Integral and Differential Reactor Data Evaluation Methods

Integral and Differential Reactor Data Evaluation Methods 

The connection between integral and differential reactors and that between integral and differential methods of data evaluations are shown in Fig. 4.16 (after Froment, 1975). Data from integral reactors can be evaluated in the same way as data from differential reactors if the data are first numerically differentiated, or differentiated analytically or, more often, graphically. In cases where integral data are to be evaluated differentially, the following steps should be followed  

Draw a smooth curve through the measured data points. 

Determine the slope of the curve using numerical, analytical, or graphical methods e.g., (dcjdt) = for DCSTR. Table 4.4 lists the definitions of reaction rates in different reactor operations. 

With measurements made in a differential reactor, the values of are obtained directly. The important step of a differential data evaluation procedure consists of a comparison between the experimental data and the hypothesis of Equ. 2.53. Usually, this is done graphically using a linearization procedure (see Sect. 2.4), as is shown in Fig. 4.17 for the general case. The function f c) represents the mathematical function that was postulated in constructing the model. With the computer, nonlinear regression methods are also a realistic alternative. 

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