2022chb1055

Purab Gupta
CRE AND THERMODYNAMICS LAB

RTD STUDIES IN A PACKED

BACKE REACTOR

STUDIES IN PLUG FLOW TUBULAR REACTOR (COIL TYPE)

AIM OF THE EXPERIMENT

1. To plot the RTD curve for a PFTR using a pulse tracer.
2. To determine the dispersion number (D/uL).

APPARATUS REQUIRED
1. Burette (50 ml) : 1 No.
2. Conical flasks (250 ml) : 20 No.
3. Syringe (20 ml) : 1 No.
4. Measuring cylinder (250 ml) : 1 No.

CHEMICALS
1. N/10 HCl : 200 ml
2. 2N NaOH : 60 ml
3. Phenolphthalein indicator : Few drops
4. Distilled water : 20 liters
DESCRIPTION

The setup consists of a different diameter glass column packed with raschig rings and glass beads.
Peristaltic pump is used to adjust and control the flow rate of the water. A special arrangement is provided
to inject a tracer at the lower end of the reactor, using a syringe. Samples can be taken periodically from
outlets provided at the top of the reactor.

THEORY

The exit age distribution function of fluid leaving a vessel or RTD of fluid in a vessel is called
the E-CURVE. The normalized curve is such that

(1)

In stimulus-response experimentation the system is perturbed and then observes how the system
reacts or responds to this stimulus. The analysis of the response gives the desired information. A
pulse tracer input signal could be used as a stimulus.

The concentration - time curve for pulse signal at the vessel outlet is called the C-CURVE.
Considering steady-state flow of fluid through a vessel:

C=E (2)

The mean age of the exit stream or mean residence time is:

(3)

(4)

And the variance of the E or C distribution is

(5)
 (6)

Variance, or a measure of the spread of the curve at time .

(7)

Models are useful for representing flow in real vessels, for scale up, and for diagnosing poor flow.
We have different kinds of models depending on whether flow is close to plug, mixed, or somewhere
in between. For small deviations from plug flow dispersion the model is used. Suppose an ideal pulse
of tracer is introduced into the fluid entering a vessel. The pulse spreads as it passes through the
vessel, and to characterize the spreading of this model, we assume a diffusion-like process
superimposed on plug flow. We call this dispersion; the dispersion coefficient D represents the
spreading process. is the dimensionless group characterizing the spread in the whole vessel.

For open vessel

(8)

Solving the above equation we get.

Defining the reduced time as:

(10)

Exit age distribution at time i

(11)

Exit age distribution at time θ

(12)
 PROCEDURE

Starting Procedure

1. Close all the valves.

2. Open the lid and fill the feed tank with water.
3. Connect the electric supply to the set up.
4. Fill N/20 hydrogen chloride in a burette.
5. Fill the 2N sodium hydroxide (10 ml or 20 ml) in the syringe.
6. Place the syringe at the tracer inlet.
7. Start the supply of water to the reactor at particular flow rate with the help of a peristaltic
pump.
8. Wait till the water comes out from the outlet.
9. Push the syringe into the system.
10. At regular time intervals (say 30 sec for high water flow rate, 1 min for low water flow
rate), collect 20 ml sample from the outlet, in a measuring cylinder.
11. Transfer the sample solution in a conical flask.
12. Titrate the sample solution, using phenolphthalein as an indicator against N/20 hydrogen
chloride (add HCl from burette).
13. Repeat the experiment for different flow rates and different columns (before changing the
flow rate, drain the reactor first).

Closing Procedure

1. When the experiment is over, stop the flow of water by closing the valveV 2.
2. Drain the feed tank and reactor by opening the drain valves.
 OBSERVATION
Working volume of reactor VR = 0.81 Lit
Volume of sample V2 = 20 ml
Normality of NaOH used for titration N1 = 0.1 geq/L

