Unit 20. Optimization of Batch Reactor Processes

This website provides learning and teaching tools for a first course on kinetics and reaction engineering. Here, in Part III of the course, the focus is on the modeling of chemical reactors. In particular, it describes reaction engineering using the three ideal reactor types: perfectly mixed batch reactors, continuous flow stirred tank reactors and plug flow reactors. After considering each of the ideal reactor types in isolation, the focus shifts to ideal reactors that are combined with other reactors or equipment to better match the characteristics of the reactor to the reactions running within it.

Section B of Part III examines reaction engineering for perfectly mixed batch reactors. Typical reaction engineering tasks involving batch reactors are identified and described. In order to become a proficient reaction engineer, one must develop an intuitive appreciation of how a reactor responds to changes in operational procedures. For this reason a detailed discussion of the qualitative analysis of batch reactors is presented in this section along with the full mathematical analysis of their behavior.

Unit 19 showed how to use the batch reactor design equations to accurately model any one step in the operating protocol for a perfectly mixed batch reactor. Unit 20 shows how the models for each of the steps in a batch reactor operating protocol can be combined to form an accurate model for an entire batch reactor process. It then illustrates how the resulting model can be used to optimize a batch reactor processes.

Learning Resources

• Archive (.zip) - Contains all learning resources listed below for this unit
• Documents to Read:
  • Unit 20 Informational Reading (.pdf)
  • Example 20.1 (.pdf)
  • Example 20.2 (.pdf)
• Videos to Watch (please right-click and save, then play back locally on your computer):
  • Unit 20 Informational Video (.mov)
  • Example 20.1 Video (.mov)
  • Example 20.2 Video (.mov)
• Reference Files:
  • Unit 20 Definitions, Nomenclature and Equations (.pdf)
• Other Files:
  • Example_20_1.m, Example_20_1_a.m and Example_20_1_b.m - MATLAB files used in the solution of Example 20.1
  • Example_20_2.m, Example_20_2_a.m and Example_20_2_b.m - MATLAB files used in the solution of Example 20.2

Teaching Resources

• Archive (.zip) - Contains all teaching resources listed below for this unit
• Sample Class
  • Online Pre-class Quiz (.pdf file)
  • Redacted slides to make available to students before class
    • Keynote 09
    • PowerPoint
  • Class Lesson Plan (.pdf)
  • Complete slides to make available to students after class
    • Keynote 09
    • PowerPoint
• Alternative Questions (.pdf) that could be used in a pre-class quiz

Practice Problems