Isothermal Plug Flow Reactor with Recycle
A first-order reaction is carried out in an isothermal plug flow reactor (PFR) with recycle. The fresh feed concentration (
) and volumetric flow rate 
are known. Use sliders to change the recycle ratio and the PFR volume. The correct reactant exit concentration 
is obtained iteratively: the reactor feed concentration 
is guessed with the slider, the PFR mass balance is then solved to determine 
, and a mass balance around the mixing point before the PFR yields the calculated 
value. Next, change the "
guess" using the slider until the calculated 
(the black arrow on the left) equals 0.2 mol/L (the center of the green circle). The graph on the right plots the reactant concentration down the PFR using the guessed 
value. For larger values of the recycle ratio, the PFR with recycle behaves like a continuous stirred-tank reactor (CSTR).
) and volumetric flow rate are known. Use sliders to change the recycle ratio and the PFR volume. The correct reactant exit concentration is obtained iteratively: the reactor feed concentration is guessed with the slider, the PFR mass balance is then solved to determine , and a mass balance around the mixing point before the PFR yields the calculated value. Next, change the " guess" using the slider until the calculated (the black arrow on the left) equals 0.2 mol/L (the center of the green circle). The graph on the right plots the reactant concentration down the PFR using the guessed value. For larger values of the recycle ratio, the PFR with recycle behaves like a continuous stirred-tank reactor (CSTR).