Reaction Rate for Vessel i for Mixed Flow Reactors of Different Sizes in Series Calculator

Reaction Rate Formula:

\[ r_i = \frac{C_{i-1} - C_i}{t_{rC2}'} \]

Reactant Concentration in Vessel i-1 (C_i-1):

mol/m³

Reactant Concentration in Vessel i (C_i):

mol/m³

Adjusted Retention Time of Comp 2 (t_rC2'):

seconds

Reaction Rate for Vessel i (r_i):

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1. What is Reaction Rate for Vessel i in Mixed Flow Reactors?

Definition: This calculator determines the reaction rate in a specific vessel (i) in a series of mixed flow reactors based on concentration differences and retention time.

Purpose: It helps chemical engineers analyze and optimize reaction rates in continuous flow reactor systems with multiple vessels in series.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

\[ r_i = \frac{C_{i-1} - C_i}{t_{rC2}'} \]

Where:

\( r_i \) — Reaction rate in vessel i (mol/m³·s)
\( C_{i-1} \) — Reactant concentration in previous vessel (mol/m³)
\( C_i \) — Reactant concentration in current vessel (mol/m³)
\( t_{rC2}' \) — Adjusted retention time for component 2 (seconds)

Explanation: The difference in concentrations between adjacent vessels divided by the adjusted retention time gives the reaction rate.

3. Importance of Reaction Rate Calculation

Details: Accurate reaction rate determination is crucial for reactor design, process optimization, and ensuring desired product yields in chemical processes.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the reactant concentrations in adjacent vessels (must be positive) and the adjusted retention time (must be > 0). The calculator will compute the reaction rate.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is adjusted retention time?
A: It's the actual retention time minus the time taken by the mobile phase to travel through the column, representing the true interaction time between solute and stationary phase.

Q2: Why does concentration decrease between vessels?
A: The concentration typically decreases as reactants are converted to products in each reactor vessel in the series.

Q3: What if my reaction rate is negative?
A: A negative value suggests an error in measurement as concentrations should decrease (C_i-1 > C_i) in normal operation.

Q4: How does reactor size affect the calculation?
A: Different sizes affect retention time and thus the reaction rate, which is accounted for in the adjusted retention time parameter.

Q5: Can this be used for batch reactors?
A: No, this formula is specifically designed for continuous mixed flow reactors in series.