Reactor Hydrodynamics and Mixing

Water/catalyst/light-contacting has an important influence on the reactor s performance. Flow patterns determine the extent of the segregation and the non-ideal mixing. 

To establish the mixing conditions in Photo-CREC-Water n, step and impulse phenol concentration perturbations were applied at the reactor entry. Data are analyzed using an axial dispersion model and a series-of-tanks model. 

In the case of the axial diffusivity model with step perturbation, the following equation was used (Levenspiel, 1999 Smith, 1986)  

Alternatively, for the agitated tanks in series model, the following relationship was 

FIGURE 2.12. Experimental results displaying a step perturbation as measured at the outlet of Photo-CREC-Water II. ( ) Experimental data. (-) In-series tank model estimation, (- -) Diffusion model estimation. 

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