotted to
the theory that the graph is almost the same. But because of the error
during the data recorded, there are some different of the graph for all
reactors as it does not smooth compared to the theory. From the results,
sometimes the time recorded is equal to 3 minutes and sometimes more than 3 minutes. So, it
will affect the result. From the theory, we should get the nearly value of conductivity for the
reactor 1 and 3. Therefore from the experiment conducted at 78.7 minutes, we got QT 1 =
13.2973 mS/cm and QT 3 = 13.0115 mS/cm. So, we get the step change in input
concentration to the concentration of solute in stirrer reactor in series is proportional to the
time.

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RECOMMENDATION

1. Make sure that the experiment is run after fully understand the equipment and
procedures.
2. Make sure that the reactor and turbine are cleaned properly. Flush the system with deionized water until no trances of salt are detected.
3. Make sure all liquids were disposed immediately after experiment. Do not leave any
solution or waste in the tanks over a long period of time.
4. Carried out the experiment carefully to avoid error especially when monitoring the
time.

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REFERENCES

1
2
3

http://www.solution.com.my/pdf/BP107(A4).pdf retrieved on 19 March 2015.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_reactor retrieved on 19 February 2015.
Elements of Chemical reaction Engineering, Fourth Edition H. Scott Fogler, Pearson
International Edition, 2006 Pearson Education, Inc.

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APPENDIX

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