Plug flows

Multiple reactions in parallel producing byproducts. Consider again the system of parallel reactions from Eqs. (2.16) and (2.17). A batch or plug-flow reactor maintains higher average concentrations of feed (Cfeed) than a continuous well-mixed reactor, in which the incoming feed is instantly diluted by the PRODUCT and... 

In general terms, if the reaction to the desired product has a higher order than the byproduct reaction, use a batch or plug-flow reactor. If the reaction to the desired product has a lower order than the byproduct reaction, use a continuous well-mixed reactor. 

Keep both Cpeedi and Cpeed2 high (i.e., use a batch or plug-flow reactor). 

The series byproduct reaction requires a plug-flow reactor. Thus, for the mixed parallel and series system above, if... 

But what is the correct choice a byproduct reaction calls for a continuous well-mixed reactor. On the other hand, the byproduct series reaction calls for a plug-flow reactor. It would seem that, given this situation, some level of mixing between a plug-flow and a continuous well-mixed reactor will give the best... 

A series combination of plug-flow and continuous well-mixed reactors (Fig. 2.3c and d)... 

Polymerization reactions. Polymers are characterized by the distribution of molecular w eight about the mean as well as by the mean itself. The breadth of this distribution depends on whether a batch or plug-flow reactor is used on the one hand or a continuous well-mixed reactor on the other. The breadth has an important influence on the mechanical and other properties of the polymer, and this is an important factor in the choice of reactor. 

Solution We wish to avoid as much as possible the production of di- and triethanolamine, which are formed by series reactions with respect to monoethanolamine. In a continuous well-mixed reactor, part of the monoethanolamine formed in the primary reaction could stay for extended periods, thus increasing its chances of being converted to di- and triethanolamine. The ideal batch or plug-flow arrangement is preferred, to carefully control the residence time in the reactor. 

Another possibility to improve selectivity is to reduce the concentration of monoethanolamine in the reactor by using more than one reactor with intermediate separation of the monoethanolamine. Considering the boiling points of the components given in Table 2.3, then separation by distillation is apparently possible. Unfortunately, repeated distillation operations are likely to be very expensive. Also, there is a market to sell both di- and triethanolamine, even though their value is lower than that of monoethanolamine. Thus, in this case, repeated reaction and separation are probably not justified, and the choice is a single plug-flow reactor. 

Because the characteristic of tubular reactors approximates plug-flow, they are used if careful control of residence time is important, as in the case where there are multiple reactions in series. High surface area to volume ratios are possible, which is an advantage if high rates of heat transfer are required. It is sometimes possible to approach isothermal conditions or a predetermined temperature profile by careful design of the heat transfer arrangements. 

The performance of fluidized-bed reactors is not approximated by either the well-stirred or plug-flow idealized models. The solid phase tends to be well-mixed, but the bubbles lead to the gas phase having a poorer performance than well mixed. Overall, the performance of a fluidized-bed reactor often lies somewhere between the well-stirred and plug-flow models. 

Continuous well-mixed reactors to plug-flow... 

Plug-flow reactors have a decreasing concentration gradient from inlet to outlet, which means that toxic compounds in the feed remain undiluted during their passage along the reactor, and this may inhibit or kill many of the microorganisms within the... 

The first distinction to be drawn, as far as heat transfer is concerned, is between the plug-flow and continuous well-mixed reactor. In the plug-flow reactor shown in Fig. 13.1, the heat transfer can take place over a range of temperatures. The shape of the profile depends on... 

Figure 13.1 The heat transfer characteristics of plug-flow reactors.

The time-to-distance transfonnation requires fast mixing and a known flow profile, ideally a turbulent flow with a well-defined homogeneous composition perpendicular to the direction of flow ( plug-flow ), as indicated by tire shaded area in figure B2.5.1. More complicated profiles may require numerical transfomiations. 

Discussion of the concepts and procedures involved in designing packed gas absorption systems shall first be confined to simple gas absorption processes without compHcations isothermal absorption of a solute from a mixture containing an inert gas into a nonvolatile solvent without chemical reaction. Gas and Hquid are assumed to move through the packing in a plug-flow fashion. Deviations such as nonisotherma1 operation, multicomponent mass transfer effects, and departure from plug flow are treated in later sections. 

Effect of Axial Dispersion on Column Performance. Another assumption underlying standard design methods is that the gas and the Hquid phases move in plug-flow fashion through the column. In reaHty, considerable departure from this ideal flow assumption exists (4) and different fluid... 

Fig. 17. Effect of axial dispersion in both phases on solute distribution through countercurrent mass transfer equipment. A, piston or plug flow B, axial...

If, on the other hand, the Hquid flows in a plug-flow-like manner over the tray, but the vapor may be assumed to mix between the trays so that it enters each tray in uniform composition, the result maybe calculated according to (112). 

In the case of unmixed vapors between the plates, the equations, being implicit in Ey, have also been solved numerically (112). The results depend on the arrangement of the downcomers and are not too different numerically from equation 93. In reaHty, however, the Hquid is neither completely backmixed nor can the tray be considered as a plug-flow device. 

Equilibrium Theory. The general features of the dynamic behavior may be understood without recourse to detailed calculations since the overall pattern of the response is governed by the form of the equiUbrium relationship rather than by kinetics. Kinetic limitations may modify the form of the concentration profile but they do not change the general pattern. To illustrate the different types of transition, consider the simplest case an isothermal system with plug flow involving a single adsorbable species present at low concentration in an inert carrier, for which equation 30 reduces to... 

Detailed Modeling Results. The results of a series of detailed calculations for an ideal isothermal plug-flow Langmuir system are summarized in Figure 15. The soHd lines show the form of the theoretical breakthrough curves for adsorption and desorption, calculated from the following set of model equations and expressed in terms of the dimensionless variables T, and P ... 

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