The concentration of this tracer is varied by a known function and overall flow conditions in the vessel are determined by tracking the concentration of the tracer in the effluent of the vessel.Īutomated chemical reactors can quickly convert from batch to CSTR operation. The RTD of a fluid in a vessel can be experimentally determined by the addition of a non-reactive tracer substance into the system inlet. For example, a cascade of CSTRs exhibits tighter residence time and reaction resolution as the number of reactors increases in the cascade setup. This helps to define the mixing and flow characteristics in the reactor and to compare the behavior of the reactor to ideal models. As a result, a probability distribution function, RTD, is used to describe the amount of time that any finite portion of the fluid resides in the reactor. Deviation from ideality can result from channeling of fluid through the vessel, recycling of fluid within the vessel or the presence of poorly mixed or stationary regions in the vessel. Tank reactors do not satisfy the conditions associated with idealized flow patterns. Single units not optimal for reactions with slow kineticsĪn ideal CSTR shows ideal mixing and well-defined flow behavior that can be characterized by Residence Time Distribution (RTD).Steady state needs to be maintained so system needs to be well understood.Overall throughput per unit volume typically lower than tubular flow reactors.Multiple units can be easily joined for cascade operation or integration in more complex flow systems with PFR, etc.Interior of reactor is accessible for Process Analytical Technology (PAT).

Less expensive and easier to construct than dedicated specialty flow systems.Continuous Stirred Tank Reactor behavior is well understood, including in mixing, reaction calorimetry, dosing options and chemical kinetics.Temperature control is easily maintained.In addition, PFRs have higher operation and maintenance costs than CSTRs. However, they are not typically used for highly exothermic reactions since rapid increases in temperature are difficult to control. PFR reactors tend to be more space efficient and have higher conversion rates. For this type of synthesis, batch reactors are typically the preferred solution. A CSTR can produce large amounts of product per unit time and operate for long periods of time, but is not as useful for reactions with slow kinetics.

Tanks in series infinite tanks cstr