Interactive Self-Study Module: Isothermal Plug Flow Reactor
Overview:
This module uses screencasts and interactive simulations to explain mass balances for an isothermal plug flow reactor. It then provides example problems and step-by-step quiz simulations to allow the user to test themselves. We suggest using the learning resources in the following order:
- Attempt to answer the multiple choice ConcepTest and solve the example problem before watching the screencasts or working with the simulations.
- Watch the screencasts that describe isothermal plug flow reactors and answer the questions within the first screencast.
- Use the three interactive simulations to further understand isothermal plug flow reactors.
- Try to solve the three example problems before watching the solutions in the screencasts.
- Answer the ConcepTests.
- Look at the list of key points, but only after you try to list the key points yourself.
Motivation:
This module is intended for a kinetics/reaction design course.
Before studying this module, you should be able to:
- Apply and solve mass balances.
- Describe the ideal gas law.
- Explain what plug flow means.
- Describe what the rate of reaction is and how reaction rates depend on concentrations.
- Solve systems of ordinary differential equations numerically (ODEs) using software such as Polymath, Mathcad, Matlab, and Mathematica. These ODEs are initial-value problems.
After studying this module, you should be able to:
- Determine the size of an isothermal PFR for a single reaction, given the rate constant, order of reaction, inlet reactant concentration, and inlet flow rate.
- Determine the conversion in an isothermal PFR for a single reaction, given the rate constant, order of reaction, inlet reactant concentration, and inlet flow rate.
- Use the ideal gas law to account for changes in the volumetric flow rate in the plug flow reactor due to changes in the number of gas-phase moles in a reaction.
- Explain how the volumetric flow rate changes with distance down an isothermal PFR for a gas phase reaction.
- Predict how reactant flow rates change with the feed volumetric flow rate increases to an isothermal PFR.