For RPM = 33

Ci ∆t
S.No V1 V2 V2-V1 (mol/l) tiCi ti^2 Ci Ci ∆t (min) Ci ∆t Ei θ Eθ
1 0 0 0 0 0.5 0 0 0.5 0 0 0.0257 0
2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0.5 0 0 0.0513 0
3 0 0 0 0 1.5 0 0 0.5 0 0 0.077 0
4 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0.5 0 0 0.1026 0
5 0 0 0 0 2.5 0 0 0.5 0 0 0.1283 0
6 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0.5 0 0 0.1539 0
7 0 0 0 0 3.5 0 0 0.5 0 0 0.1796 0
8 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0.5 0 0 0.2052 0
9 0 0 0 0 4.5 0 0 0.5 0 0 0.2309 0
10 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0.5 0 0 0.2566 0
11 0 0 0 0 5.5 0 0 0.5 0 0 0.2822 0
12 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0.5 0 0 0.3079 0
13 0 0 0 0 6.5 0 0 0.5 0 0 0.3335 0
14 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0.5 0 0 0.3592 0
15 0 0.1 0.1 0.0025 7.5 0.01875 0.14062 0.5 0.00125 0.0011 0.3848 0.0214
16 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.0025 8 0.02 0.16 0.5 0.00125 0.0011 0.4105 0.0214
17 0.2 0.3 0.1 0.0025 8.5 0.02125 0.18062 0.5 0.00125 0.0011 0.4361 0.0214
18 0.3 0.4 0.1 0.0025 9 0.0225 0.2025 0.5 0.00125 0.0011 0.4618 0.0214
19 0.4 0.7 0.3 0.0075 9.5 0.0712 0.67687 0.5 0.00375 0.0034 0.4874 0.0663
20 0.7 1 0.3 0.0075 10 0.0675 0.75 0.5 0.00375 0.0034 0.5131 0.0663

21 1 1.8 0.8 0.02 10.5 0.19 2.205 0.5 0.01 0.0092 0.5388 0.1793
22 1.8 2.7 0.9 0.0225 11 0.225 2.7225 0.5 0.01125 0.0103 0.5644 0.2007
23 2.7 3.9 1.2 0.03 11.5 0.315 3.9675 0.5 0.015 0.0138 0.5901 0.269
24 3.9 6 2.1 0.0525 12 0.5775 7.56 0.5 0.02625 0.0241 0.6157 0.4697
25 6 8.9 2.9 0.0725 12.5 0.83375 11.328 0.5 0.03625 0.0333 0.6414 0.649
26 8.9 12 3.1 0.0775 13 0.93 13.0975 0.5 0.03875 0.0356 0.667 0.6938

27 12 16.7 4.7 0.1175 13.5 1.4687 21.4144 0.5 0.05875 0.0539 0.6927 1.0505
28 16.7 21.1 4.4 0.11 14 1.43 21.56 0.5 0.055 0.0505 0.7183 0.9842
29 21.1 26.5 5.4 0.135 14.5 1.8225 28.3837 0.5 0.0675 0.062 0.744 1.2083
30 26.5 33 6.5 0.1625 15 2.275 36.5625 0.5 0.08125 0.0746 0.7697 1.4539
31 33 38.3 5.3 0.1325 15.5 1.92125 31.8331 0.5 0.06625 0.0608 0.7953 1.1849
32 38.3 45.7 7.4 0.185 16 2.775 47.36 0.5 0.0925 0.0849 0.821 1.6546

33 0 6.2 6.2 0.155 16.5 2.4025 42.1987 0.5 0.0775 0.0711 0.8466 1.3857
34 6.2 12.5 6.3 0.1575 17 2.52 45.5175 0.5 0.07875 0.0723 0.8723 1.4091
35 12.5 18.7 6.2 0.155 17.5 2.5575 47.4687 0.5 0.0775 0.0711 0.8979 1.3857
36 18.7 25.3 6.6 0.165 18 2.805 53.46 0.5 0.0825 0.0757 0.9236 1.4753
37 25.3 33.3 8 0.2 18.5 3.5 68.45 0.5 0.1 0.0918 0.9492 1.7891
38 33.3 40 6.7 0.1675 19 3.015 60.4675 0.5 0.08375 0.0769 0.9749 1.4987

39 40 46.8 6.8 0.17 19.5 3.145 64.6425 0.5 0.085 0.078 1.0006 1.5202
40 0 6.3 6.3 0.1575 20 2.9925 63 0.5 0.07875 0.0723 1.0262 1.4091
41 6.3 11.3 5 0.125 20.5 2.4375 52.5312 0.5 0.0625 0.0574 1.0519 1.1187
42 11.3 15.1 3.8 0.095 21 1.9 41.895 0.5 0.0475 0.0436 1.0775 0.8497
43 15.1 19.4 4.3 0.1075 21.5 2.20375 49.6918 0.5 0.05375 0.0493 1.1032 0.9608
44 19.4 23.2 3.8 0.095 22 1.995 45.98 0.5 0.0475 0.0436 1.1288 0.8497

