ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF A MIXED FLOW REACTOR

Mixed Flow Reactor

The mixed flow reactor (MFR) also known as continuous stirred-tank reactor (CSTR) is a
common ideal reactor type in chemical engineering. A MFR often refers to a model used to
estimate the key unit operation variables when using a continuous agitated-tank reactor to reach a
specified output. This reactor is works for all fluids, liquids, gases, and slurries which is mixture
between solid and liquid. For this system the feed is assumes as a uniform composition
throughout the reactor, exit stream has the same composition as in the tank

Advantages of Mixed Flow Reactor

Some of advantages of the mixed flow reactor are it relatively cheap and simplicity to
construct compare with other reactor such as batch reactor and it also easy in controlling
temperature in each stage since each operates in a stationary state. The heat transfer surface for
this reactor also can be easily provided. This reactor can be readily adapted for automatic control
in general that allowing fast response to changes in operating conditions for examples, feed rate
and its concentration. It is also relatively easy to clean and maintain as it is a simple reactor.
Mixed flow reactor also have efficient stirring and viscosity that is not too high that good to be
used.
 The model behavior can be closely approached in practice to obtain predictable
performance. This reactor also run under continuous operation where contain input and output
that under steady-state condition. This reactor assumes to be perfectly mixing during the
operating. The reactors also lower in operating cost as using low amount of electrical energy. As
this reactor can be larger in size it can store a lot of heat energy so that have large in heat
capacity.

Disadvantages of Mixed Flow Reactor

The most obvious disadvantage in principle stems from the fact that the outlet stream is
the same as the contents of the vessel. This implies that all reaction takes place at the lowest
concentration (of reactant A, say, cA) between inlet and outlet. For normal kinetics, in which rate
of reaction ( rA) decreases as cA decreases, this means that a greater volume of reactor is needed
to obtain a desired conversion. For abnormal kinetics, the opposite would be true. Next, the
disadvantage for this reactor is its conversion per unit volume of the reactor is smallest compared
to other flow reactors. By passing and channeling possible this reactors have poor agitation.
Reactant added to mixture which is rich in product in this reactor will effect the quality and
yield.

References

Books:

 Levenspiel, O.(1999). Chemical Reaction Engineering, 3rd Edition, New York: Jonh
Wiley, page (91-103)
 Fogler, H.S. (2006). Elements of Chemical Reaction Engineering, 4th Edition, New
Jersey:Prentice Hall, page (148-168)
 Smith, J.M. (1993). Chemical Reaction Kinetics, New York: McGraw Hill
 Schmidt, L.D. (2005). The Engineering of Chemical Reaction, 2nd edition, New York:
Oxford University Press, page (38-92)

Websites:
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuous_stirred-tank_reactor
 http://www.engin.umich.edu/~cre/asyLearn/bits/cstr/
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