Rate Constant Formula:
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Definition: This calculator determines the rate constant for a second-order reaction in a plug flow reactor, accounting for volume changes during the reaction.
Purpose: It helps chemical engineers design and analyze plug flow reactors for second-order reactions with volume changes.
The calculator uses the formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula accounts for the reaction kinetics and volume changes in the plug flow reactor.
Details: Accurate rate constants are essential for reactor design, process optimization, and predicting reaction behavior.
Tips: Enter space time, initial concentration, fractional volume change, and reactant conversion (between 0 and 1). All values except conversion must be positive.
Q1: What is space time in reactor design?
A: Space time is the time required to process one reactor volume of feed at entrance conditions.
Q2: When would fractional volume change be significant?
A: Volume changes become important in gas-phase reactions where mole numbers change or when density varies significantly.
Q3: What does a second-order reaction mean?
A: The reaction rate depends on the concentration of two reactant species or the square of one reactant's concentration.
Q4: How is reactant conversion defined?
A: Conversion is the fraction of reactant that has been transformed to products (0 = none, 1 = complete conversion).
Q5: What are typical units for the rate constant?
A: For second-order reactions, the rate constant has units of m³/(mol·s) or equivalent volume/mole-time units.