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| | The [[design equation]] for a chemical reactor is based directly on the [[general balance equation]] | | The [[design equation]] for a chemical reactor is based directly on the [[general balance equation]] |
| | | | |
| − | :<math>F_{j0} - F_j + \int^V{r_jdV} = \frac{dN_j}{dt}</math> | + | :<math>F_{j0} - F_j + \int^V{r_jdV} = \frac{dN_j}{dt}</math><ref name="fogler">Fogler, H. Scott. ''Elements of Chemical Reaction Engineering, 4e''. Pearson Education: 2006.</ref> |
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| | where | | where |
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| | :F<sub>j0</sub> is the molar flow rate into the system of species j | | :F<sub>j0</sub> is the molar flow rate into the system of species j |
| | :F<sub>j</sub> is the molar flow rate out of the system of species j | | :F<sub>j</sub> is the molar flow rate out of the system of species j |
| − | :r<sub>j</sub> is the [[rate equation|rate of dissapearance]] of species j | + | :r<sub>j</sub> is the [[rate equation|rate of appearance]] of species j<ref>Since the design equation is performed on a reactant, the rate of appearance is actually negative. For this reason -r<sub>j</sub> is often substituted, to represent dissapearance of the reactant.</ref> |
| | :V is [[volume]] in which the reactor takes place | | :V is [[volume]] in which the reactor takes place |
| | :N<sub>j</sub> is the number of [[mole]]s of species j | | :N<sub>j</sub> is the number of [[mole]]s of species j |
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| − | The design equation is always performed on the [[limiting reactant]] of a reaction. | + | The design equation is typically performed on the [[limiting reactant]] of a reaction. |
| | | | |
| | + | ==Batch Reactor== |
| | + | A ''batch reactor'' is the simplest form of a chemical reactor. A batch reactor is simply a vessel of fixed or variable volume which has no material flows into or out of the system. A batch reactor could be as small as a [[beaker]] in a chemistry lab, or as large as a 1,000 gallon fermenter in a large scale [[beer|brewery]]. |
| | + | |
| | + | ===Design Equation=== |
| | + | Since batch reactors have no in or out flows, F<sub>j0</sub> and F<sub>j</sub> are both equal to 0. If the reactor is assumed to be [[well mixed]], then there are no spacial variations of r<sub>j</sub> (in other words, r<sub>j</sub> is a constant and can be taken outside of the [[integral]]. Thus, the design equation for a batch reactor is |
| | + | |
| | + | :<math>r_jV = \frac{dN_j}{dt}</math>. |
| | + | |
| | + | ===Uses=== |
| | + | Batch reactors are useful for |
| | + | *small-scale operations |
| | + | *testing new processes |
| | + | *manufacturing expensive products |
| | + | *very slow processes (such as [[biology|biological]] reactions) |
| | + | |
| | + | ==Notes== |
| | + | <references /> |
| | [[Category:Chemical Engineering]] | | [[Category:Chemical Engineering]] |