Maximizing Conversion to an Intermediate Product in a Chain of Three CSTRs in Series

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This Demonstration examines a three-stage continuous-flow stirred tank reactor (CSTR). The concentration of an intermediate product of a series of consecutive reactions exiting the third reactor is to be maximized by varying the relative volumes of the reactors.
Contributed by: Clay Gruesbeck (November 2012)
Open content licensed under CC BY-NC-SA
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Consider the consecutive first-order reaction with
and
representing the reaction rate constants. The equations describing the steady state condition of three CSTRs in series are
and
,
where and
are the reactant concentrations,
is the flow rate,
is the reactor volume for reactors
, with initial concentrations
and
. Here
,
, and
.
The concentration of reactant exiting the third reactor can be maximized by varying the reactor volumes.
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