45 23.2 27.2 4 0.1 22.5 2.15 50.625 0.5 0.05 0.0459 1.1545 0.8946
46 27.2 31.6 4.4 0.11 23 2.42 58.19 0.5 0.055 0.0505 1.1801 0.9842
47 31.6 35.6 4 0.1 23.5 2.25 55.225 0.5 0.05 0.0459 1.2058 0.8946
48 35.6 40 4.4 0.11 24 2.53 63.36 0.5 0.055 0.0505 1.2314 0.9842
49 40 43.8 3.8 0.095 24.5 2.2325 57.0237 0.5 0.0475 0.0436 1.2571 0.8497
50 43.8 46.6 2.8 0.07 25 1.68 43.75 0.5 0.035 0.0321 1.2828 0.6256

51 0 2.8 2.8 0.07 25.5 1.715 45.5175 0.5 0.035 0.0321 1.3084 0.6256
52 2.8 5.8 3 0.075 26 1.875 50.7 0.5 0.0375 0.0344 1.3341 0.6704
53 5.8 8.3 2.5 0.0625 26.5 1.59375 43.8906 0.5 0.03125 0.0287 1.3597 0.5593
54 8.3 10.6 2.3 0.0575 27 1.495 41.9175 0.5 0.02875 0.0264 1.3854 0.5145
55 10.6 12.5 1.9 0.0475 27.5 1.25875 35.9218 0.5 0.02375 0.0218 1.411 0.4249
56 12.5 14 1.5 0.0375 28 1.0125 29.4 0.5 0.01875 0.0172 1.4367 0.3352

57 14 15.8 1.8 0.045 28.5 1.2375 36.5512 0.5 0.0225 0.0207 1.4623 0.4034
58 15.8 17.8 2 0.05 29 1.4 42.05 0.5 0.025 0.0229 1.488 0.4463
59 17.8 18.9 1.1 0.0275 29.5 0.78375 23.9318 0.5 0.01375 0.0126 1.5137 0.2456
60 18.9 20 1.1 0.0275 30 0.7975 24.75 0.5 0.01375 0.0126 1.5393 0.2456
61 20 21 1 0.025 30.5 0.7375 23.2562 0.5 0.0125 0.0115 1.565 0.2241
62 21 21.8 0.8 0.02 31 0.6 19.22 0.5 0.01 0.0092 1.5906 0.1793

63 21.8 22.8 1 0.025 31.5 0.7625 24.8062 0.5 0.0125 0.0115 1.6163 0.2241
64 22.8 23.8 1 0.025 32 0.775 25.6 0.5 0.0125 0.0115 1.6419 0.2241
65 23.8 24.5 0.7 0.0175 32.5 0.55125 18.4843 0.5 0.00875 0.008 1.6676 0.1559
66 24.5 25.3 0.8 0.02 33 0.64 21.78 0.5 0.01 0.0092 1.6932 0.1793
67 25.3 25.9 0.6 0.015 33.5 0.4875 16.8337 0.5 0.0075 0.0069 1.7189 0.1345
68 25.9 26.5 0.6 0.015 34 0.495 17.34 0.5 0.0075 0.0069 1.7446 0.1345
69 26.5 27.2 0.7 0.0175 34.5 0.58625 20.8293 0.5 0.00875 0.008 1.7702 0.1559
70 27.2 27.9 0.7 0.0175 35 0.595 21.4375 0.5 0.00875 0.008 1.7959 0.1559
71 0 0.6 0.6 0.015 35.5 0.5175 18.9037 0.5 0.0075 0.0069 1.8215 0.1345

72 0.6 1.1 0.5 0.0125 36 0.4375 16.2 0.5 0.00625 0.0057 1.8472 0.1111
73 1.1 1.5 0.4 0.01 36.5 0.355 13.3225 0.5 0.005 0.0046 1.8728 0.0897
74 1.5 2 0.5 0.0125 37 0.45 17.1125 0.5 0.00625 0.0057 1.8985 0.1111
75 2 2.3 0.3 0.0075 37.5 0.27375 10.5468 0.5 0.00375 0.0034 1.9241 0.0663
76 2.3 2.6 0.3 0.0075 38 0.2775 10.83 0.5 0.00375 0.0034 1.9498 0.0663
77 2.6 3 0.4 0.01 38.5 0.375 14.8225 0.5 0.005 0.0046 1.9754 0.0897
78 3 3.3 0.3 0.0075 39 0.285 11.4075 0.5 0.00375 0.0034 2.0011 0.0663
79 3.3 3.5 0.2 0.005 40 0.1925 8 1 0.005 0.0023 2.0524 0.0448
80 3.5 3.7 0.2 0.005 41 0.195 8.405 1 0.005 0.0023 2.1037 0.0448

