Models for Ideal Single-Phase Reactors

Summary

In this chapter the most important operation modes of reactors are considered. Models are developed by combining simple reaction kinetics for single-phase reactions with mass balances for five ideal model reactors: the ideal batch reactor; the semi-batch reactor; the plug flow reactor; the perfectly mixed continuous reactor; and the cascade of perfectly mixed reactors. For isothermal conditions, conversions can be calculated on the basis of chemical kinetics only. The important concept of selectivity is introduced here, and applied for multiple reactions in ideal single-phase reactors.

The resulting reactor models can be used for approximating real reactors, in which transport phenomena are not rate determining. Therefore these reactor models are applicable irrespective of the scale of operation.