Steady-state nonisothermal reactors conversions

Thus we see that for nonisothermal reactors this 1/r versus Cao Ca curve is not always an increasing function of conversion as it was for isothermal reactors even with positive-order kinetics. Since the 1/r curve can have a rninimum for the nonisothermal reactor, we confirm the possibility that the CSTR requires a smaller volume than the PFTR for positive-order kinetics. This is hue even before the multiple steady-state possibilities are accounted for, which we will discuss in the next chapter. This is evident from our 1 /r plot for the PFTR and CSTR and will occur whenever r has a sufficiently large maximum that the area under the rectangle is less than the area under the curve of 1/r versus Cao Ca-... 

In this and the previous chapters we considered the effects of nonisothermal operation on reactor behavior. The effects of nonisothermal operation can be dramatic, especially for exothermic reactions, often leading to reactor volumes many times smaller than if isothermal and often leading to the possibility of multiple steady states. Further, in nonisothermal operation, the CSTR can require a smaller volume for a given conversion than a PFTR. In this section we summarize some of these characteristics and modes of operation. For endothermic reactions, nonisothermal operation cools the reactor, and this reduces the rate, so that these reactors are inherently stable. The modes of operation can be classified as follows ... 

A theory has been developed which translates observed coke-conversion selectivity, or dynamic activity, from widely-used MAT or fixed fluidized bed laboratory catalyst characterization tests to steady state risers. The analysis accounts for nonsteady state reactor operation and poor gas-phase hydrodynamics typical of small fluid bed reactors as well as the nonisothermal nature of the MAT test. Variations in catalyst type (e.g. REY versus USY) are accounted for by postulating different coke deactivation rates, activation energies and heats of reaction. For accurate translation, these parameters must be determined from independent experiments. 

This may be seen better by referring to Figure 17.4, where monomer conversion has been plotted versus reactor residence time. (A similar plot will result from the heat balance multiplicity in a nonisothermal CSTR.) It may be seen that over a range of residence times, three values of monomer conversion are possible. As before, the upper and lower steady states are usually stable, while the middle steady state is not. 

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