81 3.7 3.9 0.2 0.005 42 0.2 8.82 1 0.005 0.0023 2.155 0.0448
82 3.9 4 0.1 0.0025 43 0.1025 4.6225 1 0.0025 0.0011 2.2063 0.0214
83 4 4.1 0.1 0.0025 44 0.105 4.84 1 0.0025 0.0011 2.2577 0.0214
84 4.1 4.2 0.1 0.0025 45 0.1075 5.0625 1 0.0025 0.0011 2.309 0.0214
85 4.2 4.3 0.1 0.0025 46 0.11 5.29 1 0.0025 0.0011 2.3603 0.0214
86 4.3 4.4 0.1 0.0025 48 0.1125 5.76 2 0.005 0.0011 2.4629 0.0214
87 4.4 4.5 0.1 0.0025 50 0.115 6.25 2 0.005 0.0011 2.5655 0.0214
88 4.5 4.6 0.1 0.0025 52 0.12 6.76 2 0.005 0.0011 2.6681 0.0214
89 4.6 4.7 0.1 0.0025 54 0.125 7.29 2 0.005 0.0011 2.7708 0.0214

90 4.7 4.8 0.1 0.0025 56 0.13 7.84 2 0.005 0.0011 2.8734 0.0214
SUM 171.8 4.295 83.7062 1969.88 2.17875 1.001 107.751 38.4012
GRAPHS
 For RPM = 65

