StirredTankReactor-1-UniversityofUtah.docVIP

Problem Statement - Stirred Tank Reactor-1 A client is running his CSTR with baffles, no stirring and bottom feeding location for both reactants, one at the center of the tank below the impeller and the other off to the side at the level of the impeller. A third tube hangs into the tank corresponding to a thermo-well allowing the temperature of the tank to be measured. Both of these changes were done at the same time and now his reactor conversion is much too low. His engineer told him that the thermo- well, feed tubes and baffles would provide sufficient mixing in this reactor so a mixer would not be needed. He wants to know which change is responsible for the low conversions being reported. The other operating conditions for the reactor are a total reactant flow rate of 100 mL/min, and a reactor volume of 1.3 L. The reaction being performed in the reactor is the the saponification of ethyl acetate with the reactants being fed at equimolar flow rates. Uniform mixing of reactants is critical to the conversion in a CSTR. You are to develop a series of data and calculations to show the effect of residence time on reactor conversion for presentation to the client. Since the laboratory hoods are not functioning, no chemicals with toxic vapors can be used so only residence time distributions and model calculations can be used to prove your point. Please run a CSTR with baffles and with bottom feed locatiosn to establish the degree of micro/macro-segregation that is observed as a function of stirring rate (rpm) for a Rushton impeller using the residence time distribution as your point of comparison. Please determine the residence time distribution for each experimental condition (rpm). Compare the residence time distributions and the micro/macro-segregation models given in Chapt 14. of Fogler’s “Elements of Reaction Engineering” 2nd edition. The client uses the saponification of ethyl acetate Et-Ac + NaOH ?NaAc + Et-OH for her reaction. The kine