A laboratory scale CSTR for the study of non-isothermal reactions

• Main Authors: Catabran, Maria Teresa V., Lopez, Bernadito O., Ocampochua, Nixon L.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1989
• Subjects: Laboratories > Furniture; equipment; etc; Engineering test reactors; Engineering design; Chemical reactions; Chemical Engineering
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_honors/47
• Institution: De La Salle University

The Chemical Engineering Department of De La Salle University proposed to the Philippine Association of Accrediting Schools, Colleges, and Universities (PAASCU) a project that involves the design and fabrication of a laboratory scale continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR). The design of the reactor was based on the highly exothermic reaction between sodium thiosulfate (Na2S2O3) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Research studies were done and a reactor volume of 2.78 liters was recommended. Hence, mathematical modelling with the aid of a computer was used to determine the working parameters involved in the design. The mixing process of the reactor was studied to find out how close it approaches a perfectly mixed reactor. This therefore requires the determination of the residence time distribution of the system. The performance of such process was conducted using two methods of feed input, namely the step and impulse function. Sugar solution was used as a tracer. Experiments were conducted under batch and continuous operation. Results showed that the fabricated reactor is applicable to both operations. Moreover, the reactor can be used for the reaction between crystal violet dye and sodium hydroxide. The performance of such tests proved the flexibility of the designed reactor.