AdvancedTopic 83 of 100Materials & Chemical
Plug flow reactors
Ideal tubular reactors with no axial mixing.
In depth
PFR (tubular) has no axial mixing; composition varies along length: V=F_A0∫dX/(-r_A). Higher conversion than a CSTR of same volume for positive-order reactions. Used for gas-phase and fast reactions; heat management along the tube is crucial.
Key points
- Differential design equation
- Pressure drop
- Packed-bed reactors
ExampleSteam cracking occurs in tubular furnace reactors.
What is Plug flow reactors?
Ideal tubular reactors with no axial mixing.
Why is it important to understand plug flow reactors?
Plug flow reactors give the highest conversion for a given volume in many reactions, which makes them common for large continuous production.
What is a plug flow reactor?
A tubular reactor in which fluid moves with no axial mixing, so each element spends the same time in the reactor.
Why is PFR volume usually smaller than CSTR volume?
In a PFR the reactant concentration stays high along the length, so the rate is higher than in a CSTR, which runs at the low outlet concentration.
How is Plug flow reactors used in practice?
Typical applications include designing a tubular reactor for a gas-phase reaction at high temperature, sizing a plug flow reactor for a fast reaction with a short residence time and comparing the volume needed for plug flow and a CSTR to reach the same conversion.
What should I learn before Plug flow reactors?
Study "Batch and CSTR reactors" first (topic 82 of 100 in Materials & Chemical). It covers the groundwork this topic builds on.
What are the key points of Plug flow reactors?
Differential design equation. Pressure drop. Packed-bed reactors.
Can you give an example of Plug flow reactors?
Steam cracking occurs in tubular furnace reactors.
What comes after Plug flow reactors?
The next topic is "Reactor design equations", which builds directly on this one.
How difficult is Plug flow reactors?
It is classed as Advanced in Materials & Chemical (topic 83 of 100). It is an advanced topic. It assumes you are comfortable with the intermediate topics in Materials & Chemical.