S.No. V1 V2 V2-V1 Ci (mol/l) tiCi ti^2 Ci Ci ∆t ∆t (min) Ci ∆t Ei θ Eθ

1 0 0.2 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 0.1806 0
2 0.2 0.4 0 0 4 0 0 2 0 0 0.3612 0
3 0.4 0.5 0.1 0.0025 4.5 0.0112 0.01 0.5 0.0012 0.00206 0.4063 0.0228
4 0.5 0.6 0.1 0.0025 5 0.0125 0.04 0.5 0.0012 0.00206 0.4515 0.0228
5 0.6 0.7 0.1 0.0025 5.5 0.0135 0.0506 0.5 0.0012 0.00206 0.4966 0.0228
6 0.7 0.8 0.1 0.0025 6 0.015 0.09 0.5 0.0012 0.0021 0.5418 0.0233
7 0.8 1.3 0.5 0.0125 6.5 0.0812 0.5281 0.5 0.00625 0.0103 0.5869 0.1141
8 1.3 2.9 1.6 0.04 7 0.28 1.96 0.5 0.02 0.0329 0.6321 0.3644
9 2.9 5.5 2.6 0.065 7.5 0.4875 3.6562 0.5 0.0325 0.0535 0.6772 0.5925
10 5.5 12.1 6.6 0.165 8 1.32 10.56 0.5 0.0825 0.1358 0.7224 1.504
11 12.1 26.7 14.6 0.365 8.5 3.1025 26.371 0.5 0.1825 0.3004 0.7675 3.3269
12 26.7 45.5 18.8 0.47 9 4.23 38.07 0.5 0.235 0.3868 0.8126 4.2838
13 0 18.9 18.9 0.4725 9.5 4.4887 42.643 0.5 0.2362 0.3889 0.8578 4.307
14 18.9 39 20.1 0.5025 10 5.025 50.25 0.5 0.2512 0.4136 0.9029 4.5806
15 39 51.2 12.2 0.305 10.5 3.2025 33.626 0.5 0.1525 0.1146 0.9481 1.2692
16 0 15.3 15.3 0.3825 11 4.2075 46.282 0.5 0.1915 0.1437 0.9932 1.5915
17 15.3 27.8 12.5 0.3125 11.5 3.5937 41.328 0.5 0.1562 0.1174 1.0384 1.3002
18 27.8 38.6 10.8 0.27 12 3.24 38.8 0.5 0.135 0.1015 1.0835 1.1241
19 38.6 48.8 10.2 0.255 12.5 3.1875 39.843 0.5 0.1275 0.0958 1.1287 1.061
20 0 9 9 0.225 13 2.7 38.025 0.5 0.1125 0.0845 1.1738 0.9358
21 9 17.8 8.8 0.22 13.5 2.75 40.095 0.5 0.11 0.0827 1.219 0.9159
22 0 6 6 0.15 14.5 1.95 31.537 1 0.15 0.0564 1.3093 0.6246
23 6 10.4 4.4 0.11 15.5 1.485 26.427 1 0.11 0.0413 1.3996 0.4574
24 10.4 14 3.6 0.09 16.5 1.305 24.502 1 0.09 0.0338 1.4898 0.3743
25 14 16.2 2.2 0.055 17.5 0.8525 16.843 1 0.055 0.0207 1.5801 0.2293
26 16.2 18 1.8 0.045 18.5 0.7425 15.401 1 0.045 0.0169 1.6704 0.1872
27 18 19.2 1.2 0.03 19.5 0.525 11.407 1 0.03 0.0113 1.7607 0.1251
28 19.2 20 0.8 0.02 20.5 0.37 8.405 1 0.02 0.0075 1.851 0.0831
29 20 20.6 0.6 0.015 21.5 0.2925 6.9337 1 0.015 0.0056 1.9413 0.062
30 20.6 21.2 0.6 0.015 22.5 0.3075 7.5937 1 0.015 0.0056 2.0316 0.062
31 21.2 21.6 0.4 0.01 23.5 0.215 5.5225 1 0.01 0.0038 2.1219 0.0421
32 0 0.4 0.4 0.01 24.5 0.225 6.0025 1 0.01 0.0038 2.2122 0.0421
33 0.4 0.6 0.2 0.005 25.5 0.1175 3.2512 1 0.005 0.0019 2.3025 0.021
34 0.6 0.8 0.2 0.005 26.5 0.1225 3.5112 1 0.005 0.0019 2.3928 0.021
35 0.8 1.1 0.3 0.0075 27.5 0.1912 5.6718 1 0.0075 0.0028 2.4831 0.031
36 1.1 1.1 0 0 28.5 0 0 1 0 0 2.5734 0
37 1.1 1.2 0.1 0.0025 29.5 0.0687 2.1756 1 0.0025 0.0009 2.6637 0.01
38 1.2 1.4 0.2 0.005 31.5 0.1425 4.9612 2 0.01 0.0019 2.8443 0.021
39 1.4 1.5 0.1 0.0025 33.5 0.0737 2.8056 2 0.005 0.0009 3.0248 0.01
40 1.5 1.6 0.1 0.0025 35.5 0.0787 3.1506 2 0.005 0.0009 3.2054 0.01
41 1.6 1.7 0.1 0.0025 37.5 0.0837 3.5156 2 0.005 0.0009 3.386 0.01
42 1.7 1.8 0.1 0.0025 39.5 0.0887 3.9006 2 0.005 0.0009 3.5666 0.01
43 1.8 1.9 0.1 0.0025 41.5 0.0937 4.3056 2 0.005 0.0009 3.7472 0.01
44 1.9 2 0.1 0.0025 43.5 0.0987 4.7306 2 0.005 0.0009 3.9278 0.01
45 2 2.1 0.1 0.0025 45.5 0.1037 5.1756 2 0.005 0.0009 4.1084 0.01
46 2.1 2.1 0 0 47.5 0 0 2 0 0 4.289 0
47 2.1 2.2 0.1 0.0025 49.5 0.1137 6.1256 2 0.005 0.0009 4.4695 0.01
48 2.2 2.2 0 0 51.5 0 0 2 0 0 4.6501 0
49 2.2 2.3 0.1 0.0025 53.5 0.1237 7.1556 2 0.005 0.0009 4.8307 0.01
50 2.3 2.3 0 0 55.5 0 0 2 0 0 5.0113 0
SUM 186.8 4.67 51.72 673.32 2.66125 1 98.8266 29.8459

GRAPHS
GRAPHS

The experiment overall went as expected but due to certain errors while performing the experiment, like
backflow in the syringe, reading errors, early injection, etc, we got a little irregular plot

1. We plotted graphs between Ei vs time, E_theta vs theta and conc vs time.

2. We calculated the area under the Ei vs time curve by the rectangle method of the area under the graph
total area = 1.

CONCLUSIONS

The experiment aimed to analyze residence time distribution (RTD) in a packed bed reactor using a pulse
tracer. By introducing a tracer and collecting samples at intervals, the concentration-time curve revealed flow
behavior. Mean residence time, dispersion coefficient, and variance were calculated, indicating mixing and
deviation from plug flow. Varying flow rates and packing materials were explored. The results offer insights
into reactor performance, aiding in industrial optimization and informed decision-making. The E-CURVE,
which represents the normalized exit age distribution function, highlighted the dispersion characteristics
within the packed bed. The C-CURVE, derived from the concentration-time curve at the reactor outlet,
revealed how the system responded to the introduction of a pulse tracer. These graph interpretations aligned
well with theoretical expectations, indicating the efficiency of the reactor in terms of mixing and dispersion.

DIAGRAM

Fig: 2 Packed Bed Reactor